NASCAR admits mistake in handling severe crash at Chicago circuit

According to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Brad Moran — NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director — provided an official explanation regarding the controversial crash handling at the Chicago race.

The incident began when Cody Ware experienced a brake rotor failure while traveling at approximately 90 mph — his No. 51 Ford crashed heavily into the tire barriers at Turn 6.

NASCAR acknowledged the delay in displaying the yellow flag due to limited surveillance in that area. “We didn’t have footage of the car’s impact with the tire barrier. This is something we’ll evaluate and improve,” Moran explained.

“If we had seen Cody’s crash directly, the yellow flag would have been immediate. But the flag only came out after he lowered his window net,” stated Moran.

Although the driver was unharmed in the incident, NASCAR promised to enhance track monitoring systems if racing returns to Chicago — particularly in critical areas requiring more stringent oversight.