The NASCAR race took an unexpected turn when the pace car, of all things, crashed into the sand barrels, causing a red flag and temporarily halting the action. It wasn’t the kind of incident fans usually expect from the vehicle leading the field, but it definitely had everyone talking. The pace car, which should have been guiding the drivers safely, instead made a “late decision” and ended up spinning out of control, hitting the protective barrels.

Jeff Gluck was one of the first to post about it, sharing his thoughts in a tweet that caught the attention of many. He wrote, “It appears the PACE CAR pulled a Kyle Larson Homestead and hit the sand barrels????” Gluck’s tweet was a direct reference to Larson’s infamous pit lane mishap at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2023, when Larson overshot his mark and slammed into the barrels while battling for the lead.

Gluck’s comparison quickly went viral as fans made the connection between the two crashes, however he was not the only one to comment on the situation.

Davey Segal chimed in with his own take on the situation, posting an update on X that added to the growing chaos. According to Segal, the pace car’s crash was a result of a “late decision,” and he even mentioned that Chase Elliott had made the comment before the car spun out. Denny Hamlin’s comment on this was also mentioned in the X post. By calling it “so NASCAR,” Hamlin was essentially acknowledging that in this sport, anything can happen—sometimes even the pace car gets caught in the chaos.

Everything to know about the pace car crash at Phoenix

In a NASCAR race, who would expect it to be the pace car that gets into a crash? The incident happened on lap 69, just as the pace car was leading the field for a restart after the first stage break. It came as a surprise, and one of the least expected things that could happen on a race track happened in the championship race.

The pace car waited a bit too long to dive into pit road, and when it finally did, it accidentally swerved into the protective sand barrels at the track’s pit road entrance. Luckily, the pace car didn’t suffer much damage, just a dent on its rear right side, but the barrels weren’t as fortunate. The race had to be temporarily stopped so track workers could clean up the mess and get everything back in order.

At the time of the red flag, Chase Elliott was leading the race, with Christopher Bell in second. The championship contenders were all in the top 10, with William Byron in third, Ryan Blaney in fourth, Joey Logano in sixth, and Tyler Reddick in seventh.

The delay was brief—lasting less than 10 minutes—before the race got back underway. Joey Logano ultimately took the win, leading the final 63 laps and holding off Blaney to secure his third Cup Series championship. Definitely not the kind of drama anyone expected, but it made for an unforgettable moment.

Do you think we will get to see such an event happen again? Share your thoughts in the comments below.