Taylor Gray went for a wild flip during the final lap of the NASCAR Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway
On Friday night, Daytona International Speedway hosted the NASCAR Truck Series in their season opener. Soon after they dropped the green flag, the race became more of a demo derby.
Watch the NASCAR crash video below.
With 7 laps to go, a big crash involving Tyler Ankrum set up a long cleanup. The caution also tied the record for the most cautions in a Truck race at Daytona.
After the cleanup, the race went into NASCAR Overtime. Two laps would settle the race.
They dropped the green flag, one of the laps was completed without incident. Nick Sanchez led the field into turn one for the final time but there was some wild racing behind him.
Off turn two, Rajah Caruth lost the nose of his truck. He couldn’t hold it on the bottom and he pushed into the left rear of Jack Wood.
Wood was sent spinning across the track. Multiple other trucks were collected and the backstretch quickly became a parking lot of expensive race trucks.
Taylor Gray was turned backwards. As the field approached, they all piled into him.
The rear spoiler caught air and created lift. The No. 17 truck was lifted clear off the ground and he came to a rest, upside down on the roof on another truck. He continued to roll and came back to the pavement on all four wheels.
“I hope everyone’s OK. That was crazy to see in my mirror. It looked bad. Second of all what a s*** show. It’s crazy, I’ve never avoided so many wrecks in my life,” Corey Heim stated after the race.
Daytona Results: February 16, 2024 (NASCAR Truck Series)
Rajah Caruth comments
“I’m really thankful to Mr. H and the Hendrick Automotive Group,” Rajah Caruth stated directly after ending a phone conversation with Rick Hendrick.
“I feel pretty bad about the backstretch there. Corey was doing a great job pushing. You hate to see trucks get torn up like that.”
“Happy for Nick, he’s been deserving for a long time.”
“You hate to see trucks flying through the air and you know, Taylor’s a buddy of mine,” Caruth added to Matt Weaver.
After the race, Bubba Wallace approached Rajah Caruth. The two appeared to be in a deep conversation. Wallace pulled Caruth away from the cameras to continue the conversation.
The video has since gone slightly viral. However, it needs to be noted that Wallace has long been a mentor to Caruth, long before he made it to NASCAR.
Watch the Bubba Wallace and Rajah Caruth video below.
Jack Wood and Corey Lajoie comments
“I’m not going to say I’m mad at anybody or anybody wrecked me. I think that’s just racing at Daytona,” Jack Wood told Bob Pockrass.
“It sucks we got wrecked. But, running 2nd on the last lap is a good momentum builder going forward.”
Corey LaJoie added, “I don’t know how much of that was intentional of him trying to fill the middle or just getting tight. These trucks are really aero sensitive. Like, I spun the No. 19 out, it wasn’t intentional.”
Daytona 500 Starting Lineup, TV Schedule: February 2024 (NASCAR)
Taylor Gray comments
Taylor Gray was able to climb from his truck under his own power. He was taken to the infield care center for evaluation but was released.
“I’m fine,” Taylor Gray told started after exiting the care center.
“It looked like, I don’t really know. I like Rajah a lot, I just don’t know what he was doing.”
“There’s no hole to get in. The No. 91 is still at his right front. He just got the No. 91 in the left rear.”
“We were in a position to win and it got taken away from us. So, I’m pissed off.”
“I think you’re just happy you don’t get in the catchfence. Honestly, at that point, once you get upside down, you’re waiting to get into the catchfence. Catchfence makes things a lot worse.”
Gray escaped the incident without injury.
Bubba Wallace details awkward exchange with Rajah Caruth (Video)
Taylor Gray flips at Daytona
Video
Bubba Wallace talks with Rajah Caruth after Daytona
Links
Rajah Caruth | Taylor Gray | Daytona International Speedway | NASCAR
