Pace car crashes during NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix, brings out red flag

We have seen one NASCAR driver wreck and now the pace car has had a moment of its own! A bit of a hiccup early on in Phoenix. Whoever was driving the pace car is likely going to get their keys taken away after this.

Just before Stage 2 began, the NASCAR pace car pulled onto pit road too late. The car slammed into the barrels at the entrance of the pits.

This is not something you see every day. But it just happened in the NASCAR championship race.

THE PACE CAR JUST CRASHED INTO THE BARRELS LMFAOOOOOOOOOO!!!@AlwaysRaceDay pic.twitter.com/kLuCEG7BP3

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) November 10, 2024

You can’t make this up. All eyes on the sport, the biggest prize up for grabs – and the pace car brings out the red flag? In all honesty, it probably helped make the Championship 4 drivers a little more loose.

On the TV broadcast, Michael Jordan was spotted having a laugh about the whole ordeal. His driver Tyler Reddick is battling hard to win a championship in Phoenix today. Early on, he will have to make some big changes and hit his pit stops perfectly.

As for the other Championship 4 drivers, they are starting to form a pack. We will see if Reddick can keep up. While Stage 1 went well, the beginning of Stage 2 is looking worrisome.

Joey Logano wins Stage 1 before NASCAR pace car crash

To recap the first stage, it was all about Joey Logano. Logano got around pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr. early on. Once he had clean air, Logano was gone. Although he was reeled in late after getting into lap traffic.

Unfortunately, we are seeing the same issues we have had before at Phoenix. Drivers are able to pass if they are much faster. However, up in the top-10, top-5, top-2 it gets difficult to pass. The air prevents passing.

Ryan Blaney is the one to watch along with Logano. He moved up from a poor qualifying spot to make it into the top-5. Pit stops will be vital today. Any mistakes will be amplified as these teams battle it out.

As long as NASCAR can keep the pace car from wrecking again, this race should go along just fine. But there is always a chance of an incident on happening on the track and changing this race completely.