Daytona Beach, FL – Chandler Smith’s hopes of making his first Daytona 500 came crashing down—literally—after a high-speed wreck in Duel #1 on Thursday night.
The 23-year-old Georgia native, driving the No. 66 MBM Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse, was in prime position to race his way into the Great American Race, running third in the closing stages. But in a split-second decision, Smith tried to move down into the inside lane in front of Justin Haley, only to trigger a massive pile-up that ended his night—and his shot at Sunday’s race.
The Wreck That Sealed His Fate
As Smith attempted to drop down in front of Haley, contact between the two sent Smith’s car rocketing into the Turn 1 SAFER Barrier, taking a brutal head-on impact. The carnage didn’t stop there, as the wreck collected several top drivers, including Ty Gibbs, Helio Castroneves, Bubba Wallace, and JJ Yeley.
“Obviously, he came across my nose,” Haley explained post-race. “I talked to him in the ambulance though. He said none of his cameras worked, his mirror was bent, and his spotter called him clear. It’s unfortunate. He did apologize.”
The impact left Smith’s No. 66 with severe front-end damage, eliminating him from contention and ending MBM Motorsports’ attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 under the Garage 66 entry.
Helio Castroneves and Justin Haley Also Caught Up
Among the other casualties of the wreck was four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, who was making his NASCAR Cup Series debut in Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 No. 91 Wendy’s Chevrolet. Initially tagged in the melee, Castroneves broke a right-side toe link, leading to another hard crash in Turn 3 under caution.
Despite the setback, Castroneves will still race on Sunday, utilizing NASCAR’s Open Exemption Provisional to lock himself into the Daytona 500 field as the 41st entry.
Meanwhile, Haley, who was making his first start with Spire Motorsports, saw his race also end after taking a hard shot in Turn 2 when Ty Gibbs lost control in the aftermath.
A Missed Opportunity for Smith and MBM Motorsports
For Smith, the crash was an agonizing end to a night that had started so well. After dropping to the rear of the field early, he impressively worked his way up to third, showing strong speed and aggressive racing skills. But one mistimed move cost him a career-changing opportunity.
With no charter guaranteeing him a spot in the Daytona 500, Smith is now officially out of Sunday’s race.
What’s Next?
With Smith and MBM Motorsports sidelined, attention now turns to Sunday’s 67th running of the Daytona 500, where Castroneves, Haley, and the rest of the Cup Series field will battle for stock car racing’s most coveted prize.
For Chandler Smith, it’s a tough pill to swallow, but the young driver’s raw speed and determination prove he’ll have more shots at making NASCAR’s biggest stage in the future.
