What started as an exciting Daytona 500 soon turned out to be yet another “wreck fest,” with 13 drivers earning the “DNF” tag after their names. Ford No. 60 driver Ryan Preece suffered the biggest crash in what was one of the scarier scenes in recent NASCAR history.
The last stage of the race was where all the chaos happened, leaving many fans disappointed with how the sport has evolved. Among the many expressing their discontent with the current state of affairs was NASCAR veteran David Ragan.
NASCAR Veteran Hates How the Daytona 500 Has Devolved
Taking to X, the former part-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series claimed to “hate” how the Daytona 500 had turned into a magnet for scary collisions in the final laps. He wrote, “I really hate the Great American Race has turned into such a wreck fest the last 25 laps.”
Kenny Wallace joined the conversation, pointing out the true nature of the beast — and why it might not be fixable. He wrote, “Racers wanna do good really bad. At the end of the biggest race, nobody lets off the gas.”
Wallace’s observation serves as one of the most apt explanations for all the chaos in the closing laps of the Daytona 500, given everything that is at stake.
With the race in Florida being one of the most prestigious events on the NASCAR calendar, the purse it carries is also significant. The 2025 Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup Series broke the sport’s record for the biggest overall purse, boasting a total of over $30 million.
While it isn’t known exactly how much this year’s winner will pocket, there is no doubt that the sum would be massive. As such, it makes sense for the drivers to give it their all, making the race one to remember for a long time, even if it comes with legitimate risk.
Preece, who suffered a major accident on the 197th lap of the race, was driving the Ford No. 60 Mustang Dark Horse for RFK Racing. Notably, David Ragan is a former driver of the same squad, which may have made the wrecks personal.
Meanwhile, William Byron was able to defend his Daytona 500 crown from last year, in part thanks to a crash among the race leaders.
