At the 2026 Daytona 500, a substantial multi-car wreck occurred on lap 85 during Stage 2, involving top competitors such as Connor Zilisch, Austin Dillon, and Chase Briscoe. The incident unfolded just after Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports had taken the lead, abruptly altering the race’s dynamics and collecting nine cars in a chaotic crash.
Earlier in the race, the Daytona 500 had been relatively controlled, with Stage 1 marked by only one caution on lap 5 involving Casey Mears and BJ McLeod. However, as the contest moved into Stage 2, drivers shifted from fuel conservation to aggressive racing for positions, increasing the intensity on the track.
Chain Reaction in a Packed Tri-Oval Leads to the Crash
Justin Allgaier had secured the front position by lap 84 and was engaged in a close battle with Ty Dillon’s Kaulig Racing Chevrolet on lap 85. Meanwhile, a densely packed group of cars followed behind in three wide lanes: Allgaier took the high lane, Connor Zilisch piloted the middle lane in the Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet No. 88, and Ty Gibbs led the inside lane driving the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 Toyota.
Behind Zilisch were Cody Ware in the No. 51 Ford, Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing in the outside lane, and Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing in the third row. As Zilisch momentarily lost grip within this tight formation but managed to retain control without contact, the close side drafting generated turbulence that destabilized the pack.
This airflow disturbance sparked contact between Chastain and Ware, sending Ware’s car sideways. Ware spun and clipped Gibbs’s right rear, while Briscoe was caught directly beside, causing all to spin across lanes. Briscoe slid toward the infield near pit road entry, and as he slowed, Austin Dillon collided with the side of Briscoe’s car, spinning him further into the grass. Gibbs and Zilisch also stopped in the infield grass as NASCAR issued a caution.
“Trouble in the tri-oval collects @ConnorZilisch , @chasebriscoe and many others!”
— NASCAR, Official Race Account
Briscoe and Dillon Attempt Comebacks After Severe Damage
Following the lap-85 wreck, Chase Briscoe and Austin Dillon’s Bass Pro Shops cars were taken to the garage for repairs. Both drivers returned to the race more than 10 laps behind the leaders, demonstrating teams’ determination to remain competitive under NASCAR’s revised chase format, where every finishing position and point count significantly.
The closing laps of Stage 2 delivered an even more dramatic crash, marked as the race’s largest incident. Denny Hamlin’s attempt to overtake leader Justin Allgaier triggered another spin in the tightly packed field. Cars in the outside lane had little room to maneuver and piled into the wreck, which quickly expanded into a 21-car pileup involving significant contenders.
Justin Allgaier’s race ended early due to the crash, with other notable retirements including Alex Bowman, BJ McLeod, and Todd Gilliland, adding to the list of drivers unable to finish the Daytona 500.
Impact and Future Implications for the Daytona 500 and Drivers
This extensive series of accidents during Stage 2 dramatically reshaped the Daytona 500, affecting many front-running drivers, including rising star Connor Zilisch of Trackhouse Racing. The crashes exposed the high risks of tightly packed restrictor-plate racing and highlighted how sudden air disturbances and split-second decisions can lead to race-changing incidents.
With significant damage to several competitive cars, teams now face the challenge of recovery and strategy adjustment as the season progresses. The incidents underscore the importance of precision and caution on the high-speed tri-oval, especially during critical race stages when drivers push for track position aggressively.
Trouble in the tri-oval collects @ConnorZilisch, @chasebriscoe and many others! pic.twitter.com/JebaFwfLkQ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 15, 2026
