Chaos at Daytona: 11-Car Wreck on Lap 28 Shakes Up Playoff Picture – Speedway Digest

The Coke Zero Sugar 400 delivered its trademark unpredictability Saturday night, as a massive 11-car wreck on Lap 28 dramatically altered the NASCAR Cup Series playoff landscape. The incident unfolded in the tri-oval section of Daytona International Speedway, triggered by aggressive side-drafting and tight pack racing near the front of the field.

Among the drivers collected in the crash were Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric, Denny Hamlin and Riley Herbst—several of whom entered the race either locked into the playoffs or fighting for a final spot. The wreck left twisted sheet metal scattered across the frontstretch and sent multiple cars to the garage with terminal damage.

Playoff Implications

The most significant fallout came for Alex Bowman, who entered the race clinging to the final playoff spot by a narrow margin over Tyler Reddick. Bowman’s No. 48 Chevrolet suffered heavy damage after contact with the outside wall and was unable to continue. He was credited with a finish outside the top 30, effectively ending his playoff hopes unless no new winner emerged from outside the playoff grid.

🎥 NASCAR/NBC

Austin Cindric, already locked into the postseason, also saw his night end early, though his playoff berth remains intact. Bubba Wallace, who had a mathematical chance to advance with a win, was eliminated from contention after sustaining the worst damage in the wreck.

Kyle Busch, in a must-win scenario to make the playoffs, was also caught up in the melee. His No. 8 Chevrolet was unable to return to competitive form, marking the second consecutive season he’ll miss the postseason.

Riley Herbst, a longshot to qualify, was among the final drivers involved and saw his playoff hopes dashed as well.

The Fallout

The Lap 28 wreck reshuffled the playoff picture and underscored the volatile nature of Daytona’s regular-season finale. With only a handful of laps completed before the incident, several teams were left scrambling to salvage points or avoid further chaos. For Bowman and Busch, the crash marked a bitter end to their playoff aspirations, while others like Reddick narrowly escaped elimination despite early damage.

As the field reset under caution, the race continued with heightened urgency, knowing that one surprise winner could still upend the standings. But for those caught in the wreckage, the road to Darlington and the 2025 playoffs came to a sudden and dramatic halt.