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Drivers race in a tight pack during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026.

The “Big One” has arrived at Talladega — and it started with Bubba Wallace.

A massive multi-car crash erupted on Lap 116 during Stage 2 of Sunday’s race after Wallace was pushed from behind and sent into the outside wall, triggering a chain-reaction wreck that has already involved at least 26 cars, with damage totals still being assessed under a red flag.

Within seconds, the pack stacked up behind him.

“That’s the whole field!” one reporter shouted during the live broadcast as cars slammed into each other in a cloud of smoke.

Another driver described the aftermath in real time: “It’s a parking lot back here.”

Bubba Wallace Takes Responsibility After Early Exit

Wallace climbed from his car following the wreck and spoke with FOX about the incident moments after exiting the infield care center.

“Uhh damn. Right?” Wallace said. “Hate it for our team.”

The early exit marks another frustrating result, as Wallace pointed to a growing issue with race-ending incidents.

“Don’t want to have any DNF. We have two now,” he added. “It’s a bummer.”

Wallace also took responsibility for the initial contact that triggered the crash.

“We gotta figure out how to be pushed better. I take responsibility on that.”

Wallace Gets Turned, Sparks Chain Reaction

The incident began near the front of the pack, where tight drafting at Talladega leaves almost no margin for error.

Wallace appeared to get pushed from behind entering the corner, which sent his car into the outside wall. At superspeedway speeds, that single moment was enough to trigger chaos.

With the field tightly packed behind him, drivers had no time or space to react.

The result: a rapid, multi-lane pileup that stretched across the track and instantly blocked the racing groove.

‘I Can’t Even See’: Smoke and Speed Leave Nowhere to Go

Visibility became a major factor almost immediately.

A thick cloud of tire smoke filled the track, blinding drivers who were already closing at high speed in the draft.

NASCAR reporter Jeff Gluck described the moment as it unfolded: “BIG ONE!!!!!!! I can’t even see! Tons of smoke!”

He later added: “Wow, total junkyard. Replay is going to be interesting on this one.”

With nowhere to escape and no clear line through the wreck, trailing cars piled in one after another.

Wallace, Blaney, Logano Among Drivers Collected

Early reports confirmed several major names were involved in the crash, including Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano.

Veteran reporter Bob Pockrass noted the scale of the wreck in real time, writing: “Big crash … Wallace, Blaney Logano and several others … red flag.”

Wallace was seen climbing from his car following the incident as safety crews rushed onto the track.

‘It’s a Parking Lot’: Red Flag Stops Race After Massive Pileup

The crash was so extensive that NASCAR immediately threw the red flag to halt the race.

One driver reported being four cars ahead of where the wreck initially started, while another said there was only one car behind them that avoided the chaos entirely — underscoring just how quickly the incident consumed the field.

“It’s a parking lot back here,” another reported said during the broadcast as cars sat damaged across the track.

Cleanup efforts are now underway as officials assess which cars can continue following one of the most destructive crashes of the season.

A Classic Talladega ‘Big One’ — Sudden and Unavoidable

At Talladega, this kind of wreck is always looming.

Cars run inches apart at nearly 200 mph, and one mistimed push can instantly turn into a full-field incident.

This time, that’s exactly what happened.

What started as a push gone wrong on Bubba Wallace quickly turned into a textbook “Big One” — sudden, violent, and impossible for much of the field to avoid.