NASCAR races pack in plenty of high-speed thrills, but sometimes the real drama hits from the strangest corners, leaving drivers scratching their heads. Back in the 2012 Daytona 500, Juan Pablo Montoya slammed into a jet dryer under caution, sparking a massive fire that delayed the race for hours. These oddball moments aren’t new to the sport. And while that was a driver-caused issue, sometimes, the issues go beyond them. As the second event in the Round of 16 playoffs, Gateway carried huge stakes for points and advancement, where an unexpected track issue threw a wrench into the action.

The blunder unfolded on lap 151 at the start of Stage 3, when a brake marker sign labeled “1” detached from the catch fence entering Turn 3 and landed in the racing groove, prompting a debris yellow. Earlier, the “3” sign had been removed during the weekend, leaving drivers with adjusted cues. That kind of unpredictability can swing a driver’s entire season and test their tempers, especially when every position counts toward the cutline. Figuring out who dropped the ball and what went wrong adds layers to the story. But NASCAR officials stepped up to address it head-on, shedding light on the mishap that had everyone talking.

Officials break down Gateway’s brake marker mess

On the Hauler podcast, NASCAR’s Amanda Busick dove into the details of the embarrassing caution at Gateway, admitting the organization isn’t thrilled when such glitches disrupt the flow. “Well, Nate, I can definitely take that one and you act like that pyro on the backstretch is actually probably the most pyro we have on a particular backstretch all year,” Busick explained, ruling out the pre-race fireworks as the cause despite speculation about melted zip ties. Instead, a simple zip tie failure after repositioning the signs on Thursday led to the fall, as track services had checked and moved them to better align with driver requests for visual aids.

Drivers like Tyler Reddick didn’t hold back on the radio, mocking the situation as the caution flew. “That’s f–ing hilarious. They took all that time under caution to fix that, and it still falls off. That’s some NASCAR s–t right there.” Reddick quipped, highlighting the frustration after the crew had worked on a different marker during the Stage 2 break. This echoed past gripes about operational hiccups, like the Daytona 500 suffering a blackout on the backstretch during the 2011 Cup race.

Busick clarified the signs exist at drivers’ behest: “A couple things about those brake markers are there because of drivers’ requests. The drivers are the ones who ask us to have those available.” Track services reattached the “1” sign after retrieving it, ensuring the “2” remained, but the incident cost positions and strategy for contenders like Reddick, who finished 16th amid the playoff pressure.

Busick wrapped up by stressing ongoing improvements. “Unfortunate, not something we love to see happening during the race, and something that we will, you know, always work with tracks on.” This transparency aimed to ease tensions, but it underscored how even minor oversights amplify in the playoffs. For a venue like Gateway, hosting its fifth Cup race since 2022, such blunders spotlight the need for foolproof prep.

Drivers moved on, but the chatter lingered, turning eyes to post-race antics that stirred even more buzz. While the on-track slip-up grabbed headlines, the cool-down lap brought its own quirky questions.

Gateway’s post-race grass puzzle

The checkered flag at Gateway waved, but the real intrigue kicked off during the cool-down lap when Trackhouse Racing‘s Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen veered through the infield grass, sparking wild speculation about inspection tactics. Denny Hamlin’s crew chief Chris Gayle added fuel over the radio: “Give me some rubber.” This request, paired with the grass drive, hinted at efforts to collect debris for added weight, a common worry in strict playoff checks where failing scales means disqualification.

NASCAR veteran Corey LaJoie weighed in on X, backing the theory: “They post all the playoff cars. Trying to pick up a couple pounds of grass, rocks, rubber to let you car chief feel a little better when you roll across the scale.” His insight drew from experiences like Alex Bowman’s 2024 round-of-eight boot for underweight issues, showing how teams game the system amid burning rubber that sheds ounces. Hamlin, fresh off leading 75 laps for his fifth win, locked into the round of 12, but the moves kept fans guessing.

They post all the playoff cars. Trying to pick up a couple pounds of grass, rocks, rubber to let you car chief feel a little better when you roll across the scale.

— Corey LaJoie (@CoreyLaJoie) September 8, 2025

Alex Bowman noticed too, radioing, “Hey, the Trackhouse cars are driving through the grass. That’s kind of cool.” This light takes masked deeper concerns, as Chastain finished 24th and van Gisbergen 25nd, both navigating playoff bubbles. Such ploys, while unconfirmed, reflect the cutthroat edge in a series where every gram counts, turning a routine lap into a strategic chess match.