NASCAR racer, Chase Elliott maintained the lead as he exited Turn 4 during the final lap of the 2026 Daytona 500. However, he was aware that the momentum had shifted behind him.
Elliott and Zane Smith broke away from the main group, but Tyler Reddick managed to catch the draft, swiftly moved into second place on the outside, and then returned to the inside to seize the checkered flag on Sunday, February 15.
Instead of winning the Great American Race, Elliott crossed the start-finish line in fourth place. “A top-five finish, I suppose, for whatever that may signify. I ended up backwards against the fence,” Elliott remarked with a chuckle. “It’s frustrating to be that close, you know.
It’s such a significant event. It’s disappointing, but that’s part of the game.” Elliott, who triumphed in the second of Thursday’s Duels, achieved his second-best result in 11 career appearances at the Daytona 500, having previously finished as the runner-up in 2021.
Daytona 500 Elliott’s final crash
As the final lap commenced, Elliott positioned himself along the wall heading into Turn 1 while leaders Carson Hocevar and Erik Jones spun out and crossed the track.
Elliott and Reddick surrounded Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in a three-wide formation, and race officials decided against deploying the caution flag.
Elliott lost his drafting partner, while Reddick received assistance from his 23XI Racing teammate Riley Herbst. Reddick executed the maneuver, leaving the remaining pack to crash in front of the grandstand. “At that moment, it was going to be challenging,” Elliott stated.
“When those runs are approaching at such a high speed and no one is lifting at that time, I felt that attempting another move on him would likely result in a crash.”
