Richmond, Va. – The Federated Auto Parts 400 was a pretty uneventful race through the first half. But relatively early in the third stage, the strangest thing happened.

Austin Dillon appeared to spin out Danica Patrick, and a yellow caution flag was thrown, but that’s not it. As the drivers slowed down and circled the track, they prepared to hit pit road.

Totally inexplicably, an ambulance was on the track’s apron and came to a stop right in front of the entrance to pit road. Multiple cars were forced to swerve to avoid it and each other, and unfortunately for him, playoff-hopeful Matt Kenseth’s No. 20 Toyota suffered enough damage that his race was over. Clint Bowyer’s No. 14 Ford was also damaged, but he was able to stay out.

We'll be talking about this one for a while. Matt Kenseth's night is OVER after heavy damage avoiding a safety truck! pic.twitter.com/2XHtSZepNT — NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 10, 2017

Matt Kenseth heads to the garage after damage while drivers scrambled to avoid a safety truck! #NASCARonNBCSN #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/HIXVJtYfsD — NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 10, 2017

No one – even Kenseth after he was cleared from the infield medical care center – could make sense of any of this.

Why did the ambulance stop? Why was it even out on the track in the first place?

Richmond is the strangest freaking race. Who had "ambulance causing a pit-road pileup" on their bingo card? — Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) September 10, 2017

What's weird is in driver's ed you're told to always pull over and stop if you see an ambulance coming. That was like the opposite of that. — nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) September 10, 2017

What in the world!? Ambulance blocking pit road, cars had to avoid. Several cars got damage from checking up there. Geez, that can't happen! — Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 10, 2017

Patrick spinning was the initial reason for the caution, but she didn’t appear to make contact with the wall and didn’t exit the race. So clearly she was fine and didn’t need an ambulance.

Whatever the reason, this was the strangest thing NASCAR has seen in a while, and Kenseth getting into the playoffs was determined by other drivers’ finishes. Luckily, he still qualified based on points.