Corey LaJoie ran into the back of Noah Gragson setting off an 18-car crash in Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400.
LaJoie, already without a ride for 2025, was hoping to use Daytona as a way to sneak into the playoffs with a surprise victory. Instead the driver known for his stacking pennies podcast caused a lot of stacking of damaged cars which include the likes of Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin.
Trouble on the backstretch, and multiple contenders are involved! pic.twitter.com/727gCoR27R
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 25, 2024
The crash also gave heavy damage to Ross Chastain. Chastain entered the race just one point ahead of the cutline and had already fallen below it as Bubba Wallace spent time at the front of the field while the No. 1 car was lagging in the back. Chastain would go a lap down as the crew made repairs.
One more look at what happened on Lap 61 at @DAYTONA. pic.twitter.com/4JIiEXhT4W
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 25, 2024
With this being Daytona, expect at least one more playoff altering crash before the checkered flag falls.
