The NASCAR All-Star Race opened with a stunning nine-car pile-up on Lap 2, a moment that left the crowd gasping and the broadcast team scrambling for coverage.
A chaotic start
The incident was ignited when Ryan Preece clipped Todd Gilliland, sending his car careening into the wall and catching fire, which ended his race prematurely.
Three former Cup Series champions — Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott — were caught in the wreck, their machines sustaining damage that sent their teams into a frantic repair effort before the final stage.
Preece later appeared on FS1 and openly admitted fault for the chain reaction, acknowledging that his early move set off the collision.
Despite the damage, both Blaney and Larson remain locked in as past champions and are still eligible to re-enter the competition once their cars are restored.
The race continues under the bright lights of the superspeedway, with fans watching closely to see whether the repaired machines can rally for a dramatic finish.