Cody Ware was involved in a frightening crash during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race at the Chicago Street Circuit when a brake rotor failure caused him to collide head-on with the tire barrier at Turn 6 while traveling near 90 mph. Although the wreck resulted in significant damage to his car and safety equipment, Ware walked away unharmed, which reassured fans following the incident.

The crash drew intense reactions on social media, especially after a video showing the inside of Ware’s car during the impact was shared by Steven Taranto. NASCAR officials faced criticism for a nearly 34-second delay before calling a caution flag, which unexpectedly allowed race leader Shane van Gisbergen to receive the white flag and complete the race under green flag conditions despite no restart occurring.

Details of the Crash and NASCAR’s Response

During the late stages of the Chicago Street Race, Cody Ware’s brake rotor failed, forcing a high-speed impact against the tire barrier at Turn 6. The crash occurred at an estimated 90 mph, and although the collision was severe, Ware was able to exit his vehicle unassisted. NASCAR was scrutinized after race control took over half a half-minute to acknowledge the crash and deploy the caution flag, raising questions about the safety response timing.

NASCAR later explained that race officials lacked direct video footage of Ware’s initial impact, which delayed their assessment of the crash’s seriousness and contributed to the slow reaction time. This delay allowed Shane van Gisbergen to maintain a green flag finish even as Ware’s wreck was still being processed.

Fan Reactions to the Onboard Crash Footage

The video shared by Steven Taranto captured the cockpit view of Ware during the collision, highlighting the violent movement of the steering wheel and side padding as the car hit the barrier.

“TNT just showed a replay of Cody Ware’s Chicago crash from the onboard camera looking at Cody inside the cockpit. Look at how the steering wheel and some of the side padding moved forward upon impact,” Steven Taranto, motorsports journalist

Fans expressed relief that Ware survived such a dramatic crash and voiced concerns about driver safety and NASCAR’s response protocols.

“Glad he isn’t dead holy crap,” wrote a user on X.

“I just feel like we have gone in a completely wrong direction. I mean at this point thank goodness they don’t have the speed and horsepower we all want back for the other tracks. Maybe it’s mean but I feel like more people are getting injured in this car than the past cars driven or they are simply slower to get back on after a wreck. The body movement and bent steering wheel is wicked. Also not to mention no caution or the fact NASCAR didn’t see this is awesome not a good look,” commented another fan.

Some fans noted the crucial role of safety devices like the HANS system, crediting it and the tire wall for protecting Ware during the crash.

“Steering wheel is designed to collapse like that. Hans Device probably saved his life along with the tire wall,” said one viewer.

“Wow! That’s incredible. That wheel folded like it was made of cardboard,” remarked another fan.

“I’m no professional but I’m pretty sure that’s not supposed to happen,” an additional fan observed about the steering wheel deformation.

Cody Ware Describes the Extensive Damage to His Car and Safety Gear

Cody Ware later shared details about the damage inflicted on his car and protective equipment during the crash. The high-impact collision, which happened at roughly 93 mph due to the brake rotor failure, destroyed much of the car’s interior and compromised several key safety elements.

Ware revealed that both his helmet’s EPS foam liner and his HANS device were cracked, and the steering wheel suffered significant bending. Despite this, the severity of the crash contrasted sharply with his lack of serious injuries, underscoring the importance and effectiveness of NASCAR’s safety engineering.

“Pretty much everything from the interior of the car as well as my gear was killed in that impact. So, thankfully getting a new, a new helmet, a new Hans, there was a crack in the EPS foam inside the helmet, Hans device was cracked, steering wheel got bent up pretty good as well. So, I think it’s just a testimony to all the safety people that are selling us helmets and Hanses as well as the steering wheels from Max Pappas. And then my interior guys, and all the guys that are that are building these race cars and keeping them safe,” Cody Ware, NASCAR driver

Ware took the opportunity to praise the safety teams, manufacturers, and car builders who contribute to driver protection. His experience serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role these professionals play in motorsport safety.

Implications for NASCAR Safety Measures and Fan Concerns

The intense reactions from fans and the visible aftermath of Ware’s crash highlight ongoing discussions around safety improvements and race control responsiveness in NASCAR. While the durability of safety gear prevented serious injury, the delayed caution flag and the severity of the wreck have raised important questions about race monitoring technology and protocol efficiency.

Moving forward, NASCAR and its safety partners may review both equipment resilience and race operation procedures to prevent similar incidents and ensure driver safety remains paramount at high-speed street circuit events like Chicago’s.