Full Breakdown
Talladega Superspeedfield Crash Sends Joey Logano’s Car Flipping onto Roof
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Late-Race Multi-Car Wreck
During the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, a red-flag stoppage was called with five laps remaining after a 15-car pileup on the front straightaway. Joey Logano, running near the front in fourth place, was turned by a push from Carson Hocevar, spun, and his No. 22 Ford flipped onto its roof. Riley Herbst, in the No. 35 Toyota, lost braking ability, struck the outside wall at full speed, then hit the inside wall after a second impact. Both drivers were extracted by safety crews, evaluated at the infield care center, and released without serious injury.
Background & Context: Talladega’s History of “Big Ones”
Talladega Superspeedway’s 2.66-mile tri-oval is notorious for large, high-speed crashes, often called “the big one.” Logano has previously flipped at Talladega in April 2021, describing that earlier incident as having a crushed roll bar. NASCAR has introduced safety enhancements in recent years to better protect drivers in airborne crashes, a point Logano highlighted after the Sunday wreck.
Data & Statistics
- Cars involved: 15 drivers, including Logano, Herbst, Chase Briscoe, Brad Keselowski, Austin Cindric, Josh Berry, Erik Jones, and others.
- Stage 2 margin: Logano won Stage 2 by 0.012 seconds over Kyle Larson.
- Championship position: Logano entered the race sixth in the Chase, 44 points behind points leader Kyle Larson.
- Impact on race outcome: The crash ended Logano’s bid for the win; Kyle Larson went on to claim victory by 0.041 seconds over William Byron.
Official Statements & Responses
NASCAR officials deployed the red flag, directed safety crews to turn Logano’s car upright, and cleared the track for a restart. Post-incident, NASCAR’s X account confirmed that both Logano and Herbst were evaluated and released from the infield medical center. Logano praised the safety crew, noting that the roll cage held up better than in his 2021 flip and that “the car did a great job.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “I just got a push in the wrong spot there,” — Joey Logano, cup series champion
- “I’m OK; it was a big one,” — Riley Herbst
- “It was very much a 'Talladega Nights,' 'oh no, I'm upside down' moment,” — Joey Logano, cup series champion
- “Oh no, I’m upside down, this is not good,” — Joey Logano, cup series champion
Why It Matters
The incident underscores the ongoing risk of airborne crashes at superspeedways and the importance of recent safety upgrades. Logano’s strong performance earlier in the race—winning Stage 2 and leading laps—kept him in contention for the championship, but the crash eliminated a potential victory that could have narrowed the points gap with Larson. The safe extraction of both drivers without serious injury demonstrates the effectiveness of NASCAR’s safety protocols, while the crash’s timing—late in the race—highlights how quickly a championship-contending run can be derailed.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources consistently report that no serious injuries occurred and that both drivers were released after evaluation. No contradictory casualty figures or differing accounts of the crash’s cause were identified.