Chase Elliott Leads Daytona 500 Before Final Crash

NASCAR star laments late-race incident that cost him victory at iconic race

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Chase Elliott held the lead off Turn 4 on the final lap of the 2026 Daytona 500, but he knew the momentum had shifted behind him. Elliott and Zane Smith had separated from the pack, but Tyler Reddick caught the draft, breezed into second on the outside, and ducked back to the inside to capture the victory, leaving Elliott to settle for a top-five finish after crashing into the fence.

Why it matters

The Daytona 500 is NASCAR's biggest and most prestigious race of the season, and a victory would have been a major accomplishment for Elliott, one of the sport's top young stars. His late-race crash is a disappointing end to what had been a promising run.

The details

On the final lap, Elliott and Zane Smith had pulled away from the rest of the field, but Reddick was able to use the draft to catch up to them. Reddick made the winning pass on the inside, leaving Elliott to crash into the fence as he tried to regain the lead.

  • The incident occurred on the final lap of the 2026 Daytona 500.

The players

Chase Elliott

A NASCAR driver who was leading the 2026 Daytona 500 on the final lap before crashing into the fence.

Tyler Reddick

The NASCAR driver who passed Elliott on the final lap to win the 2026 Daytona 500.

Zane Smith

A NASCAR driver who was running second to Elliott on the final lap of the 2026 Daytona 500.

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What they’re saying

“It kind of sucks, but that's racing. We were close, but just couldn't quite get it done.”

— Chase Elliott (The Daytona Beach News Journal)

The takeaway

Elliott's late-race crash is a heartbreaking end to what had been a promising run at the Daytona 500, one of NASCAR's most prestigious events. The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of restrictor-plate racing and the fine line between victory and defeat at Daytona.