NASCAR drivers, teams fume amid confusion after massive Talladega wreck

The Lap 183 “Big One” at Talladega caused mass confusion and resulted in several angry drivers as it relates to the Damaged Vehicle Policy.

A record 28 drivers were involved in the wreck, many of them playoff drivers. Chase Briscoe and Chase Elliott in particular were stuck in the infield grass and required a push back to pit road. Under the policy, drivers who step out of their racecar are deemed ineligible to continue on in the race. Thus, Elliott and Briscoe flat out refused to get out.

Richard Boswell, Briscoe’s crew chief, was adamant Briscoe stay inside the car even if officials asked him to get out. Briscoe eventually got a tow back to pit road, while Elliott was pushed. Both teams were allowed to make repairs on pit road and finish the race. The confusion that led to that angered the No. 14 team and many others.

“I have never seen a more disorganized deal in my life,” Briscoe said, per Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic.

The “Big One” at Talladega causes mass confusion among drivers, teams

With multiple cars still stuck on the racetrack, NASCAR made the decision to lift the red flag and put the yellow out. The pace car was not moved, however, which incensed Christopher Bell, according to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic.

Josh Berry, one of the many drivers involved in the wreck, sarcastically took aim at NASCAR.

“All I know, is that all those cars parked in Turn 3 better not get towed to pit road buddy. Because that’d be breaking the Damaged Vehicle Policy,” Berry said, via Matt Weaver of Sportsnaut. “Fu*king 42 car is out there doing burnouts, slinging rubber all over the safety workers trying to get going. But if you have four flat tires and you get towed to pit road, you’re done right?”

Joey Logano described the scene at Talladega as he stepped out of his car after the wreck as “goofy.”

“I don’t know yet,” said Logano, when asked if there was an issue with the lift system on his car. “I didn’t feel it go up, but I had some stuff broken too so it’s kind of hard to say if the lift system worked or not. But it’s kind of comical. I get out of the car, and I just see a bunch of cars that after a red flag we’ve been sitting there for 10 minutes. Everyone’s just sitting there hoping they can roll a little bit. It’s just goofy.”