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The 2026 Daytona 500 proved once again that it’s the last lap that counts.
Tyler Reddick, who drives for Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing, was in first place when he crossed the finish line at Daytona International Speedway and won the Daytona 500 for the first time in his career. He didn’t lead a single lap until the end.
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Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 45 Chumba Casino Toyota, and Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Chevrolet Spectrum, compete during the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Chumba Casino Toyota, lifts the Harley J. Earl Trophy in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Reddick was behind Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar as the final lap began. Hocevar was trying to hold off the pack, but Erik Jones passed him into Turn 1. McDowell was caught in the accident and the drivers lost their rhythm.
But no caution flag was flying. Reddick had to avoid the carnage before him even as William Byron bounced into him. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had the lead by a split second, but Chase Elliott took control down the stretch.
Elliott was racing Zane Smith as they entered the final turns. Reddick was behind them and Riley Herbst was in fourth place. Reddick rose and surrounded Smith. He then worked his way to the bottom to get around Elliott.
As the group reached the finish line, Herbst collided with Brad Keselowski, causing both of them to crash. Elliott and Joey Logano were caught in the accident and it was Reddick who was unharmed.
Riley Herbst, (35), Justin Allgaier, (40), Todd Gilliland, (34), John Hunter Nemechek, (42) and Ryan Blaney, (12) collide during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, February 15, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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It’s a great way to start the season for Reddick. It finished ninth in the Cup Series standings last season and will reach the Championship Four in 2024.
The crash-filled final lap was far from the only action.
A caution was issued on lap 192 when Denny Hamlin was hit in the back, hit Christopher Bell and then crashed into the wall. Bell suffered damage to his right front tire and that cost him the rest of the race.
A massive crash at the end of stage 2 wiped out a handful of drivers. Hamlin and Justin Allgaier made contact on the frontstretch, causing more than a dozen cars to spin out of control. Kyle Larson, Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and William Byron were among those involved.
It was the second major accident of the stage.
Earlier, Chase Briscoe and NASCAR Cup rookie Connor Zilisch were involved in a huge crash on lap 85. Zilisch got loose in Turn 4, causing a chain reaction. Cody Ware, Ty Gibbs and Austin Dillon were trapped in the accident.
Bubba Wallace was in first place at the end of Stage 2 and Zane Smith was the leader at the end of Stage 1.
Austin Dillon, (3) and Chase Briscoe, (19) collide during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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Reddick, Stenhouse, Logano, Elliott and Keselowski rounded out the top five. Smith, Chris Buescher, Herbst, Josh Berry and Wallace finished in the top 10. Larson, the defending champion, was 16th.
