Dale Earnhardt Jr has expressed support for Riley Herbst after the dramatic final-lap collision involving the 23XI Racing driver and Brad Keselowski during the 2026 Daytona 500. The wreck occurred near the finish line as Herbst attempted a bold move, igniting a debate over responsibility for the incident.
The race ended with Tyler Reddick taking a major victory, but Keselowski was highly critical of Herbst’s late-race maneuver. Keselowski described the move as reckless and labeled it one of the “dumbest things” he had witnessed on a race track. In the closing moments, Herbst attempted to split lanes and accelerate past both Chase Elliott and Keselowski, but his Toyota shifted upward, making contact with Keselowski’s Ford. This triggered a multi-car wreck that disrupted the finish order. Keselowski angrily voiced on the radio and post-race that the move was avoidable and had robbed him of a potential win.
However, during a segment on the Dale Jr Download podcast, Earnhardt Jr pushed back against Keselowski’s condemnation. In discussion with RFK Racing spotter TJ Majors, Earnhardt Jr offered a more nuanced view of the crash:
“That wreck looked like the rest of the wrecks to me. … Riley didn’t come up the track in front of him. He drove into him. Is it lack of awareness? I mean, there is a sh*t ton going on. … I thought it was more like, you know, he’s looking at what’s happening out in front of him. He’s looking over here on the left. He didn’t have all the corners of the car covered, you know?”
“It was more like, ‘Hey, I’m pulling up into an area where there’s a car, and I didn’t know he was there.’ … I don’t think he knew y’all were coming or even out there.”
Herbst explained that he was attempting a three-wide run alongside Elliott and Reddick in a bid for a photo-finish at the line. The 26-year-old driver remained uncertain about what precisely resulted in the contact with Keselowski, who ultimately finished fifth. Herbst finished in eighth place at the event.
Earnhardt Jr Urges NASCAR to Reinstate Incentives to Counter Fuel-Saving Tactics
Beyond the wreck, Earnhardt Jr also commented on the growing concerns about fuel-saving strategies dominating race conclusions at superspeedways. He advocated for NASCAR to bring back points for leading laps and leading the most laps, which were previously awarded but recently removed.
Earnhardt Jr believes these incentives, though small, could encourage drivers to race more aggressively throughout the event, reducing cautious fuel conservation that dulls the excitement near the end of races. Speaking on his podcast, he said:
“Those are two small, very somewhat insignificant nuggets in the grand scheme of things, but I promise you, if you put anything out in front of these drivers and teams, they will go for it,”
As a team owner of JR Motorsports, Earnhardt Jr noted the current point for the fastest lap carries little weight, but restoring points for leading laps might inspire drivers to fight harder earlier rather than merely conserving fuel until the closing laps.
Turning Points in the Daytona 500 Could Shape Future Race Strategies
The clash between Keselowski and Herbst illustrates the tense competition and split-second decisions that shape NASCAR’s biggest events. Keselowski’s frustration highlights how costly aggressive moves can be, while Earnhardt Jr’s perspective suggests that many crashes are the result of complex situational awareness challenges rather than blatant recklessness.
The debate over responsible driving and fuel-saving tactics speaks to broader concerns about the sport’s entertainment value and competitive dynamics. If NASCAR responds by incentivizing more aggressive racing through point adjustments, fans may see more action-packed finales.
With the Daytona 500 setting an intense tone for the season, how teams and drivers adapt to these controversies and potential rule changes could significantly influence upcoming races on superspeedways and beyond.
