Jeremy Mayfield did not hold back on his thoughts regarding the Daytona 500 especially the race’s finish.

Following a restart with 5 laps to go in the race, there were two wrecks on the final lap. First, race leader Carson Hocevar was spun Erik Jones. Jones then came down the track and collected Michael McDowell. Further in the pack, John Hunter Nemechek spun into the outside wall and collected Cole Custer and a whole host of other cars behind them.

NASCAR kept the race green with Tyler Reddick inheriting the lead on the bottom with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Chase Elliott in the grooves above him. The pack also included Zane Smith, Joey Logano, Riley Herbst, Brad Keselowski, and Chris Buescher.

It looked like it was Chase Elliott’s race to lose as he got a big push from Smith to take command of the race with Reddick and Herbst lined up behind him before Logano and Keselowski were two by two with Buescher and Stenhouse Jr. behind them. Reddick made a move to the top side and Herbst followed him. Elliott went up to block it, but Reddick dove underneath him with and was able to beat Elliott to the line. Meanwhile, Herbst went to the top and stuffed Keselowski into the fence. He then came down and clipped Elliott and Logano and everyone, but Reddick was wrecked.

Before all of this, the drivers were engaging in a fuel saving strategy as they’ve been wont to do at races at Daytona over the last few years. Ironically, it is usually for naught as the races typically end with a late race caution reracking the field as was the case yesterday or in NASCAR Overtime.

Mayfield reacted to the race writing in a post on Facebook, “Another Daytona 500, another finish where the winner leads ONE LAP because everyone else is out or in the wall.”

“We just spent hours watching professional drivers save gas like they’re driving a damn Prius, only for the finish to be decided like that,” he continued. “We’re supposed to call this “The Great American Race?” This car is a tank, the drivers have zero respect, and the trophy is losing its meaning.”

“Seeing the veterans get chewed up and spit out by the “bump-and-run” tactics of these younger drivers is getting hard to watch,” Mayfield added. “Today proved that experience doesn’t matter at Daytona anymore only who is willing to be the biggest wrecking ball.”

“If you enjoyed that finish you’re a fan of crashes, not a fan of racing,” he concluded.

Mayfield wasn’t the only one to express his distaste for the race. Mark Martin reacted to the fuel strategy portion of the race writing on X, “This is not a good look.”

This is not a good look.

— Mark Martin (@markmartin) February 15, 2026

In a subsequent post he added, “I’m glad I’m not in the booth.”

I’m glad I’m not in the booth.

— Mark Martin (@markmartin) February 15, 2026

It wasn’t just NASCAR veterans. Sprint car driver Danny Dietrich also shared, “Has to be one of the most boring 500s I’ve ever watched. This fuel saving deal is terrible for the race. Whats everyone else think?”

Has to be one of the most boring 500s I've ever watched. This fuel saving deal is terrible for the race. Whats everyone else think?

— Danny Dietrich (@dannydietrich) February 15, 2026

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