Daytona 500 crash takes out half the field

Watch the wild Daytona 500 crash video and hear from the NASCAR drivers involved

The big crash in the Daytona 500 came in the closing stages of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race in Daytona Beach, Florida. It’s the biggest race of the year for the series.

View the Daytona 500 crash video below.

With 9 laps to go in the Daytona 500, all hell broke loose. A big pile-up isn’t uncommon for Daytona International Speedway. But, the big-one doesn’t typically take out 18 cars either, it was that big.

Matt DiBenedetto was looking to the outside of Denny Hamlin for the lead off turn two. Hamlin narrowly shut the door which killed any momentum of DiBenedetto.

Paul Menard, who was a victim of a very similar accident earlier in the week, gave a shove to DiBenedetto. He pushed him all the way down the back straight-away.

As they approached turn three, DiBenedetto was pointing to the middle. Menard was now pushing on the right hand side of the rear bumper. He might have caught a bit of the right side fender too. Either way, DiBendetto was hooked off the front bumper and he went around at the front of the 40 car field.

Every driver in the outside line was collected. Cars piled into the scene and they buckled into, under and over each other. It was a domino effect.

Cars collected in crash: (18) Austin Dillon; Ryan Newman; Daniel Hemric; Chase Elliott; Aric Almirola; Ryan Blaney; Ty Dillon; Ricky Stenhouse Jr; Martin Truex Jr; Erik Jones; Paul Menard; Tyler Reddick; Matt Tifft; Chris Buescher; David Ragan; Daniel Suarez; Kyle Larson; Jimmie Johnson; Matt DiBenedetto;

Matt DiBendetto details the Daytona 500 crash

“Just a racing deal. I don’t think it was anything intentional. I talked to Paul there,” Matt DiBenedetto told Fox Sports after exiting the infield medical center following evaluation.

“He was trying to get to my outside and clipped my right rear. Just racing hard. He just barely got to my right rear.”

DiBenedetto has a new ride for 2019. He’s the replacement driver for the now retired Kasey Kahne. It’s the best ride he’s ever had in his NASCAR Cup Series career.

“But, it was the most fun speedway event I’ve ever had in my life. Being able to lead and do some incredible things. I obviously have an amazing team. People can see what we’re doing here. They all took a heck of a chance on me.”

“I’m very heartbroken but appreciative to be here. This is just the beginning,” DiBenedetto concluded.

Paul Menard talks about the Daytona 500 crash

“It was go time. I was pushing the #95. It looked like he was trying to get to the middle. So, I tried to get to the outside and I just barely hooked him,” Paul Menard stated.

“That was my bad. I wrecked a lot of cars. I feel bad about that.”

At this point, they were showing the replay of the crash during the interview. As the cars piled into each other, Menard asked them to fast forward because he didn’t want to see it again.

Denny Hamlin went on to claim the Daytona 500 win. That’s the second career win for him in The Great American Race.

Daytona 500 Crash Video
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Daytona 500 Race Results: February 17, 2019

Links

Daytona International Speedway | NASCAR

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