NASCAR’s most prestigious race, the Daytona 500, has taken a toll on safety, with recent events suggesting that the sport is prioritizing crash avoidance over actual racing skills. William Byron’s second consecutive win on Sunday night was largely due to being in the right place at the right time, rather than exceptional driving abilities.
The incident, which involved several crashes and a near-flipping car for driver Ryan Preece, raises questions about NASCAR’s approach to safety and racing. The past four Daytona 500s have seen two-lap races to the finish, with the last one ending under caution due to a crash between Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski.
The sport’s history has shown that Talladega tracks are often defined by crash avoidance, but recent events suggest that NASCAR may be pushing its limits too far. The 2025 Daytona 500 saw an alarming number of wrecks, with 80 of the 114 vehicles involved in incidents.
NASCAR has been criticized for its lack of action following these incidents, with some drivers questioning why it’s easy to flip cars at high speeds. Preece himself expressed concern after his second car flip in two races, wondering aloud about the ease with which Cup Series cars can tip over.
The sport’s safety record is a major concern, particularly given the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt 24 years ago during the 2001 Daytona 500. While advances have been made since then, recent events suggest that NASCAR may be testing these limits once again.
In light of this trend, it’s worth questioning whether NASCAR is prioritizing crash avoidance over actual racing skills. With the new Cup Series car exacerbating the pack-racing problem and drivers forced to push each other to make passes, safety takes a backseat to competition.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/the-daytona-500-is-no-longer-defined-by-racecraft-its-all-about-crash-avoidance-035159617.html