Checkered Weekend: Daytona Chaos, Tomac Strikes Back, Wehrlein Takes Control

This motorsports weekend recap was defined by last-lap chaos at Daytona, a statement ride from Eli Tomac in Seattle, Porsche asserting control in Formula E, and news that shapes NASCAR and IndyCar’s future.

Daytona 500 Ends In Absolute Mayhem

The 2026 edition of the Daytona 500 delivered everything fans expect from superspeedway racing: fuel strategy, multi-car wrecks, and a finish that defied explanation. In qualifying Noah Gragson lost his lap after violating NASCAR’s window-net airflow rule, admitting post-session he simply forgot about it. Corey Heim impressed in his 500 debut by locking into the field on speed, while Justin Allgaier narrowly secured the 2nd open transfer spot. The Duel races added more drama, including a late incident that allowed Casey Mears to go full send and race his way in.

The race itself unfolded in stages of attrition. Stage 1 turned into a fuel mileage game, with Zane Smith stretching his tank to steal the stage win. Stage 2 erupted when Allgaier and Denny Hamlin made contact while battling for the lead, triggering a crash that damaged nearly 20 cars and eliminated multiple contenders. By the time the final stage began, the field was thinner but still tightly packed, running three-wide and saving fuel with just enough aggression to keep things unstable. Carson Hocevar led as the field took the final lap, but he was turned from the front before the exit of Turn 2. NASCAR kept it green. Chase Elliott briefly surged ahead with drafting help, only for Tyler Reddick to launch a final run off Turn 4 with a push from Riley Herbst. As the field fanned out four-wide, Herbst collided with Brad Keselowski, igniting a massive crash behind them. Reddick cleared the chaos and crossed the line first, surviving a finish that reshuffled the order in seconds.

Hendrick Locks Down Larson

Kyle Larson signed a five-year extension to remain with Hendrick Motorsports through 2031, continuing in the No. 5 Chevrolet. Primary sponsor HendrickCars.com will stay aligned with the team, and crew chief Cliff Daniels also agreed to a multi-year extension. The move locks in one of NASCAR’s most productive modern pairings.

Larson has delivered 2 championships and good wins since joining Hendrick, and keeping both driver and crew chief aligned preserves chemistry that many organizations spend years trying to build. For Rick Hendrick, he wishes he was allowed to give Larson a lifetime deal but 5 years is good enough.

Tomac Reasserts Himself In Seattle

Eli Tomac reminded everyone why he remains one of the best riders in the paddock during Round 6 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship at Lumen Field. The 450SMX main event began with Cooper Webb securing the holeshot, but the deteriorating Seattle surface quickly became a factor. Deep ruts forced riders into survival mode. Tomac settled into second and methodically chipped away at Webb’s lead.

Just past the halfway mark, Tomac made a move for the lead and never looked back. Even when lapped traffic briefly allowed Webb to close, Tomac responded immediately, extending the gap and controlling the pace to secure his third win of the season. Behind them, Hunter Lawrence recovered from early adversity but narrowly missed the podium after a costly mistake in the sand section. Tomac’s 56th career Supercross victory tightened the championship to a single point.

Wehrlein Executes To Perfection In Jeddah

At the Jeddah E-Prix, Pascal Wehrlein delivered one of the cleanest drives of the season. Strategy defined the race, particularly around the mandatory Pit Boost window and Attack Mode deployments.

Wehrlein positioned himself perfectly during the pit cycle, then used Attack Mode to clear his final obstacles and build a comfortable multi-second advantage. From there, it became a matter of disciplined energy saving. Edoardo Mortara converted a strong grid position into second, while Mitch Evans charged from 12th to claim the final podium spot. With the victory, Wehrlein moves to the top of the championship standings.

IndyCar Secures Its Future

IndyCar Series announced major news as Chevrolet and Honda both committed to new multi-year engine supply agreements ahead of the 2028 chassis and engine regulations. The agreements also align with IndyCar’s introduction of manufacturer charters in 2028 which will allow both engine manufacturers to have factory teams.