NASCAR’s Chicago street race in July 2025 turned into one of the wildest spectacles of the year, with drama unfolding from the opening laps to the finish. Carson Hocevar set the tone early, but the penultimate lap had everyone on the edge of their seats. Cody Ware, 29, lost his brakes in Turn 6 of lap 74 and slammed into the tire barrier at more than 90 miles per hour.
What happened next left fans and drivers stunned. NASCAR waited nearly 35 seconds to throw the yellow flag, even as Ware was trapped under a pile of tires and calling for help. The field kept racing until Shane van Gisbergen crossed the finish line, and only then did officials react. Social media erupted as fans questioned why safety took a backseat to the race finish.
How Did NASCAR’s Delayed Caution Impact the Chicago Race Finish?
Cody Ware, driving the No. 51 for Rick Ware Racing, hit the tire barrier at an estimated 93 miles per hour, according to his onboard telemetry. The impact was severe and immediate. To anyone watching, it was clear that the crash should have triggered a caution right away.
Instead, NASCAR officials waited 34.7 seconds before finally waving the yellow flag. During that time, Ware was stuck in the wall, unable to move, and repeatedly asking for help over the radio. Jeff Gluck highlighted the delay in a tweet that quickly went viral.
He wrote, “Just went back and watched the Cody Ware in-car camera footage of his wreck. He blew a rotor and absolutely smashed into the tire barrier at full speed. The telemetry thing said 93 mph. He radioed, “Need help.” NASCAR waited 34.7 seconds to throw the caution after impact.”
Just went back and watched the Cody Ware in-car camera footage of his wreck.
He blew a rotor and absolutely smashed into the tire barrier at full speed. The telemetry thing said 93 mph.
He radioed “Need help.”
NASCAR waited 34.7 seconds to throw the caution after impact.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) July 6, 2025
Fans did not hold back their frustration. One wrote, “Absolutely pathetic on NASCAR’s end,” while another said, “Disgraceful. Safety needs to be FIRST priority for our drivers!”
A third used sarcasm, saying, “Trying to avoid the allegations at the same time trying to beat possible rain is peak NASCAR officiating.” Others simply called it a “Common Nascar L.”
Meanwhile, another user stated the obvious: “I don’t think NASCAR got it right. A car nosed into the barrier at high speed. They needed to dispatch AMR immediately.” Not all were on the driver’s side.
Some even dragged Ware’s domestic abuse allegations into the scene and took a dig at him – “NASCAR needs to be held accountable, next time that could happen to someone that DOESNT hit women.”
Read More: Cody Ware’s Mom Shares Major Health Update After Terrifying 93 MPH Crash at Chicago
Others also fired shots at TNT for missing it on live TV, many deeming that the network is just another run-down version of FOX Sports. He wrote, “Race has been over for 30+mins and TNT hasn’t shown the replay of that crash. Why??”
Ware himself expressed disbelief at the delay. In an interview with Frontstretch, he said, “Yeah, I mean especially given the speed of how fast we were going into the barrier. Obviously, I’m not going anywhere; there’s not much I can do at that point. But obviously, at that point, I’m just focused on getting out of the car and getting to a safe spot.”
WOW! What an insane angle of the last-lap crash for Cody Ware… I can’t believe that wasn’t an immediate caution.
That’s a brutal impact, look how fast he’s going into that barrier… #NASCAR | : @MagnusCheeks
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) July 7, 2025
Historically, NASCAR has faced criticism for inconsistent caution calls, especially in high-stakes moments. The 2025 Chicago race added another chapter to that story. While the finish gave fans a dramatic moment, it also left many wondering if the sport needs to revisit its procedures for handling late-race incidents.
Ware’s crash was not the first time a driver has been left waiting for help after a wreck. Similar incidents have occurred in NASCAR’s past, but the widespread use of in-car cameras and social media has made the delays more visible and more scrutinized than ever before.
For now, NASCAR fans will continue to debate whether the race finish was worth the risk. One thing is clear: the conversation about safety and officiating is far from over.
