Christopher Bell’s shot at Daytona 500 glory was there for the taking. Five laps to go, leading the pack, car hooked up beautifully—it was all falling into place. And then, as so often happens at this place, it all unraveled in an instant. A push from an eager rival behind sent Bell spinning into the wall, setting off a massive wreck that sent Ryan Preece into a terrifying airborne crash. Just like that, Bell’s dream was over.

But while others like Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon were quick to start pointing fingers at the likes of Joey Logano, Bell wasn’t having any of it. “It’s just superspeedway racing,” he said, shrugging off any suggestion of blame. It was a lesson in grace, class and composure, a refreshing contrast to the usual post-race fireworks that tend to follow these kinds of incidents.

Christopher Bell remains graceful as ever despite Daytona heartbreaker 

The Joe Gibbs Racing star had played the game to perfection. He started mid-pack, worked his way forward with patience and precision, and put himself in the perfect position to win. For a driver known for his cool-headed approach, it was a masterclass in how to navigate the madness of Daytona.

With a mere five laps to go, the tension was rising and a crash felt almost inevitable as the body language of the drivers looked more and more antsy and on edge. Then came the shove. The field was roaring down the backstretch when Custer gave Bell a nudge, just enough to break the No. 20 Toyota’s traction. Bell was gone, slamming into the outside wall before ricocheting into oncoming traffic. The wreck that followed was brutal, with Preece’s Ford getting the worst of it as it flipped wildly through the air.

The mayhem claimed the races of 10 cars in total including Kyle Larson, and with an earlier crash on lap 186 between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Joey Logano ending the races of heavy hitters like Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Noah Gragson, it was a golden opportunity for any others trying to make a name for themselves.

Christopher Bell would’ve had every reason to be seething with fury. Instead, he handled it like a pro. “You have to be pushing if you want to succeed,” he told FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass. “That’s the name of the game. Nobody did anything wrong. That’s just the way it goes.”

“I’m fine,” he added. “I’m as beat down as you’d expect to be when you’re leading the Daytona 500 with five to go and don’t win. But I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.”

Bell’s refusal to lash out was a stark contrast to the usual Daytona fallout. He was frustrated, of course—who wouldn’t be? But his perspective was clear: that’s just racing, especially at superspeedways.

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Preece’s scary flight signals another NASCAR wake-up call

While Bell’s wreck was gut-wrenching, Preece’s crash was downright terrifying. The impact sent his car airborne, flipping before coming to rest on its roof. What’s worse, it was eerily similar to his violent crash at Daytona in 2023.

Preece, thankfully, walked away without injury. But the moment wasn’t lost on him. “When the car took off like that, it got real quiet,” he said. “All I thought about was my daughter. I’m lucky to walk away, but we’re getting real close to someone not being able to. That sucks.”

His words reignited concerns over the Next-Gen car’s safety, particularly when it comes to aerodynamics and the tendency for cars to lift off the ground. “Something needs to be looked at,” Preece said bluntly. “Cars lifting like that—it’s just not safe.”

It was a bitter end to what had been a strong showing for Preece in his first Daytona 500 with RFK Racing. But, much like Bell, he took it on the chin. “The car was fast,” he said. “It’s frustrating to end this way, but we’ll bounce back.”

The 2025 Daytona 500 had everything: drama, carnage, and a surprise back-to-back win for William Byron. But beyond the checkered flag, the race will be remembered for its near-misses, its heartbreaks, and the way Christopher Bell handled his own slice of misfortune.

“It’s just superspeedway racing,” he said. And really, what more is there to say?