NASCAR Cup Series driver Chandler Smith. Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Watch: Chandler Smith fails to make Daytona 500 after crashing out

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 8:08 PM ET

Chandler Smith's hopes of making the 2025 Daytona 500 have come to an end.

Smith was involved in a hard crash on Lap 14 of Thursday's duel race. After climbing inside the top-five, contact from Justin Haley sent both Smith and Haley hard into the outside wall, knocking both drivers out of the race.

Smith and the No. 66 team's status as an unchartered "open" car meant Smith had to be the highest-finishing open car in his duel race. The crash ensures Smith will miss the race and be 0-2 in his attempts to make the Daytona 500.

Big damage for Chandler Smith. pic.twitter.com/4yusjbCdop
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 14, 2025

Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, Michael McDowell and Helio Castroneves were also involved in the incident. While Gibbs, Wallace, Reddick and McDowell were able to continue, Castroneves — another open car — was knocked out of the race.

However, Castroneves will be able to use a NASCAR provisional reserved for world-class drivers, ensuring the four-time Indianapolis 500 winner will be able to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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