Massive wreck at Daytona takes out majority of field to start Mazda MX-5 Cup race

This morning’s Mazda MX-5 Cup race at Daytona International Speedway started off with perhaps the largest wreck in the series’ history. You don’t see these “big ones” with these MX-5 cars. A development series for future NASCAR, IMSA, and other racers, this is one lesson these young drivers won’t soon forget.

When the green flag dropped for the 45:00 race today, things got scary and fast. There were cars basically wrecking onto pit road. Just a mess of metal and a huge wreck to start the IMSA weekend at Daytona.

The Mazda MX-5 Cup is a fun series. These cars are so close to one another that the driver’s talents are the thing that separates them from one another. Even in these timed races the finishes can come down to fractions of a second.

Check out this massive wreck to start the race earlier today.

pic.twitter.com/EQF7Ga4Hl1 https://t.co/8x71dWqCZU

— Mattzel89 (@Mattzel89) January 24, 2025

Speaking of close finishes, the finish today after this huge wreck came down to just 0.038 seconds. Jared Thomas sealed the win over Todd Buras. Drivers like Gresham Wagner were taken out in the early wreck opening this race up to the next driver up.

If this is a precursor for what is to come in the Rolex 24, then those drivers need to be on edge. When you wreck out of a 45-minute race, that is one thing. Wrecking out at the start of a 24-hour event? Now that is just torture.

A few NASCAR stars are hoping they don’t add to the list of Daytona wrecks this week.

NASCAR stars taking on Rolex 24 at Daytona hope to avoid wrecks

We see it almost every year in the Rolex 24. Things get going at Daytona and on lap one or two while all of the classes are shuffling around, someone gets spun out or wrecked. The only thing you can do is try and make sure you aren’t the one being wrecked.

As far as NASCAR stars go, there are a few involved this year in the Rolex 24. Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch are teaming up for Trackhouse Racing and TF Sport. They also have IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin on their Corvette team, as well as Ben Keating, an endurance racing veteran.

Meanwhile, Austin Cindric will compete against the Trackhouse duo. Cindric’s Ford Multimatic Mustang team is on the pole for the GTD Pro class. In GTD, Parker Kligerman is set to race for the Forte Lamborghini team. A lot to watch for if you are a NASCAR fan.

Of course, there are drivers like Andy Lally, Mike Rockenfeller, and Daniel Kvyat who are competing in the Rolex 24. All of those drivers have made at least part-time starts in NASCAR. Rockenfeller is the one who put Ford on the pole for GTD Pro.

A lot of action is coming up this weekend. Peacock has the Rolex 24 at Daytona coverage. There is a little something for everyone in this race.