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WATCH: Big wrecks change the field at Daytona 500

James Fletcher IIIby: James Fletcher III02/20/22jdfletch3
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Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

A pair of big wrecks have changed the makeup of the field heading into the final laps of the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s first – and biggest – race of the season. The first saw more than sparks fly as a car flipped onto its roof and the second took out the day’s best performing car.

In the early stages of the Daytona 500, a wreck took out a large group of cars, including 2021 race winner Denny Hamlin and rookie Harrison Burton. As the cars slid sideways, attempting to avoid a mountain of smoke and debris, they came together in a scary moment.

Burton’s 21 car clipped Hamlin’s 11 car, then connecting with Christopher Bell’s 20 car before flipping onto its roof and skidding across the asphalt seconds after travelling at 180 mph. While his car suffered damage beyond repair, the rookie walked away largely unharmed from his first big wreck of his young career.

Other cars knocked out by the wreck included Hamlin’s 11 and William Byron’s 24 car which slid in front of the more serious action.

As the race resumed, another big crash changed the makeup of the race. Tyler Reddick’s 8 car got loose coming around the turn and lost its balance with another driver on the bumper. He slid up into traffic and collided with Martin Truex’s 19 car.

Truex won both of the first two stages in the 2022 Daytona 500, becoming the favorite to sweep and win with just over 50 laps to go. While his car was able to resume racing, the wreck created significant damage to his car and the cars of Joey Logano and Kurt Busch.

Daytona 500 finish

The Daytona 500 went to overtime after a late flurry of wrecks created a green-white-checkered finish and a close call at the line. Bubba Wallace’s 23 car – co-owned by fellow NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan – made a late run on rookie Austin Cindric’s 2 car but fell short after a collision on the final turn.

As the two cars came across the line just feet apart, images of a massive wreck played out in the background. The end of the Daytona 500 lead to hard racing, big wrecks and some damaged cars but no injuries.