NASCAR Fans Think A “Phantom Debris Caution” Was Thrown To Help Out Joey Logano At The Daytona 500

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One of the big storylines, more like conspiracies, of the past NFL season was that the NFL was rigging games for the Kansas City Chiefs so Taylor Swift fans would continue to tune in and the NFL would make more money.

And with the way Mahomes gets some favorable, yet questionable, calls, sometimes it almost feels like it’s true. Although, after that belt-to-a** Super Bowl treatment courtesy Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Cooper DeJean, and the Philadelphia Eagles, I’m not sure anyone is still riding with the “NFL is rigged” belief.

Enter NASCAR…

After a number of annoying rain delays… seriously, it feels like this happens every year… the NASCAR Cup Series season officially kicked off today at the Daytona International Speedway with the iconic Daytona 500.

Joey Logano is looking to defend his 3rd Cup Series Championship, and it seems like he’s already getting some help from the racing gods… or as some might suspect, NASCAR itself?

It all went down on Lap 83. Joey was running pretty slow after some car trouble and was just about to get lapped when the caution came out… which sent him right to the back of the pack instead of down a lap.

Nascar threw a fake debris flag for debris in Turn 1 as the field was entering Turn 1.

This caution was to honor some sort of secret agreement with Penske, to get Logano back in the race, and to put Ford into their fuel strategy window.

Watch video #nascar#daytona500 pic.twitter.com/mq7sErY9oG

— whatsundersteer (@whatsundersteer) February 17, 2025

The kicker is that the broadcast never showed any debris, the guys in the booth never really addressed the debris or where it came from… it was rather mysterious. So NASCAR fans want to know… where’s the debris?

They were quick to sound off:

Did NASCAR just throw a debris caution to help keep Logano from going another lap down?? pic.twitter.com/EpFa88Dv3P

— MrHoosier (@MrHoosier_) February 17, 2025

"Debris caution" right before Logano gets lapped pic.twitter.com/SZHMMJ9r8y

— Fifth Gear (@NotFifthGear) February 17, 2025

"Debris caution" right before Joey Logano is about get lapped. pic.twitter.com/UUcIxoIdfn

— Mike Perez (@MikePerez24) February 17, 2025

So the “debris” caution (not shown on TV) conveniently helps the Ford strategy and potentially saves Joey Logano’s 2025 Daytona 500.

Extremely sus.#NASCAR

— Digital Gashouse (@DigitalGashouse) February 17, 2025

So everyone agrees that was a phantom caution to help Logano right?

— King Brendan 58 (Thicc Boi) (@brendan58avery) February 17, 2025

Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Independent, can we all agree that Joey Logano sucks!!??

— DAR_R8R (@RCR_R8R) February 16, 2025

If Joey Logano wins the Daytona 500. This caution was NASCAR doing Penske a favor.

— austindillonfan (@AD3_Fan) February 17, 2025

That Joey Logano is a lucky son of a gun leads a lot of the race then has motor issues about to go two laps down when a debris caution came out he ended up being the lucky dog got his lap back his car fixed man that's a lot of luck how bout that debris @NASCSR

— Hollywood Atrain (@AtrainHollywood) February 17, 2025

I mean… it was pretty fishy….

Later in the race, fans speculated some more phantom debris cautions were thrown to save fuel:

@EricEstepp17 are they actually finding debris on track, or is @NASCAR just throwing cautions to stop the fuel saving? 2nd time it’s happened and I haven’t seen debris on the broadcast #daytonainternationalspeedway #daytona500

— Jackson Macenko (@MacenkoJackson) February 17, 2025

So is NASCAR bringing back debris cautions because of the fuel saving at drafting tracks

— Nathan (@b1gnate_11) February 17, 2025

The phantom "debris" caution is the equivalent of the NFL's phantom holding penalty. #DAYTONA500

— The_Creeder (@BillsGuy127883) February 17, 2025

Phantom debris cautions are so back! Is it 2016 again?

— dale tanhardt (@daletanhardt) February 17, 2025

Anyone else think these debris cautions are fake by NASCAR to give a caution pit window??? https://t.co/SpBltTfztC

— Kevin Robinson (@kwrob24) February 17, 2025

Debris caution while drivers are saving fuel and its never shown on TV?
I've seen this before…. back in the old times..

— Sam Chapman (@ThisIsSamTheMan) February 17, 2025

What do you think?

President Trump At Daytona

The president and his party made their way to the presidential motorcade, which entered the track on the backstretch and took a lap around the track taking in the wild scene of the Daytona 500.

President @realDonaldTrump takes a lap around Daytona International Speedway. #NASCAR #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/8gHD10qzGw

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 16, 2025

And after engines fired and the cars hit the track, they were led by a special pace car: The presidential limousine, known as “the Beast,” hit the track to lead the pace laps as President Trump delivered a special message to the drivers:

“This is your favorite president. I am a big fan, I am really big fan of you people. How you do this I don’t know, but I just want you to be safe. You’re talented people, and you’re great people and great Americans. Have a good day, have a lot of fun, and I’ll see you later.”

Fun fact: The Beast comes in at a whopping 22,000 pounds… pretty insane.

President @realDonaldTrump addresses the drivers before the 2025 Daytona 500. pic.twitter.com/DP9hXWjDpm

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 16, 2025