Brad Keselowski's return to Daytona International Speedway for the 2026 Daytona 500 was nothing short of remarkable. Just weeks before the prestigious event, the veteran driver suffered a severe leg injury that left many questioning whether he would even compete in NASCAR's crown jewel race. However, the 42-year-old RFK Racing driver defied expectations, not only participating but emerging as a legitimate contender throughout the 68th running of "The Great American Race."
The dramatic events unfolded in the final moments of the race, when a controversial blocking maneuver by Riley Herbst triggered a multi-car accident that dashed Keselowski's hopes of securing his first Daytona 500 victory since 2018. The incident, which occurred as the field raced toward the checkered flag, left Keselowski fuming and openly critical of his fellow competitor's decision-making.
The Build-Up: A Remarkable Comeback Story
Keselowski's journey to the 2026 Daytona 500 start line was fraught with uncertainty. A December fall resulted in a broken femur, forcing the driver to arrive at the track with a walking cane. The injury raised legitimate concerns about his physical ability to endure 500 miles of high-speed, bumper-to-bumper racing at one of the sport's most demanding circuits.
Despite these challenges, Keselowski quickly demonstrated that his competitive fire remained undiminished. Throughout Sunday's race, he positioned himself as a constant threat at the front of the pack, showcasing the skill and experience that has defined his 17 Daytona 500 starts. His car showed speed, and his decision-making appeared sharp—until the final lap chaos unfolded.
The Controversial Final Lap
As the race entered its closing stages, the intensity reached a fever pitch. Exiting Turn 4, Keselowski found himself with a massive run on the leaders, propelled by a push from Team Penske's Joey Logano. The momentum positioned him perfectly to challenge race leader Tyler Reddick for the win.
However, the situation grew complicated by the presence of 23XI Racing's Riley Herbst. Herbst had been instrumental in helping his teammate Reddick make the decisive pass for the lead, but the young driver wasn't content to simply play a supporting role. With the checkered flag in sight, Herbst attempted to improve his own position by making a bold move to the outside of Chase Elliott in the battle for second place.
The problem? Keselowski was already occupying that lane, with Logano's push providing him unstoppable momentum. Herbst's attempt to block Keselowski's progress came too late and with too much aggression. The 23XI driver moved from the middle lane up toward the wall, directly into Keselowski's path, triggering a violent collision that collected multiple cars.
Keselowski's Fiery Response
The aftermath of the crash saw Keselowski finish in fifth place, his Ford Mustang bearing significant front-end damage. But the physical toll paled in comparison to his frustration over the lost opportunity. In post-race interviews, the normally measured veteran didn't mince words.
"That was one of the dumbest things I've ever seen," Keselowski stated bluntly. "He had no chance of blocking my run. I had a huge run, I don't know if I could have gotten the 45 [Reddick], but I would have liked to have found out because my run was coming fast. The 35 [Herbst] just wrecked us in itself."
Keselowski elaborated on his criticism, questioning the logic behind Herbst's maneuver. "I thought, well, you know, a one-lane block kind of makes sense, but to block from the very bottom all the way to the top and wreck yourself and everybody else is just stupid. Very, very stupid."
The veteran driver's assessment reflected a broader understanding of superspeedway racing etiquette. While blocking is an accepted part of the sport, there's a fine line between assertive defense and reckless aggression. Herbst's move, which involved sweeping across multiple lanes at the last possible moment, crossed that line in Keselowski's view.
Video Evidence and Contradictory Perspectives
Replay footage of the incident revealed a nuanced picture. Herbst appeared to be holding the middle lane before making his ill-fated move up the track to pass Elliott. The block on Keselowski came late and with insufficient space, leaving the RFK Racing driver with nowhere to go. The resulting contact sent cars scattering across the finish line, with Reddick emerging victorious while others nursed damaged machines.
Interestingly, while Keselowski voiced his frustration, Herbst was simultaneously receiving praise from 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan for his role in helping Reddick secure the Daytona 500 win. This dichotomy highlighted the complex team dynamics in modern NASCAR, where individual ambition and organizational success can sometimes collide—literally and figuratively.
The Physical and Emotional Toll
Despite the dramatic crash and his pre-existing injury, Keselowski reported feeling physically fine after the race. "Felt really good in the car, felt really good getting through the crash, and I'm happy for that," he noted, providing a silver lining to an otherwise disappointing outcome.
The driver's ability to walk away from such a violent incident while still recovering from a broken femur spoke to the safety advances in NASCAR and his own resilience. However, the emotional impact of another potential Daytona 500 victory slipping away was undeniable.
Extending the Winless Drought
The fifth-place finish, while respectable, extended Keselowski's winless streak to 60 races—a statistic that weighs heavily on a driver of his caliber. The Daytona 500 represented one of his best opportunities to break that drought, given his mastery of superspeedway racing and his car's apparent speed throughout the event.
For a driver who has won at NASCAR's highest level and captured a championship in 2012, such a prolonged victory drought is both unfamiliar and frustrating. The 2026 Daytona 500 will likely be remembered as a race he could have won, should have won, if not for the controversial actions of a competitor.
Superspeedway Racing Dynamics
The incident reignited debates about blocking etiquette at Daytona and Talladega, NASCAR's two restrictor-plate tracks. These circuits produce close-pack racing where momentum and aerodynamics create situations where a car with a strong run can gain 10-15 mph on the leader in a matter of seconds.
Experienced drivers like Keselowski understand that once a run develops with that much momentum, blocking becomes not just difficult but dangerous. The closing rate is simply too great, and any attempt to impede progress often results in the kind of crash that unfolded on Sunday.
Herbst, a younger driver still establishing himself in the Cup Series, may have misjudged the situation or let ambition override judgment. His desire to improve his finishing position—perhaps to impress team ownership or boost his standings—led to a decision that compromised not only his own race but those of several competitors.
Team Orders vs. Individual Glory
The situation was further complicated by the team dynamic at play. Herbst's primary role in those final moments appeared to be helping his teammate Reddick secure the victory for 23XI Racing. Having accomplished that objective, his subsequent move to challenge for second place seemed to prioritize personal gain over team stability.
This tension between individual achievement and organizational success is a constant in NASCAR. While drivers are ultimately judged on their personal statistics and contract value, they're also part of larger teams with collective goals. Herbst's maneuver suggested a potential misalignment of these priorities in the heat of the moment.
Looking Ahead
As the NASCAR season progresses beyond Daytona, both drivers will carry the weight of this incident forward. For Keselowski, it represents another missed opportunity at a track where victories are increasingly precious. For Herbst, it's a learning moment—a costly reminder that experience and judgment matter as much as speed and ambition in the Cup Series.
The 2026 Daytona 500 will be remembered not just for Tyler Reddick's victory, but for the controversial block that defined its final moments. It served as a stark reminder that in NASCAR, split-second decisions can have lasting consequences, and that the line between hero and villain is often measured in inches and milliseconds.
For Brad Keselowski, the wait for victory continues. But if his performance at Daytona is any indication, the speed and skill remain. The challenge now is converting that potential into results—and avoiding the kind of racing incidents that have plagued his recent campaigns.