Allgaier and Hamlin involved in 20-car collision at Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The “Big One” occurred earlier than anticipated during the Daytona 500 on Sunday: a 20-car collision just after the halfway mark that included three-time race champion Denny Hamlin along with several other competitors.
Justin Allgaier was in the lead in a vehicle prepared by two-time race victor Dale Earnhardt Jr. when Hamlin attempted to overtake on the outside at Daytona International Speedway. Allgaier executed a late block, forcing Hamlin into the wall and triggering the chaos with seven laps remaining in the second stage of NASCAR’s season opener.
Hamlin, aiming to become the third driver to secure four Daytona 500 victories, spun into the infield grass. Former race champion Michael McDowell, Alex Bowman, Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, Erik Jones, and John Hunter Nemechek were among those caught up in the incident.
Two-time Daytona 500 runner-up Bubba Wallace navigated through the wreckage without incident, took the lead, and won the stage under caution. Wallace competes for 23IX Racing, which is co-owned by Hamlin and Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan.
The race start was advanced by an hour in an effort to avoid afternoon rain showers anticipated in the region.
Kyle Busch, piloting the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, led the pack to the green flag, seeking to win “The Great American Race” for the first time in 21 attempts. He currently holds the longest active losing streak in the event.
William Byron is attempting to become the first driver ever to win the Daytona 500 three years in a row. However, Byron had to switch to a backup vehicle following a qualifying crash and found himself on pit road in the early laps on Sunday after B.J. McLeod spun in front of him, causing Byron to collide with the outside wall.
Byron triumphed in last year’s race during overtime after race leader Hamlin was spun out on the final lap, leading to a multi-car crash. Byron managed to overtake eight cars on the last lap to return to victory lane.
Four other drivers — Richard Petty in 1975, Cale Yarborough in 1985, Sterling Marlin in 1996, and Hamlin in 2021 — have fallen short in their attempts for a three-peat at NASCAR’s premier event.
The lineup features seven additional former Daytona 500 champions, most notably three-time winner Hamlin and seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. Hamlin is looking to recover from a devastating loss in the 2025 season finale and the passing of his father in December. Johnson, on the other hand, is once again driving the No. 84 Toyota for his team, Legacy Motor Club.
McLeod, who secured a position in the race after Anthony Alfredo was disqualified following an inspection after Thursday’s qualifying events, spun five laps into the race and required a tow to the garage. Casey Mears, who earned one of the limited open spots in his qualifier, suffered car damage when McLeod lost control.
Source: espn.com
