Finally, NASCAR is back, and the crowd is ready for their "Hell Yeah" moment. The Daytona 500 is the perfect way to start the new NASCAR year, and the 2026 season is no different. With flyovers, Nate Bargatze serving as the Grand Marshal, Bart Simpson joining in on the festivities, and a tribute to the late Dale Earnhardt, this event kicks off one of the biggest celebrations for America's 250th anniversary.
As the green flag waved, the new NASCAR season officially began. In Stage 1, on Lap 3, drivers slowed down to honor the late Dale Earnhardt, while the crowd waved three fingers as a sign of respect. As the action resumed, William Byron got hit by the No.78 car, not to mention Byron hitting the wall a few laps later.
Zane Smith secured his first-ever NASCAR stage win after Stage 1. However, Stage 2 saw increased trouble as Connor Zilisch, Chase Briscoe, and several others were involved in a significant crash known as "The Big One." Unfortunately, things could have been worse, as another major incident occurred on Lap 124. Bubba Wallace ultimately won Stage 2 under caution. In the final stage of the season opener, Denny Hamlin collided with Christopher Bell with less than 10 laps remaining.
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| Screengrab from NASCAR |
After a thrilling final lap, Tyler Reddick wins the Daytona 500 of the NASCAR Cup Series!
The Daytona 500 is over, but the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series has just begun. The next race will be at EchoPark Speedway for the Autotrader 400 on February 22, 2026.
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