Kyle Larson crash Placerville Speedway caused a stir among motorsports fans on the night of the Hangtown 100, as both Larson and his rival Corey Day experienced intense accidents at Placerville Speedway, shaking up an already competitive USAC midget racing event. The crowd watched in shock as two drivers associated with Hendrick Motorsports, usually teammates in larger series, became embroiled in separate high-impact incidents just hours apart.
Intense Night of Crashes at the Hangtown 100
The USAC midget feature at Placerville Speedway opened with high tension and an early frightening crash involving Corey Day. Fighting for a top position near the front, Day lost control, sending his car airborne in a series of front-over-back flips. The impact was severe, but quick action from track workers allowed Day to exit the wreck on his own. The relief was evident as safety crew members and onlookers ensured he was able to walk away, albeit shaken but without significant injury.
After the incident, Corey Day took to social media to thank those who looked after him and confirmed he was well enough to return to racing soon.
“Thank you to everyone that has checked on me after last night. Thank you to @AraiAmericas @SimpsonRacing @UltraShieldRace and the @pvillespeedway safety crew for keeping me safe last night. Pretty banged up but overall ok. See you guys this week, @factorykahne and I have some unfinished business.”
– Corey Day, Driver
Placerville Speedway, known for its short, tight quarter-mile dirt surface, played a significant role in both accidents. Sudden changes in direction and rapid momentum increases make it a challenging track, where even slight mistakes can produce dramatic crashes.
Kyle Larson Flips While Leading the Feature
Later in the main event, the attention shifted to Kyle Larson, who was leading the race and looked poised for a strong result. Larson, a NASCAR 2025 Cup Series Champion and frequent USAC competitor, was trading lines with Daison Pursley as the tension built. When Larson attempted a slide in an effort to maintain his advantage, he hit the track’s cushion at a problematic angle, launching his car over and sending it flipping through the air.
Despite the frightening nature of Larson’s crash, he was able to walk away without injury. He then applauded Pursley, who capitalized on the incident to win the feature. The resilience shown by both drivers after their accidents was met with approval from the crowd and fellow racers.
Kyle Larson Reflects on Recent Racing Challenges
Following his crash and the close of the midget racing season, Larson participated in an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio where he looked back on the 2025 NASCAR Cup season struggles. Larson discussed how challenges faced by his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team affected their trajectory throughout the year.
“I think we got a little bit down the wrong path on our race cars, and we didn’t quite realize it for a while. We just lived in that slow state for a while. We were doing a good job executing, and I actually think being as slow as we were made us a better, stronger team as far as execution.”
– Kyle Larson, NASCAR 2025 Cup Series Champion
His difficulties were reflected in early playoff races at Darlington, Gateway, and Bristol, where he did not finish in the top five or top ten. It was not until September 21 at New Hampshire that Larson achieved his first top ten result of the playoffs. His improved performance in subsequent stages allowed him to progress to the title race at Phoenix, where he secured the Cup championship, finishing just behind Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski.
What Lies Ahead for Larson After a Tumultuous Season
With the USAC midget event concluded and the NASCAR Cup season behind him, Larson now turns his attention to the offseason and upcoming Daytona 500 set for February 15. Coverage for the iconic race will be provided by FOX Sports, alongside radio broadcasts from MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The intense series of events at Placerville demonstrated not only the inherent risks of dirt track racing, but also the resilience and sportsmanship of drivers like Larson and Day. Fans and fellow competitors will be watching closely as these racers prepare for the next chapter in their respective careers.
Thank you to everyone that has checked on me after last night. Thank you to @AraiAmericas @SimpsonRacing @UltraShieldRace and the @pvillespeedway safety crew for keeping me safe last night. Pretty banged up but overall ok. See you guys this week, @factorykahne and I have some…
— Corey Day (@corey_day_) November 16, 2025
