William Byron won the dramatic, rain-delayed Daytona 500 on Monday, finishing ahead of teammate Alex Bowman after more than half of the 40-car field competing was involved in a major accident.
Byron earned the biggest win of his career in the ‘Great American Race’ after winning a four-lap stint. He and Bowman secured a 1-2 finish for Hendrick Motorsports.
The huge crash, nine laps from the end in Florida, saw Byron rise to second place at the restart.
He achieved victory after another accident occurred behind him. Byron was previously involved in the major crash, with Bowman hitting his Hendrick Motorsports teammate in the stretch when Byron lost control, spun into Brad Keselowski and virtually tore up the field.
The Presidents Day Daytona 500 was delayed a day due to rain.
Monday’s Daytona 500 saw a major crash involving more than half the field in Florida
The cars collided with each other and were scattered around the Daytona International Speedway
Sparks and smoke come out of the cars after the accident that occurred less than 10 laps from the end
And as the afternoon start turned into night at historic Daytona International Speedway, and with the white flag approaching, Ross Chastain moved into the center lane and collided with second-place Austin Cindric.
That gave Byron his first Daytona 500 victory and the 11th of his career in the series in the 66th running of the ‘Great American Race.’
His teammate Bowman came in second, followed by Christopher Bell and Corey LaJoie.
Polesitter Joey Logano led a race-high 45 laps but finished 32nd after getting caught up in the biggest crash of the race.
Previously, Jimmie Johnson was hit by Carson Hocevar on lap 5 and finished 28th.
As Logano and Michael McDowell led the field at full speed on Lap 5, the No. 6 Ford of Brad Keselowski collided with the No. 42 Toyota of John Hunter Nemechek in about 10th place, causing a seven-car accident involving the Johnson’s No. 84 Toyota.
After the final green flag pit stops with just over 20 laps to go, the cars raced in three rows eight rows deep until Byron, who was running fourth, passed Keselowski, who was in second place, and caused the big accident
William Byron managed to win the rain-delayed race in Florida on Monday
Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, celebrates exhausted after winning the race
The iconic Daytona International Speedway seats more than 100,000 spectators