Ty Gibbs was forced to make a quick escape after his car caught fire during the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway on Sunday. The dramatic Ty Gibbs crash fire EchoPark incident unfolded during Stage 2, shaking up the field and leading to early departures for both Gibbs and Josh Berry.
Aggressive Racing Sets the Stage for Major Wreck
The first stage of the race went smoothly, but intensity ramped up as the second stage began. Drivers packed closely together, battling for position, and Ty Gibbs found himself in a precarious spot near the wall, sandwiched between Alex Bowman and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin. As the field charged into Turn 3 on Lap 84, Gibbs and Josh Berry raced side-by-side, searching for any available space.
The situation escalated when Berry lifted slightly in anticipation of the corner, resulting in contact with Gibbs’ left-rear. That nudge sent Gibbs spinning into Christopher Bell, his teammate running the low line, before he rocketed back toward the outside wall. The No. 54 Toyota then slid down into the grass, where fire erupted from beneath the car, likely due to a fluid or fuel leak. Berry’s own car spun as the chaos continued, adding to the number of cars tangled in the incident.
Safety Response and Aftermath
The incident’s severity was amplified by visible flames beneath Gibbs’ vehicle, prompting FOX on NASCAR to capture the immediate reaction:
“Fire under the No. 54 machine. Ty Gibbs is out of the car.”
– FOX on NASCAR
Emergency crews rushed to extinguish the fire while Ty Gibbs exited with the help of track personnel. He underwent evaluation at the Atlanta Motor Speedway infield care center and was subsequently released. The crash marked an abrupt end to Gibbs’ day, while further trouble struck shortly after the restart as Riley Herbst and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. became involved in another incident, leaving both several laps behind.
Driver Perspectives on the Fiery Crash
Josh Berry, who started 10th and performed well in Stage 1, and Ty Gibbs, who was climbing through the field from a 25th starting spot, both saw their races end due to the wreck’s heavy damage. Sharing his thoughts on the fire, Gibbs described his surprise and quick reaction:
“Yeah, it was like, when I saw it was like that high, they sprayed it, and I got out, and I stood right on it. I didn’t know it was a fire…. (I’d have felt it) maybe if I sat there longer .”
– Ty Gibbs
Berry reflected on the roots of the contact and the inherent risks of high-speed racing at Atlanta:
“It looked like I faded up a little bit to give the 20 room, and Ty went to make a move. It looked like we just got together, racing the old Atlanta. In this style of racing, I think all of us just want to make it out with a decent finish. We were able to do that last week. We were able to do that in duels. But, not so lucky this time,” he added.
– Josh Berry
Impacts and What Comes Next for the Field
Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell managed to continue despite sustaining damage, while Ty Gibbs and Josh Berry were forced to retire, both registering DNFs in the season’s second race. The aftermath left teams and fans assessing the risks that come with the tight packs and heightened aggression characteristic of modern NASCAR events.
This fiery Ty Gibbs crash at EchoPark underlines the unpredictability and danger drivers face. As the season progresses, the spotlight will remain on safety measures and the adaptability of both crews and drivers in responding to such incidents. Teams will look to bounce back, taking lessons from Atlanta as they prepare for the challenges of the upcoming races.
Fire under the No. 54 machine. Ty Gibbs is out of the car. https://t.co/JiNOBglq4z pic.twitter.com/Jqz9X0K4Z3
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 22, 2026
