Justin Allgaier and Denny Hamlin made contact battling for the lead down the frontstretch to spark the “Big One” late in Stage 2 of the 68th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday.
Running second behind Allgaier, Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota received a run of momentum off Turn 4. Hamlin went to Allgaier’s right, but Allgaier pinched the No. 11 into the wall to incite a 20-car pileup .
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Among those involved were defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, 2022 Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric, 2023 Cup champ Ryan Blaney, three-time series titleholder Joey Logano and William Byron, seeking a third consecutive win in the “Great American Race.”
Allgaier, Alex Bowman and Todd Gilliland were too damaged to continue, ending their Daytona 500 efforts after completing 123 of 200 scheduled laps.
Making his first Cup start since last year’s Daytona 500, Allgaier took onus for triggering the accident.
“I really thought I blocked enough of that top lane that the top line was gonna just fall in behind,” Allgaier said after he was evaluated and released from the infield care center. “And as soon as Denny went to that (right-rear) quarter panel, it just sucked me in there. At that point, you’re just kind of hanging on. It’s 100% my fault. That’s the frustrating part. I should have moved up higher.”
Allgaier, the 2024 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, was driving the No. 40 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller. Together with crew chief Greg Ives, the team returned for its second entry into Cup competition after making its series debut in 2025, earning a top 10 in last year’s 500.
“It’s great that NASCAR gave us these opportunities to try to fix the car and even though we’re not running for points, it’s about pride,” an emotional Ives said. “We put a lot of heart and soul into this car, and you know, to see it lead laps and try to keep the lead is kind of emotional. You never know when the next Daytona 500 is going to be for me.”