NASCAR enthusiasts expressed shock after officials opted against throwing a caution flag following Cody Ware’s intense crash near the end of the Watkins Glen race.
Ware’s High-Impact Wreck
With 10 laps remaining, Ware trailed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. out of Turn 7 before losing control. His car spun into the infield tire barrier, delivering a severe head-on impact that propelled it back toward the track. Fan-recorded video revealed damage to the ARMCO barrier behind the tires from the collision.
Despite the forceful hit, race control continued green-flag racing, contrasting with an earlier unusual incident that prompted a brief stop. Officials noted no caution emerged, allowing the event to proceed uninterrupted.
Fan Outrage Over Decision and Broadcast
Social media erupted with reactions. One viewer questioned, “How did the yellow not come out?? This is crazy.” Another stated, “That should’ve been a caution ngl.” Comments highlighted the hit’s severity: “Shocked that wasn’t a yellow. That was a pretty good hit.”
Viewers also criticized the limited broadcast coverage, which showed Ware’s damaged car only briefly without replaying the impact. One post called it “another masterclass” in poor broadcasting, adding, “No replay or nothing when it happened. Never even showed the car sitting there.”
Ware managed to drive his damaged vehicle to the garage, rejoining the action as green-flag conditions persisted.
Late-Race Chaos and Victory
The final laps saw additional spins involving Bubba Wallace and Josh Berry, yet both drivers continued without triggering a caution. Shane van Gisbergen claimed victory with a dominant drive.
The New Zealand driver reflected, “Unbelievable to win with 97. Yeah, Superfile Chevy was great. Thank you to Trackhouse. We weren’t very good in practice, and then qualifying was amazing. Good tweaks, and then today, so what a race car. Then Stephen (Doran, crew chief) made great calls. I wasn’t sure how it was going to work. Then to run them down, very, very special to do two in a row.”
