The stakes were extremely high at Daytona on Saturday night in the regular-season finale, with half the field trying to win the race and earn a spot in the upcoming Playoffs, but the drivers went mistake free through the first 150 laps, with zero accidents causing cautions for the majority of the race.
That changed with under 10 laps to go. Needing a win to get into the Playoffs, Tyler Reddick surged past Kyle Busch down the backstretch and into the lead – and then made an ill-advised late block attempt up the track to stay in front of Busch. Reddick and Busch made contact at full speed, sending both into the outside wall, sparking a massive wreck.
The race was immediately red flagged to clear the track.
The Big One DOES HAPPEN!
A crash with less than 10 laps remaining on @NBC! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/wn1Q7Rqitd
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 30, 2020
Incredibly, the trio of Matt DiBenedetto, Jimmie Johnson and William Byron – who are vying for the final two playoff spots available – made it through the chaos without any damage.
What a wild wreck late at @DISupdates.
Tyler Reddick goes to block, but it doesn't work. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/aOjvcJDt8N
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 30, 2020
Just a few laps later, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Bubba Wallace made contact at the front of the field, leading to another huge accident that took out Johnson.
Could this be it for @JimmieJohnson.
He's collected in this wreck with less than two laps to go. #NASCAR #OneFinalTime pic.twitter.com/8zh8adgpfS
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 30, 2020
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