Juan Pablo Montoya’s 2012 Daytona 500 crash remains one of the most bizarre incidents in NASCAR history. The veteran driver, who had raced in Formula 1 and IndyCar before switching to stock cars, was running in the top 10 when disaster struck. During a caution period, Montoya lost control of his No. 42 Chevrolet and slammed into a jet dryer parked on the track. The impact was catastrophic.

The jet fuel ignited on contact, creating a massive explosion that sent flames and debris scattering across the asphalt. Montoya later admitted he had no time to react. “You don’t think, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to k— myself.’ You go, ‘Oh, this is going to hurt a little bit,’” he recalled. The fire created a massive delay, halting the race for over two hours. Thankfully, Montoya and the jet dryer operator, Duane Barnes, walked away unharmed. However, the accident led to immediate safety changes.

NASCAR mandated that jet dryer drivers wear fire suits and helmets, a rule that remains in place today. More than a decade later, NASCAR fans witnessed another near-disaster—this time involving Kyle Larson at Homestead-Miami Speedway. While the circumstances were different, the sight of a top driver crashing into safety equipment during a critical moment brought back memories of Montoya’s infamous wreck.

Kyle Larson’s love for chaos under caution!

As the NASCAR caravan reaches the Eastern Coast for the next round, Homestead-Miami is set to host Straight Talk Wireless 400. While the stage is set for the grand spring return of NASCAR in Miami, fans fail to forget the bizarre 2023 incident. The 2021 Cup series champion Kyle Larson reached the iconic venue after securing his spot in the Championship 4 race. But that didn’t stop him from pushing his limits in the 4EVER 400.

Larson was running second and battling Ryan Blaney for the lead when both drivers entered the pit road during a caution. But as Blaney slowed down, Larson misjudged the entry. With too much speed and little time to react, he tapped Blaney’s rear bumper before locking up his brakes. Unable to correct his trajectory, the No. 5 Chevy slammed directly into the sand barrels protecting the pit lane divider. The impact destroyed several barrels, sending sand flying across the track.

Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports team attempted repairs, but it was a lost cause. They had no choice but to retire him from the race, leaving him in 34th place despite leading a race-high 96 laps. “I’m sorry. I did not expect him to slow down that much,” Larson said over team radio. While Larson’s wreck at Homestead wasn’t as fiery as Montoya’s disaster, the embarrassment was eerily similar. Both happened under caution, both involved misjudging speed, and both required major track repairs before the race could continue.

But it would be fair to say that Hendrick Motorsports driver was lucky that he didn’t collide with a vehicle full of flammable fuels. However, Homestead 2023 wasn’t even the first time Larson had a collision under caution. In 2015 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he collided with Kyle Busch under caution in another bizarre moment. Interestingly that too happened when he was running second in the race.

While caution was in place, Larson made a late decision to enter pit road, cutting across the track. Busch, running third, chose to stay out and had no time to avoid the No. 42 car. The contact damaged both cars and ruined their races. Rowdy was furious. “What the f— was he thinking?” he shouted. However, Larson later admitted he miscalculated, saying, “I hung a left and Kyle was there.”

The crash cost Busch valuable playoff points. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver didn’t let this moment ruin his season. He won his first Cup title later that year. Now, nearly a decade later, Larson is chasing a massive Busch record. No one has matched it yet. The 2025 Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami could make history. Larson made a blazing comeback on Friday to set the stage.

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Larson eyeing history in Miami!

Despite his Homestead crash in 2023, Kyle Larson remains one of the most dominant drivers at the track. With more than 600 laps led and multiple top-5 finishes, he is one of the most successful drivers on the grid. However, in this year’s event the Hendrick Motorsports driver is aiming to triple down his success. This weekend Larson is going to participate in all three national series races and will aim to win it all.

Notably, he started well on Friday in the Truck Series Baptist Health 200 by proving he is still a force to be reckoned with. Despite starting from the top of the grid Larson had to fight for the win. A late race spin sent him outside the top 20, but the HMS driver managed to pull it off. He stormed back through the field, passing Layne Riggs with just two laps remaining to take the win for his No.07 Spire Motorsports Truck. “I wasn’t exactly sure if I could get back up there,” he admitted.

Notably, the victory was his fourth in just 16 Truck Series starts, proving his ability to overcome setbacks. Now, if he can win the remaining two races at Homestead— Xfinity, and Cup—he would join Kyle Busch as the only driver to complete the feat. Busch achieved the triple-win weekend twice, in 2010 and 2017 at Bristol. Larson has the skill and momentum to make history, but as history shows, Homestead can be a tricky track for the HMS driver to draw level with Rowdy Busch.