The 2021 Daytona 500 wasn't bad for the first 14 laps, and the issue I saw with this race, was because of the big wreck that happened on lap 14, I learned that if you have a 15+ car pileup at the beginning of the race you can guarantee that you're in for a snoozefest, that happened with the 2002 Aaron's 312 at Talladega.

Literally passed out on the couch during the rain delay, only to wake up to McDowell doing burnouts in the middle of the night. Just figured it was a dream and passed back out

I'm new to Nascar (I'm a lifelong F1 fan from the UK) but I thought I'd check out the Daytona 500 last year because I love motorsports. This was my first ever Nascar race... but I stuck with it! I stayed up through the night, through the rain delays and watched an underdog win at 5am and I'm happy I made that decision despite how bad all the regular Nascar fans thought the race was. Watched every race last season and now heading into my 2nd season as a fan this year, and hoping for a Tyler Reddick win!

Here's to hoping the '22 Daytona 500 will be remembered for the right reasons, and not like the past 5 races where its just been genuine chaos and destruction at one point or another.

It's crazy how races like '04 and '07 get away with having like five cars in the lead pack for 300 miles, but everyone flips out over 2021 when dudes just decided not to race like maniacs before the stage breaks.

This was a decent 500 but thanks to the long delay it ruined the potential of the race.

I remember about a month before the race, I was ranting about the wreckfest superspeedway races we've had recently, and flat out said, the only way we're not gonna have a wreckfest of a race, is if the big one happens early

At least the season, as a whole, wasn’t so bad.

4:20 As a Byron fan this killed me. Avoided EVERYTHING that would give big damage just to get hit in the back at the end

It was very unsurprising to see social media in the final 10 laps be like "Logano's got this, it's gonna be a snorefest of a finish." But my gut told me otherwise, and I've always kept this quote to myself, "it ain't over till it's over." The moment Keselowski got that run on the backstretch, I knew clear as day, that was the beginning. Still not a fan of the fact that I didn't fall asleep until like 2 AM. What a race of irony though. Derrike Cope's crash, the final lap crash in turn 3 of all places, the #3 car finishing third (think back to Dale's defensive tactics in '01 in a way), the most popular driver finishing second just like Junebug did in '01, a first-time winner being named Michael, a third year in a row having #1 at the end of it have a first-time Daytona 500 winner (Waltrip '01, Bayne '11, McDowell '21), McDowell's main sponsor Loves winning on Valentines Day, the #3 going to victory lane in SOME form (in the number 34), etc, etc. There's most certainly something I'm missing, it would not surprise me. Hopefully, the new car gives us a rebound this year.

At least we had an underdog winning the race

I remember watching this race. It was Valentine’s Day and my girlfriend at the time just broke up with me and I was sitting in the bar as soon as it started raining. I had work the next morning but I just sat till midnight watching the whole show unfold at the end

The lap 14 wreck killed the race no doubt lol

This was my first ever cup race. Sat around for hours waiting for it to restart, just to wait and hope for the race to end. Skipping the 500 this year and just going to the duels and truck race instead.

I’ve always said I want the whole first 160 laps of the Daytona 500 to run without an incident, the last 40 laps yeah go ham and this race shows exactly why, so many cars out early leads to no energy through the field and leads to a train race

I hope the weather in Florida isn't going to affect the whole speedweeks.

The race was ruined when Christopher Bell tried being a turn 3 hero on lap 14 of a 200 lap race…

During the rain delay, i was grinding NASCAR Thunder 2003 Career mode, that helped me stay awake until dinner (im on the west coast)

I blame the early big one. If a big one ever happens in the first two stages, the race just usually isn't as good. But when they can all make it to like the last 40 or 30 laps it is almost always a good race.

For me, Michael McDowell winning made up for most of the terrible race. I even went and bought the diecast from this race afterwards

Fingers crossed this year's 500 won't give the last one a run for it's money 🤞

Ah man. You had to leave in 2020. That was my first Daytona 500 and 4th race overall. I've been watching all types of racing since 1995. Newman's accident started right in front of my face. It was wild. Great content dude.

you forgot the fact that mcdowell won the race in the LOVE's car on valentine's day

Shoutout to Austin Dillon for keeping it clean not only in this race but also in both Talladega races last year. We don't talk about the August Daytona race.

I remember staying up all night watching the 500. I remember falling asleep towards the last 20-30 laps and woke up when the winner was doing the burnouts. I thought "So thats who won" and promptly went back to sleep.

I was actually working on an online job application test during the whole event (including rain delay). I didn't get that job, sadly.

The long delay ruined this entire race! I remember the big one, and I was like, *OH SHOOT HOOTENANNY* Hopefully this year's Daytona 500 is more entertaining, and not so boring!

Austin Cindric led his first laps in the Cup Series during Stage 2 (to be exact, Cindric led Laps 72 and 73), after finishing 5th in Stage 1.

It was pretty good to me but I understand where people are coming from with this take! That Lap 14 Big One killed the race for sure! Not to mention Cope wrecked in Turn 3 in about the same spot where Dale Sr wrecked in 2001 with Harvick leading so it was the perfect 1990 payback!

When the rain came I had to leave after about 30 minutes because I had a 3 hour drive back home for school so I couldn’t stay the entire time

I remember sitting near you after the rain delay!!! I'll never forget how hyped we were when we found out McDowell won.

I feel like '22 is either gonna be AMAZING or AWFUL.

The main thing I remembered about this race was Michael McDowell coming through to win after the Penske team mates of Joey Lagano and Brad Kaselowski collided on the final lap

I remember watching this finish at work on my phone and I can say, while the rest of the race was kind of a snooze fest, the fact that Logano didn't win, and McDowell got an improbable Daytona 500 victory salvaged this race, at least for me.

My first Daytona 500 experience 😢 My Dad and I got front stretch tickets for Sunday and about a month before we were told it was over sold due to covid restrictions and had the option to postpone the tickets for 2022, or get out in the turn 3 infield. It was a pretty miserable day after the lap 14 wreck but glad we still go to be there.

This was my first Nascar race i followed after knowing thr sport for years. The greatest thing i remember is cardboard Michael walltrip doing the gridwalk

It was my first race ever, and the delay was pure hell man. But I got drunk and the adrenaline from the cars kept me going later. Hope for the best this year, especially with the next gen cars

The MRN broadcast in the final lap always just breaks my heart

Also, in the Philadelphia market we missed a couple laps in the closing laps of the race because Fox 29 Philadelphia decided to attempt to air "The ClassH Room" which made me scream "WHAT THE F*CK!?!"

I remember watching that race back in 8th grade, when I was 15! I stayed up till 1 in the morning! It delayed all of Animation Domination!

God I never realized until now how hard of a hit it was for Kyle and Cindric

There's nothing better than hearing MRN. I usually have to work and I listen to MRN. They have more excitement and enthusiasm during a race

Michael McDowell winning the race was the best part of that race

New segment: Races ruined by The Big One

I’m hyped for the 2022 500. A new car, new teams everywhere. It’s going to be a fun race, with or without big wrecks

Definitely have to agree with all your points The race started after I got off work and while I was shopping for snacks when the lap 14 big one and the delay kinda snuffed my mood. Plus I was tired from work in the morning and was half asleep by the time the race restarted

Big One @ 14 + epic rain delay = major borefest! Hey, have you ever heard of “The Talladega Curse”? If you haven’t, look it up; that’d be one crazy video! 😃

Nice to see testing footage in the background for the sponsorship

Loving the vids man keep up the great work 🙂

I remember reading a fake tweet saying the race was postponed till Monday… I drank too much and woke up to McDowell being the winner the next morning. Worst. Hangover. Ever. 😂😂

"My optimism was washed away." Pun intended about the rain? 🤣 I think one of the bad problems is the "crash clock" when those cars crashed they would have had the metal cut away, something that can't really be done nowadays under the rules.

every time i see that lap 14 wreck i feel so bad for blaney...dude was in the bubble, carnage all around him, then finally someone taps him, doesnt hurt the car but sends him into the grass...the splitter digs in, and hes done.

This was my first NASCAR race in person so it has a special place in my heart. Plus I got to see my fav driver AD3 start on the front row. But yeah it sucked as far as races go lol

I'd say the 4th worst has to be the 2009 Daytona 500. Yes ik the race was called off after 152 laps but that event had NINE LEAD CHANGES.

With how cold it was that night i was able to feel the fire from the final lap crash and it was one of the worst wrecks I’ve seen at a race

Michael McDowell is like a modern Bobby Hillin Jr. An underdog taking his first win after a last-lap crash took out the leaders.

It was raining there, but it was snowing here in Texas. Almost blizzard conditions here.

This 500 was pretty lackluster because of the lap 14 pileup. After that it just turned into train racing and then racked up in intensity at the end.

During the rain delay I flipped back and forth between the race and movie channels Oh lord at that point I was like can they just go back racing tomorrow

I had school so I couldn't watch the race, when I opened my dad's computer I saw that McDowell won and I was shocked

Dude!!!!!!!!!! Moto f'n grater is so underappreciated thank u for using it as background music

Elliott was gonna pass McDowell if they kept it green. Change my mind.

I didn't realize the Derrick Cope thing until this video, that's really interesting and kinda mysterious too.

I didn't watch this race live, but that final, fiery crash did draw an audible "Oh shit!" from me, thank God that everyone involved was okay.

I think this is driver/points issue now. Unfortunately that package produced runs that are to big to just block and expect no consequences. With stage racing you don't want to give up those points because it could matter in the end. The system literally encourages aggressive driving, get rid of the win and you're in during the regular season, it makes more sense for the playoffs.

I remember meeting you under the grandstands before this race. That wreck on lap 14 definetely ruined the whole vibe for the race

It was such a letdown in person, but the rest of speedweeks was great!

Not gonna lie, I was grateful for everyone just running laps to make up for all that lost time from the rain delay. I had to work the next morning and wouldn't have been able to see the end if there had been a bunch of random cautions.

AYEEEE, this was a video I’ve been expecting after the race!

Newman was shitting hid pants the hole race hoping he does go into the air again lmao

I spent 5.5 hours waiting in the stands that day, and meeting the random people along the way is one of my favorite things about racing

As others have said, when there's a big one in the first stage... it's a craptacular race. Manufacturer orders ruin it as well.

If you live in Texas it’s also a reminder of that awful freeze 🥶 too. Lol

10:29 thats creepy. In turn 3 thats the exact way Dales crash looked 20 years before.

As a McDowell it is #1 in my heart

It snowed in my area when the last 50 laps of the race

Dale came back for some revenge, the 3rd worst 500 on the 20 year anniversary, Derrick Cope blowing up, an upset victory, and a hard hit to the turn 4 wall.

2001: michael waltrip 2021: michael mcdowell

I remember playing NASCAR in roblox and then I accidentally flipped and all of the cars just hit each other and crashes

Being there in the cold sucked and I was way at the bottom I could only imagine how could it was at the higher seats

as soon as the race ended i was expecting this video to be uploaded

well past midnight means the drivers were ready to go home until the end. but as a fan, you shod never insult it when so many young kids with no idea that racing is actually good, are watching as they'll just never give it a chance. the radio announcers are so much better than the TV commentators who are just like, "there is a wreck, trouble, big wreck." great vid BFM....when is the BFM Cup Series for N2K3 coming back? Or did they game just die?

Literally up until the last minute of this video, I couldn't remember who won this race.

9:15 I can’t hear that commentary without thinking of Thunder 2003

Daytona has had pathetically terrible luck with rain since 2009. 9 times rain has delayed, postponed and/or shortened the races. TWICE that the race was postponed & was shortened by rain the next day (2014/2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400).

Had my third favorite driver to win the 500. Just wish his first win could’ve been more intresting

What’s the music that plays behind the video? I love hard rock so Im trying to figure it out.

I just learned about Keselowski hitting the catch fence. Great job Michael on the win

is that Motograter-Down playing in the backround?

This is the last NASCAR race I’ve ever saw.

I will go on record and say that to me this is the most disappointing Daytona 500. When you think about how great the rest of speed weeks was that particular year.

"I can't stand NASCAR nowadays. You ruined my sport. Take that!" -Dale Sr.

I actually enjoyed this race it was fun watching people try to work together and strategize with so few people in the field

imo it wasn't that bad

Great Video Bro

PLEASE MORE ARCA PAST RACE REVIEWS!!! LOVE THE WRECKFESTS!! THERE AWESOME BROTHER

my entire family Watched this race and one by one we all started to go to bed I stayed up till the end but I remember I was playing a train horn sound effect for a bit that's how bored I was.

The 500 in 2021 was better than 2020. Here's what happened: The crash on lap 16 took out a lot of inexperienced drivers who felt like they needed to make erratic moves to get to the front. (Erik Jones being an example.) What was left were the more experienced drivers who knew how to make moves at the last second and keep it clean. (This is what Harvick and Dillon were on their way to when the wreck broke out.) They weren't just waiting for the fans to go to sleep; they were gathering as much information as they could on how to be in the right place. I'd like nothing more than to see the same race this year. Could you imagine what the run to the flag would have been like without the crash? It definitely would have been closer than 2016!

I felt that the rain delay was the problem. No driver wants to drive this late when they were expected to finish 6 hours ago; they just wanted to go home. If you delayed the race until Monday, I feel like the race would be good. Of course, TV ratings would be low and less fans would be watching. But I feel like racing until midnight would warrant the same results.

After the rain delay this 500 honestly felt like a duel race with the single file racing, lower amount of cars, and being under the lights. I hope I never see another 500 that makes me feel like I'm watching a duel.