Tyler Reddick Wins Daytona 500 In Wild, Crash-Filled Final Lap

Reddick steals victory from Chase Elliott on last lap as chaos erupts behind them

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Tyler Reddick won the 2026 Daytona 500 in dramatic fashion, passing Chase Elliott on the final lap as a multi-car crash unfolded behind them. Elliott had the lead coming out of Turn 4 but was hit from behind by Riley Herbst, sending him hard into the wall. Reddick, driving for 23XI Racing, took the checkered flag for his first Daytona 500 victory and ninth career NASCAR Cup Series win.

Why it matters

The Daytona 500 is NASCAR's biggest and most prestigious race, and Reddick's win marks a major milestone in his career. The dramatic finish also highlights the unpredictable nature of superspeedway racing at Daytona, where the lead can change hands in an instant and crashes can happen at any moment.

The details

Reddick, a 30-year-old driver, was able to get past Elliott coming to the finish line as Elliott was hit from behind by Riley Herbst, sending Elliott hard into the outside wall. Reddick led just one lap - the final one - to claim the victory. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished second, Joey Logano was third, and Elliott ended up fourth.

  • The race was completed before rain arrived in Daytona Beach on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • The final lap featured a dramatic pass by Reddick to take the lead from Elliott.

The players

Tyler Reddick

The 30-year-old driver of the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.

Chase Elliott

The driver who was leading the race coming out of Turn 4 on the final lap before being hit from behind and crashing into the wall, finishing fourth.

Riley Herbst

The driver who made contact with Chase Elliott on the final lap, sending Elliott into the wall.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The driver who finished second in the race, narrowly missing out on his second career Daytona 500 victory.

Joey Logano

The driver who finished third, crashing across the finish line with his eyes closed.

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What they’re saying

“It was just, pretty disappointing. Like, I don't know what else to tell you other than we were leading the Daytona 500 coming off of Turn 4, coming to the checkered flag, and didn't win. You tell me.”

— Chase Elliott (SI.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.