The final race of the 2025 regular season at Daytona brought turmoil to Tyler Reddick NASCAR Playoff Cutline Drama, as both Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman faced devastating incidents on the track. On a night where every lap counted, early crashes dramatically impacted their chances, changing the playoff picture and leaving drivers, fans, and teams with heightened frustration and disappointment.
Early Crash Hampers Reddick, Then Catches Bowman
At the start of the race, Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman held precarious positions just above the playoff cutline. Knowing that a win from any competitor below them could end their hopes, both drivers faced high pressure. The first blow landed on Reddick, whose No. 25 Toyota Camry was battered after a collision with Todd Gilland, sending him into the inside wall and crumpling his car’s front end. This misfortune left Reddick laps down while Bowman managed to stay in the front pack following the restart with 12 laps remaining in the opening stage.
The tension quickly escalated as, just three laps later, Bowman found himself caught in a massive pileup triggered by a three-wide battle among Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch. A minor contact from Kyle Larson sent Wallace into Logano, causing Wallace and Busch to make nose-to-nose contact in front of Logano’s Penske car. The subsequent melee swept up nine additional cars, including Bowman, stalling hopes for those involved.
Elimination for Bowman; Reddick Secures Playoff Spot
The damage to Bowman’s No. 48 Hendrick Chevrolet was far more severe than that to Reddick’s vehicle. While Reddick’s team attempted repairs, Bowman was sent to Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP) and ultimately removed from the race, marking the end of his night at Daytona and, potentially, his playoff run. The only way for Bowman to secure a playoff position now hinges on the result: he must rely on a repeat winner, rather than a new face earning a victory in this dramatic season finale. With Bowman’s exit, Reddick, last year’s regular-season champion, clinched his place in the 2025 NASCAR Playoffs.
“Welcome to Superspeedway racing, unfortunately,” Bowman stated to NBC Sports. —Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
Bubba Wallace Accepts Responsibility for Multi-Car Crash
The crash proved costly not only for Bowman, as Bubba Wallace, one of the central figures in the wreck, accepted fault for initiating the racing incident after reviewing footage with NBC Sports.
“I’ll take the blame for it,”
Wallace told NBC Sports. —Bubba Wallace, NASCAR Driver
“Unfortunately. Everything was going too good, too early to be true. Something was bound to happen. I hate that we were involved in it.”
—Bubba Wallace, NASCAR Driver
Coleman Pressley, serving as spotter for Joey Logano, radioed a warning as the chaos began, signaling Logano’s precarious position among tightly-packed competitors.
“Mid-three, I don’t think they know,”
Pressley commented. —Coleman Pressley, Logano’s Spotter
Logano’s own reaction captured the confusion and frustration in the moment:
“They didn’t know I got a sandwich.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
Playoff Dreams Dashed for Several Drivers
The aftermath of the multiple wrecks resulted in 12 drivers getting knocked out, including Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Busch, Riley Herbst, and Noah Gragson, all of whom were already below the playoff cutline. These drivers, along with Wallace and Austin Cindric—both with previous race wins—were forced out of contention due to the extensive damage sustained at Daytona.
Consequences and What Lies Ahead
This night at Daytona underscored the unpredictable and intense nature of superspeedway racing, bringing fierce disappointment to drivers and teams who saw their playoff runs end in a matter of seconds. With Reddick’s playoff berth now secure and Bowman’s hopes hanging by a thread, the focus shifts to whether the last race will see a repeat winner or further upend the playoff field. Teams are left to assess their performance while fans will remember this dramatic reshuffling of the NASCAR Playoff cutline for seasons to come.
