The streets of Chicago are narrow, sharp, and unforgiving. One late-race wreck reminded NASCAR and its drivers of that fact in a terrifying way. A sudden failure at high speed sent Cody Ware into a violent impact that shocked those watching. But it wasn’t just the crash that got attention—it was what didn’t happen fast enough afterward. What should have been a moment for safety turned into a moment of controversy.
Key Highlights
- Cody Ware crashed head-on into the Turn 6 barrier at around 93 mph
- NASCAR took nearly 35 seconds to throw the caution flag
- Multiple media outlets and drivers criticized the delayed response
- Ware was reportedly “shook up” but able to walk away
- Race ended under yellow just after Shane van Gisbergen took the white flag
A Brutal Impact with a Delayed Response
As the NASCAR Cup Series wound down its Chicago Street Race, Cody Ware suffered one of the most violent hits of the day. Heading into Turn 6, his brakes gave out, and he slammed the tire barrier at roughly 93 mph. The impact was immediate and brutal—footage showed the car burying itself deep into the stack of tires with no sign of backing out.
What followed was even more surprising. There was no caution flag for nearly 35 seconds. Despite the sheer force of the wreck and its location on the track, NASCAR race control held off on stopping the race. That delay drew instant backlash across social media and from within the NASCAR garage.
“Seeing this clip of Cody Ware’s crash I don’t know HOW it took NASCAR almost 35 seconds to throw a caution,” wrote journalist Seth Eggert on Twitter. “Unreal. Unacceptable.”
Editor-in-chief of TobyChristie.com, Joseph Srigley, echoed the concern: “WOW! What an insane angle of the last-lap crash for Cody Ware… I can’t believe that wasn’t an immediate caution. That’s a brutal impact, look how fast he’s going into that barrier…”
The delayed caution became the defining controversy of the weekend, especially as the final lap unfolded and Shane van Gisbergen crossed the white flag line just before the yellow came out.
Cody Ware Shaken but Safe
Despite the harrowing crash, Cody Ware was able to exit his vehicle and later walk away from the track. Fellow driver Parker Kligerman shared a brief update that calmed some nerves online.
“Yikes…” he tweeted. “talked to Cody leaving the hotel outside the track. He was pretty shook up, but seemed ok.”
After the race, Ware himself expressed his disbelief that no caution came immediately. He described the situation from inside the cockpit in an interview with Frontstretch.
“Yeah, I mean especially given the speed of how fast we were going into the barrier, (I was surprised),” Ware said. “Obviously I’m not going anywhere, there’s not much I can do at that point. But obviously at that point I’m just focused on getting out of the car and getting to a safe spot.”
For a moment that looked like it could have ended in serious injury, Ware’s ability to walk away became the lone bright spot in an otherwise unsettling incident.
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NASCAR Explains the Delay
According to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, NASCAR officials later stated they were unaware of just how fast Ware had entered the barrier. They believed he might be able to back out or move again, much like Kyle Larson did during a similar incident in the previous year’s race.
But that assumption proved false. Ware was stuck, the car badly damaged and wedged into the barrier. By the time NASCAR realized it, the moment to throw the caution had passed. Shane van Gisbergen had already taken the white flag and won the race shortly after under yellow.
The explanation failed to satisfy many in the industry. Questions about how quickly spotters and officials respond to visible damage have now become part of a larger conversation around late-race officiating in NASCAR, a topic that’s been gaining steam since the season opener in Atlanta.
News in Brief: Cody Ware’s Brutal Chicago Crash Sparks Backlash
Cody Ware’s violent crash into the Turn 6 tire barrier at the Chicago Street Race reignited criticism over NASCAR’s delayed caution calls. Slamming the wall at nearly 93 mph after a brake failure, Ware was left stranded for over 30 seconds before a yellow flag was finally thrown. While he emerged physically okay, media voices and drivers pointed to the dangerous delay. The incident has only intensified scrutiny of NASCAR’s late-race safety decisions.
ALSO READ: Cody Ware’s Two-Hour Medical Stay Sparks Fear After Brutal Crash at Atlanta
