If there are two things that NASCAR is known for, it has to be the Daytona 500 and, well, the crashing of cars because what is racing if not the swarming fans, the thunderous roars, and the stumbling-crashing-rolling-flying of the cars?! In fact, there might only be a few versions of NASCAR when there were no crashes recorded, only cementing the fact that danger on the superspeedways never takes a day off. However, what has also remained a constant alongside these wrecks is NASCAR’s wish to react and not act, leading to crashes continuing in America’s racing Super Bowl. The nastiest one that comes to mind is back from 2001, leading to the death of the most celebrated racing legend Dale Earnhardt.

It was a leap for NASCAR in 2001 as it signed a new media rights deal with Fox Sports. A race that would change how racing was broadcast to the viewers. However, it changed the way safety was practiced in “The Great American Race.” In the 2001 Daytona 500, Dale Sr. was heading to turn 4 in the final lap with his teammate Michael Waltrip and his son Earnhardt Jr. ahead of him. As he drove three wide all by himself, keeping the entire field behind, he collided with Ken Schrader’s car and hit the wall head first. After spending half an hour in the hospital he was rushed to, The Intimidator passed away due to a skull fracture. Ironically, he lost his life on the race track where his career began. And he died protecting his teammates all the while being feared by the opponents. However, this incident did raise eyebrows for everyone and since then, the safety technology in NASCAR has only gotten better. In fact, Earnhardt Sr’s death was the last so far. Still, crashes and car wrecks are common in NASCAR.

Another incident that comes to memory was Austin Dillon’s crash in the Coke Zero 400 almost a decade ago. His car, running at over 190 mph, became airborne and caught into the catchfence. As the dust settled, there was a completely wrecked car, but Dillon surprisingly, and miraculously, got out of the car unharmed. Sadly, in that wreck, it was the fans sitting on the sides that had to pay the price as 13 were examined post accident and five were injured. Ten years later, Ryan Preece and many others faced the same fate as a multiple car wreck occurred in the Daytona 500 again. 

With only half a lap to go, it seemed as though madness had shrouded the tracks. All eight drivers in the first four rows of a white flag restart, following a two-lap overtime, were involved in an incident during the final 2.5 miles of the race. However, when a similar incident happened a while ago, NASCAR had a different ruling. Following a non-standardized showcase of ruling from NASCAR, Bubba Wallace calls out the move and suggests an option that could help one draw parity in the decisions. 

Austin Cindric of Team Penske led the race into the white with Hamlin on his inside. With Riley Herbst pushing, Hamlin finds a way to best Cindric but gets turned into the wall and the entire swarm gets into the wreck but the even though there was a caution bar at the screen, the flag was still green. As a result, the race continued without a caution. Hendrick Motorsport’s William Byron cautiously moves past the chaos and ultimately reaches the black and white checkered flag first to become the youngest driver to win multiple Daytona 500s (a record previously held by Jeff Gordon) and the first back-to-back winner after Denny Hamlin’s 2019-2020 double. Interestingly, the caution was waved right after the No. 24 took the checkered.

But Wallace’s point comes from the Daytona Duels a few days ago and Ryan Newman’s scary accident in the 2020 Daytona 500. During the Duels, Erik Jones lost the race because of a caution thrown in the last lap of the race when he was less than 100 yards from the finish line! The lack of consistency over a single race weekend is baffling for the NASCAR community. With Newman, it was a similar case as well. Ryan led the green on his way to win another Daytona 500 driving No. 6. However, No. 12 behind him stumbled him out of the way as he first went crashing into the wall and then back onto the track as he flipped into the grass in the wrecked car. Again, no caution.

It happened again last year during the Xfinity Charlotte Roval race when Parker Kligerman’s win came undone because of a yellow flag thrown on the finish line. If NASCAR could bring a caution out right when the driver was about to cross the checkered flag, why couldn’t they do so at Daytona, especially when there were cars piling up in the background, and a mad dash to the finish could certainly create massive crashes.

Discussing about how NASCAR can deal with this disparity, Bubba Wallace suggested, “Stop making the white flag the final lap. No, if a caution comes out, just keep lining back up, keep going. I mean, it’s the biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500, and you want it to end that way? I’m always on here just saying.”

While Wallace’s idea may seem like a long-term solution, in truth, it’s simply a temporary fix, a band aid of sorts. The real problem lies in the inconsistency of NASCAR rulings. Wallace’s 23XI boss Denny Hamlin, whose crash should have brought out a yellow flag, wasn’t happy about NASCAR’s decision-making. Despite being out of contention for the win, he expected NASCAR to throw a caution. “They’ll [NASCAR] react. When they feel like they get trashed socially on a call, then they’ll go the other way on the next one. Either way, we weren’t going to win, so I don’t care.”

What does this mean for the sport going forward? Jordan Bianchi attempted to make some sense of the decision. While he acknowledged NASCAR’s lack of consistency, the reasoning behind no caution behind waved was simple, the wrecked cars were moving. He explained, “Because the 11 made it back, the 41 made it back and the 2 made it back. It’s legit. Because if those guys are still moving and they’re still driving, NASCAR’s going to see that and they’re going to be like, ‘OK, these guys are OK and they’re driving still.’ These guys were able to keep moving.” 

Regardless of the controversy, Wallace had a Daytona weekend he won’t forget anytime soon.

Wallace speaks about winning the Duel at Daytona

After several near-misses, Bubba Wallace finally claimed victory at the World Center of Racing on Thursday night. He won the first Duel at Daytona driving the No. 23 car, Wallace dominated the 150-mile race after leading a race-high 21 laps. This win marked his first trip to Victory Lane since his triumph at Kansas in 2022. It was also a first time for 23XI Racing in the victory lane this season. Speaking about the achievement, Wallace said,

“That’s why I gave the old silencer out there on the front stretch. We’re here. You know, I got a team that believes in me and I have just as much faith in this team to take it to new heights.” He further added, “And obviously, honestly, seeing what Tyler was able to do with his team in the 45 group last year, going over the final four at Phoenix, there’s no reason why we can’t do the same. So it all starts right here tonight.”

Not just the No. 23 but the 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin was also all cheers for his driver. He told Actions Detrimental, “I mean, I think for everyone it’s different. It’s certainly awesome to start your Speedweek off that way and I mean, it’s on Thursday. I think it means [something] different for everyone. He hadn’t won one yet, so I think that is big. You also get 10 points for the regular season. So, you do get points which definitely matters. And you get a trophy.

“What I loved about winning a Duel or back when we had this Clash at Daytona, is the trophy would sit in your motor home all week. You know, that trophy sits there because you’re there all week and it’s like, ‘Hell yeah, we’re already leaving with some hardware.’ Right? No matter what happens in the 500, you’re going home with something. So, that’s the best part of it.”

While Wallace’s win at the Duel was worth mentioning with 10 points added for the regular season, he was not able to bear that momentum into the Daytona 500. Whether the Atlanta Speedway will be able to see an improvement is a test of time.