The drama of the 2026 Daytona 500 delivered everything fans expect from “The Great American Race” — jubilation for one driver and crushing heartbreak for several others.
As the field roared through the final lap at Daytona International Speedway, five different drivers — Carson Hocevar, Erik Jones, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick — held the lead, even if only for a split second. When the smoke cleared, it was Tyler Reddick who crossed the finish line first, escaping the chaos that unfolded behind him.
Chase Elliott appeared poised for victory. After Hocevar and Jones collided entering Turn 1 on the white-flag lap, Elliott inherited the lead and controlled most of the 200th circuit. Coming off Turn 4, he still held the advantage and looked ready to claim his first Harley J. Earl Trophy.
But at Daytona, nothing is certain until the checkered flag waves.
As the pack charged forward, Riley Herbst attempted a block on Brad Keselowski. The move triggered contact that sent Herbst into Elliott’s right rear just as Reddick surged to Elliott’s left. Elliott slammed into the SAFER barrier, his hopes dissolving in the final seconds. Reddick sped ahead to secure the victory, while Elliott, Keselowski and others were left in damaged cars.
Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion, acknowledged the cruel nature of superspeedway racing.
“It obviously sucks to be that close,” he said. “Being on defense on the last lap is tough.”
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the 2023 Daytona 500 winner, also saw a fleeting path to victory. When the leaders tangled, he shot through an opening and believed he had a chance to steal the win — only to realize Reddick had already powered ahead. Stenhouse finished second.
For Brad Keselowski, the heartbreak cut especially deep. The 2012 Cup champion is now 0-for-17 in his Daytona 500 attempts. Just weeks removed from breaking his right femur in a December accident, Keselowski fought his way back to compete in the season opener. He put himself in position late, only to see his opportunity vanish in the final-lap incident.
“It’s a roll of the dice,” Keselowski said. “And the dice didn’t fully roll our way.”
While Reddick and his 23XI Racing team celebrated a career-defining triumph, the infield care center told a different story — housing four of the top five finishers, all victims of the race’s signature last-lap unpredictability.
For Reddick, the win fulfilled a childhood dream of watching the Daytona 500 with his family and imagining one day competing in it. For Elliott and Keselowski, the wait continues.
At Daytona, glory and heartbreak are separated by inches — and sometimes by a single block in the final seconds.
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