Ty Gibbs experienced a frightening fire crash during Stage 2 of the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway on Sunday, when flames erupted beneath his No. 54 Toyota. The accident happened on Lap 84 as the race field approached Turn 3, following a multi-car collision involving Gibbs and Josh Berry of Wood Brothers Racing.
While Stage 1 unfolded without major incidents, Stage 2 featured closer pack racing and heightened aggression. Gibbs was positioned high near the outside wall, racing between Alex Bowman in the No. 48 and teammate Denny Hamlin in the No. 11. As the group neared the corner, Gibbs was side-by-side with Berry’s No. 21 Ford, both seeking space on the track.
Contact occurred as Berry slightly lifted entering Turn 3, striking Gibbs’ left-rear quarter panel. This caused Gibbs to spin directly into another Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Christopher Bell, who occupied the low lane. Gibbs then spun back across the track, colliding with the outside wall before further impacts involving Berry, whose car also lost control and spun out.
Gibbs’ car came to rest sliding into the infield grass, where flames suddenly appeared beneath it, likely sparked by leaking fluids or fuel. FOX on NASCAR shared footage of the fire on social media, commenting:
“Fire under the No. 54 machine. Ty Gibbs is out of the car.”
Emergency crews promptly responded, extinguishing the blaze while Gibbs evacuated the vehicle with help from track personnel. He was assessed at the Atlanta Motor Speedway infield care center and released shortly afterward. After the race restarted, further incidents involved Riley Herbst and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., both falling several laps behind due to damage.
Reactions from Ty Gibbs and Josh Berry Following the Crash
Josh Berry, who began the race in 10th position and finished 11th in Stage 1, and Ty Gibbs, who started 25th and was gaining positions, were both forced out of the race because of the crash damage. When asked about the fire, Gibbs explained:
“Yeah, it was like, when I saw it was like that high, they sprayed it, and I got out, and I stood right on it. I didn’t know it was a fire…. (I’d have felt it) maybe if I sat there longer .”
– Ty Gibbs
Berry described the collision as part of the intense, high-speed racing characteristic of the Atlanta track:
“It looked like I faded up a little bit to give the 20 room, and Ty went to make a move. It looked like we just got together, racing the old Atlanta. In this style of racing, I think all of us just want to make it out with a decent finish. We were able to do that last week. We were able to do that in duels. But, not so lucky this time,” he added.
– Josh Berry
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin and other drivers involved continued despite sustaining damage. Both Gibbs and Berry recorded DNFs (Did Not Finish) in just the second race of the 2026 season, highlighting the risks of tightly packed competition on a fast, demanding circuit.
Implications of the Fire Crash for the Season and Safety Considerations
This incident underlines the challenges of close-quarters racing in the NASCAR All-Star Series, where even slight contact can escalate quickly into serious crashes, sometimes involving fire hazards. Ty Gibbs’ quick escape and rapid response from safety crews prevented injury, demonstrating the effectiveness of current track emergency protocols.
As the season progresses, teams and officials will likely review such incidents to further enhance vehicle durability and driver safety during aggressive pack racing. For Gibbs and Wood Brothers Racing, recovering from this fire crash will be critical for maintaining momentum toward future race finishes.
The event also reminds fans and competitors alike that high-speed motorsport carries inherent risks, despite ongoing advances in safety technology and race-day precautions.
Fire under the No. 54 machine. Ty Gibbs is out of the car. https://t.co/JiNOBglq4z pic.twitter.com/Jqz9X0K4Z3
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 22, 2026
