Following the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Riley Herbst addressed comments made by Brad Keselowski regarding a late-race incident. While speaking on The Gluckcast, host Jeff Gluck asked Herbst about Keselowski’s remark calling Herbst’s final lap move
“one of the dumbest things I have ever seen,”
prompting Herbst to share his perspective on the situation and Keselowski’s reaction.
Herbst revealed that Keselowski has not contacted him directly since the race. He acknowledged the intense emotions involved by saying,
“He hasn’t reached out to me. I understand that everybody has emotions,”
and expressed his own disappointment with how the race concluded.
“I was pretty upset after the race as well, not only because I had a shot to win it, and it didn’t unfold the way I wanted to, but that if I made a different move, I could have finished, theoretically, at worst, third. But I risked it all to try to win the race, and I finished eighth. So I was very upset, too.”
Addressing Keselowski’s harsh criticism, Herbst added,
“People say things when they are in the heat of the moment. He has every right to feel the way he does. But to say that’s the most egregious thing he’s ever seen, I feel like that’s a bit of a stretch. I grew up watching him race on plate tracks as well. I kind of maybe learned it from him, or who knows.”
Final Positions and Incident Details from the Daytona 500
Tyler Reddick emerged as the winner of the Daytona 500, but the race’s conclusion featured a significant wreck involving both Brad Keselowski and Riley Herbst. As Keselowski attempted to overtake Reddick for his first Daytona 500 victory, Herbst simultaneously made his own bid for the win. During this critical moment, Herbst’s car made contact with Keselowski’s, igniting a crash just before the start/finish line.
Keselowski expressed his frustration afterward, telling John Newby of Savage Ventures,
“The 35 [Herbst] just wrecked me out of nowhere for no reason,”
and continued,
“That was one of the dumbest things I have ever seen. He had no chance of blocking my run. I had a huge run — I don’t know if I could have gotten to the 45, but I would have liked to have found out because my run was coming fast, and the 35 just wrecked us and himself. Pretty stupid.”
Ultimately, Herbst secured an eighth-place finish, marking his best result in four Daytona 500 starts, while Keselowski completed the race in fifth place. Despite competing in the event for 17 years, Keselowski has yet to claim a victory in this marquee race.
Emotions and Rivalries in High-Stakes NASCAR Moments
The intense exchange between Herbst and Keselowski underscores the pressure and unpredictability inherent in NASCAR’s most prestigious event. Both drivers were aggressively pursuing their first Daytona 500 triumph when the late-race contact altered their outcomes. Herbst’s willingness to take a significant risk reflected his determination to win, while Keselowski’s sharp critique highlights the frustration that can arise when a potential victory slips away due to unexpected incidents.
This clash not only highlights the competitive nature of NASCAR racing but also foreshadows potential continued tensions as both drivers reflect on the race and prepare for upcoming events. Fans and analysts will be watching to see if this episode influences future interactions on the track as Riley Herbst Daytona 500 response remains a hot topic among drivers and supporters.
#NASCAR – Brad Keselowski called Riley Herbst's attempted block on the final lap of the Daytona 500 one of the dumbest things he's ever seen.
"Pretty stupid." pic.twitter.com/PGp7RMdbj2— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) February 15, 2026
