The smoke from a multi-car wreck was not the only substance in the air at the end of the Daytona 500. Someone's ashes also hovered in the air as Tyler Reddick scored his first crown jewel win.
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Video take from the stands on Sunday showed the wreck that began when Riley Herbst attempted to block Brad Keselowski's run. Some cars slid across the finish line and through the grass. Others slammed into the outside wall.
Meanwhile, a fan ran up to the catchfence and made a throwing motion with his arm. From a distance, it appeared that ashes appeared in the air. The fan seemingly had the intention of getting the ashes onto the track on the final lap, but they blew back in his face due to the gusts generated by the cars.
Imagine trying to throw someone's ashes onto the track at the finish of the Daytona 500 but only getting a face full of relative instead.pic.twitter.com/B4wxDFQTDf
— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) February 16, 2026
"Spread My Ashes At Daytona is a country song," one person joked after seeing the surprising act take place. Some others weighed in by commenting that this is a wild way to kick off the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
The fan with the ashes is far from the only person to make a questionable decision at the end of the Daytona 500. Another walked down pit road after the race and interrupted a live TV interview featuring Daniel Suarez.
He then tapped the Spire Motorsports driver on the shoulder before walking away, which left Suarez stunned for a moment.
NASCAR history features countless examples of fans making questionable or downright bad decisions. Just take a walk through the Talladega Superspeedway campgrounds late at night.
The list of odd incidents includes a fan walking onto the track during a red flag at Watkins Glen International and trying to get an autograph from Matt Kenseth. A fan also stole the pace car at Talladega Superspeedway. In 2014, a fan climbed the catchfence at Richmond Raceway and sat on it.
