Wild Controversial Scene Unfolds at NASCAR Daytona Race as Rain Causes Wreck Right Before Red Flag

When you have a NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway, you know some wild scenes are on the table. And Sunday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 did not disappoint.

With rain lurking and under 30 laps left, drivers were getting their final pushes in before the race was called due to weather. And when the rain suddenly hit, many cars going full throttle lost control, resulting in a wild wreck taking out most of the leaders of the race.

Check out the crazy scene:

BIG CRASH in Turns 1 and 2 and Daytona!@austindillon3 SOMEHOW avoids all the mayhem and comes out in the lead! #NASCAR

📺 : @CNBC and @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/aYYdF1hp6l

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 28, 2022

Austin Dillon, who was a lap down earlier in the race, came out of the wreck as the leader after coming out unscathed.

“A minute ago we were a lap down,” Dillon said. “Crazy. It was pretty intense.”

For now, the race is still under a red flag caution as the rain continues to fall in Daytona. But if the weather persists, the rain would lead to Dillon winning his first race of the season, thus qualifying for next week’s playoffs.

On CNBC, NASCAR senior VP of competition Scott Miller says he doesn’t think there’s anything they could have done to prevent cars from being out on the race track when the rain touched down.

“Scott Miller says he didn’t think they could have done anything different to determine whether the track was dry. … said they can’t predict when it starts raining,” Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass tweeted.

Even if the rain wasn’t coming down a lap before the wreck, it’s hard to imagine there’s nothing NASCAR can do to better ensure that drivers aren’t put under the dangerous situation of racing on a wet track in the future.

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