During Stage 1 at Daytona International Speedway, Tyler Reddick and Todd Gilliland collided, causing both to slide and Reddick to crash into the inside wall, highlighting the playoff peril for these drivers.
With five races remaining in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season, drivers like Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman are in strong positions to secure playoff spots, while others like Ryan Preece face challenges. Reddick, a previous winner at Indianapolis, holds a significant cushion, and Bowman has seen a notable rise in playoff probabilities after a top finish at Dover. The upcoming Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis will be crucial for several drivers vying for postseason berths.
Reddick wins Duel #1 at Daytona 500, holding off Chase Elliott by 0.056 seconds, while Johnson secures final transfer spot into Sunday's 500 field. Larson and Bowman finish in the top three, with Johnson and Yeley battling for the last spot. The race saw lead changes and a chain-reaction accident, ultimately ending with Larson leading before a caution and subsequent restart.