The 2025 ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway delivered a chaotic spectacle in its FOX television debut, with the first half of the race more closely resembling a demolition derby than a traditional superspeedway event.

The 45-lap opening segment saw six cautions and three major multi-car crashes, drastically thinning the field before the race’s midpoint competition caution. The mayhem began early when Cody Dennison lost control of his No. 11 machine on lap 5, triggering the first “Big One” of the afternoon that collected 15 cars.

“Went rolling through the center and it just went weightless,” Dennison explained after being released from the infield care center. “I didn’t move the wheel at all. I was like, ‘Alright, the downforce is going to catch it.’ And then as the weight balance shifted, it just hit the wall, straight at it. It was pretty spooky.”

Among those caught in the early carnage were series regular Thad Moffitt and veteran Willie Mullins. Moffitt, who had high hopes for the season opener with his Nitro Motorsports team, was particularly frustrated by the early exit.

The chaos continued as Amber Balcaen found herself at the center of multiple incidents. She was first involved in a crash that collected Rette Jones Racing teammates Garrett “Cleetus McFarland” Mitchell and Kyle Steckly. Later, a tire issue sent her into the wall, collecting Mitchell again along with Craig Bracken, who required transportation to a local hospital for evaluation.

Mitchell, making his ARCA debut, took the disappointment in stride. “I was having the time of my life,” he reflected before joining the FOX broadcast booth for the remainder of the race. “I should’ve zigged instead of zagged.”

The final major incident before the competition caution occurred when Jeff Scofield’s attempted bump draft went awry, sending Isabella Robusto spinning and collecting multiple cars, including her Venturini Motorsports teammate Lawless Alan, Scofield himself, and Corey Day.

The second half saw a relative calm descend over the field, though separate incidents claimed Jake Finch and Tim Richmond. By race’s end, only 13 cars finished on the lead lap as Brenden Queen took the checkered flag, surviving the war of attrition that marked ARCA’s 2025 season opener.

The extensive damage throughout the field served as a stark reminder of superspeedway racing’s unpredictable nature, particularly with a mix of experienced veterans and newcomers navigating the high banks of Daytona.