That didn’t take long. Just five laps into the United Rentals 300, the NASCAR Xfinity Series opener at Daytona turned into a wreck-fest, mirroring the chaos of Friday night’s Truck Series race.
With the field still jockeying for position, the first “Big One” of the day unfolded during a commercial break, catching multiple high-profile drivers in the wreck.
Brandon Jones Triggers Daytona Domino Effect
The crash began when Brandon Jones, running on the bottom lane, made contact with Jesse Love. The slight nudge was enough to turn Jones to the right, sending him slamming into Carson Kvapil before both cars careened into the outside wall.
But the chaos didn’t stop there. JR Motorsports rookie Connor Zilisch, Harrison Burton, Brennan Poole, and Daniel Dye were all caught in the crossfire, suffering varying degrees of damage in the pile-up.
For Jones, Dye, and Poole, the damage was significant enough that they were forced to the back of the grid, now facing a long uphill battle to recover in the 120-lap race.
Another Early “Big One” at Daytona—But No Surprise Here
With high stakes on the line, early-race wrecks at Daytona International Speedway have become a predictable reality, as drivers push aggressively to gain track position in the opening laps.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy—one small miscalculation, and half the field can be wiped out in an instant.
Now, Jones, Dye, and Poole find themselves in damage control mode, hoping to salvage a result in what has already been a chaotic start to the Xfinity Series season opener.
With Daytona’s unpredictability, one thing is certain—this won’t be the last big wreck before the checkered flag falls.