What’s a NASCAR race without a little last-lap chaos? Over the years, some of the most memorable finishes have come from dramatic wrecks. Think of the carnage from the Talladega Superspeedway last year when Michael McDowell triggered the ‘big one’ or Ryan Newman just managing to escape death at Daytona in 2020. These moments fuel highlight reels, but they also raise a crucial question: How much is too much?

The 2025 season has been no different, with wrecks deciding the outcome of two of the three races. Whether it’s desperate lunges for position or aggressive late-race contact, the pattern is hard to ignore. A crash-filled finish might thrill fans in the moment, but does it really help the sport in the long run?

At the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, something unexpected happened: We finally got a clean finish. With Christopher Bell’s comments afterward, a new conversation has begun.

Christopher Bell calls for a shift in NASCAR’s racing culture

Christopher Bell’s victory at the Circuit of The Americas wasn’t just another win—it was a statement. After a season filled with last-lap wrecks deciding races, Bell took pride in the clean and respectful finish at COTA. “I’m so proud of the way everybody raced each other at the end of that race,” he told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

The 2025 season has already seen chaos in the two races preceding COTA – Daytona and Atlanta. In the Daytona 500, Denny Hamlin, Austin Cindric, and Cole Custer triggered a massive wreck, wiping out the front of the field. Denny Hamlin later criticized the state of superspeedway racing, calling it a “f—— c—-shoot.” Atlanta wasn’t any better, as Josh Berry’s crash on the backstretch ended the race under caution, adding to growing frustration related to races ending under checkered yellows.

Before Christopher Bell battled William Byron for the win at COTA, he first had to get past Kyle Busch. The two had a history—in 2024, Bell bumped into Busch and sent him spinning in a late-race battle. This caused Busch to lose several places, leaving him furious. But this time, their fight was clean. The two battled it out for the lead for several laps without pushing, spinning, or wrecking each other. Bell finally overtook Busch with six laps to go. Both drivers proved that hard racing doesn’t have to mean dirty racing.

Even Byron, who finished second, admitted he could’ve moved Bell but chose not to. He respected their rivalry (and their friendship) and opted to race clean. The result? A thrilling finish, with Byron crossing the line just 0.556 seconds behind Bell—proof that good, hard racing doesn’t need chaos.

Bell hopes this marks a turning point for NASCAR. “I would love if this is a turning point for us, where we’re able to race respectfully and stay off of each other and make it less of a contact sport,” he said, suggesting that a shift toward cleaner racing could redefine the sport. With top drivers showing restraint, could this be the beginning of a new NASCAR era? Will the drivers from the Xfinity and Truck Series follow this lead and embrace cleaner racing? We hope so!

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Last-lap wrecks bring driver safety into focus

The frequency of last-lap wrecks in 2025 has reignited concerns about driver safety. Daytona and Atlanta both ended in chaos. As wrecks pile up, drivers and teams are calling for NASCAR to establish a consistent policy on how races should conclude after late-race incidents.

Many drivers believe that ending races under caution is the safest approach. Whether the wreck happens at the front or back, a caution finish prevents dangerous situations. Top names, such as Bell, Busch, Preece, and Reddick, have asked NASCAR to prioritize driver safety over theatrics. But the lack of a uniform policy even now has only added to the controversy.

Others, like former NASCAR chief Larry McReynolds, disagree. He has proposed that all races should end under a checkered flag, even if multiple overtime periods are required. His idea aims to maintain excitement but has drawn criticism from drivers. “He’s never been in a race car and been T-boned,” Kyle Busch fired back, rejecting the suggestion outright.

Joey Logano also voiced concerns about McReynolds’s proposal. “It’s easy to say when you’re not sitting in the race car,” Logano said. He, like Busch, believes safety should always come before entertainment. With drivers pushing back, it remains to be seen if NASCAR will revise its stance on late-race cautions anytime soon.

As the season progresses, fans, drivers, and everyone involved hope for more clean finishes like the one at COTA. While last-lap wrecks can be thrilling, excessive crashes put drivers at unnecessary risk. NASCAR must find a balance between excitement and safety to ensure the future of competitive racing.