Brad Keselowski openly criticized Riley Herbst after the chaotic final lap of the Daytona 500, expressing sharp frustration over the multi-car collision that unfolded as the leaders battled for victory. The Joey Logano Daytona 500 wreck drew immediate reactions, with Keselowski labeling Herbst’s actions as one of the pivotal mistakes that defined the race‘s dramatic conclusion.
Close Competition Ends in Multicar Crash
As the field surged toward the checkered flag, Chase Elliott led a front pack featuring Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, and Zane Smith. With Herbst providing a push to Reddick on the inside, the outside lane began to fall behind. Reddick dropped out of Elliott’s slipstream, and Herbst attempted to move outside, putting himself in Keselowski’s path. This maneuver resulted in significant contact that triggered a major collision involving several top contenders.
Keselowski, reflecting on his abrupt end to the race, did not hesitate to assign blame.
“Oh, the 35 just wrecked me out of nowhere for no reason. That was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen. He had no chance of blocking my run. I had a huge run. I don’t know if I could have got the 45 or 47 but I would’ve liked to found out because my run was coming fast and the 35 just wreck us and himself. Pretty stupid,” he said via X/Kelly Crandall.
The accident not only took out Keselowski and Herbst, but also involved frontrunners like Chase Elliott and Joey Logano, reshuffling the order for the final results.
Finishing Order and Firsts for Herbst
Despite the frustration, Brad Keselowski managed to secure fifth place at the finish, while Riley Herbst crossed the line eighth, marking his first top-10 result in three years. Tyler Reddick capitalized on the chaos to claim his inaugural Daytona 500 win, followed by previous winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who took second place. Chase Elliott’s hopes of lifting the Harley J. Earl trophy faded after the wreck instigated by Herbst’s maneuver.
Keselowski’s Mixed Emotions Following the Race
Still absorbing the aftermath, Keselowski described his feelings about the crash and the way the race unraveled during a post-event discussion. The RFK Racing driver, who is returning from a leg injury that kept him out of the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, saw both disappointment and some reason for optimism in the outcome.
“Tore up the 9, tore up the 22, a bunch of cars that didn’t deserve to be wrecked, so that was a big bummer and really stupid. Still a decent day for us to come home with a top 5 and to be competitive and have a shot to win,” Keselowski said while reviewing the final lap footage.
This sentiment highlighted a day of emotional swings, where frustration over missed opportunity was tempered by a competitive run and a top-five result despite significant adversity.
Team Efforts and Daytona Weekend Highlights
Chris Buescher, Keselowski’s teammate at RFK Racing, finished seventh after climbing from the tail end and leading several laps, signaling continued momentum for the team. RFK Racing had aimed to enter Corey LaJoie in the No.99 car, but his Daytona 500 hopes were dashed by a late-race crash during qualifying duels. Meanwhile, Ryan Preece, who secured his first Cup Series victory during the rain-affected Clash, faced a challenging Daytona outing and ended as the final driver on the lead lap.
Looking Ahead After a Tumultuous Daytona 500
The fallout from the Joey Logano Daytona 500 wreck and the resulting pileup has left competitors and teams examining their strategies ahead of the next major NASCAR events. While the emotions remain raw, the standout performances by Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. underscore the unpredictable nature of the race. Brad Keselowski, despite obvious disappointment and frustration, will look to build on his top-five finish as the NASCAR season progresses, alongside the rest of the field aiming for redemption after Daytona’s dramatic finale.
Brad Keselowski on Riley Herbst coming across his nose at the finish:
"It was one of the dumbest things I've ever seen." pic.twitter.com/0rzktWlS6L
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) February 15, 2026
Brad Keselowski's thoughts on the final lap of the Daytona 500. pic.twitter.com/TKGy5qZXvT
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 15, 2026
