William Byron emerged victorious in a dramatic finish at the Daytona 500, securing his first-ever win in the NASCAR Cup season opener. The 26-year-old driver, who had never finished better than 21st in the Daytona 500 before, took the lead from Ross Chastain on a restart with just four laps remaining. However, just as Byron was about to start the final lap, a multi-car wreck occurred behind him, prompting NASCAR to throw a caution and freeze the field. This turn of events ultimately secured Byron’s victory in the rain-delayed “Great American Race,” marking his 11th career win and the 302nd Cup win for Hendrick Motorsports.
In an interview following his historic win, Byron expressed his elation, stating, “It sounds really damn good. Thanks to an awesome crowd for coming out. I have so many emotions.” He also acknowledged the unfortunate incident on the backstretch earlier in the race but remained proud of his team’s performance. Byron attributed his success to his team’s strategic approach throughout the race, particularly their fuel-saving tactics. He expressed gratitude for the power under the hood of his No. 24 car and thanked all their partners, including Chevrolet, for their support.
For Byron, winning the Daytona 500 was a surreal experience. He reflected on his humble beginnings as a kid racing on computers and marveled at the fact that he had now become a Daytona 500 champion. Byron dedicated his victory to his father, who was unable to attend the race due to illness. He expressed his wish for his father to be there with him and emphasized the significance of their shared journey.
Ross Chastain, who was behind Byron on the outside coming down the frontstretch, attempted to cut to the inside for the lead but ended up making contact with Austin Cindric. This collision triggered the final caution and solidified Byron’s win. Alex Bowman, another Hendrick teammate, finished second, followed by Christopher Bell in third place. Corey LaJoie and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top five, with Wallace impressively rallying from a late pit stop for fuel.
The race consisted of three stages, each with its own thrilling moments. In Stage 1, Chase Elliott emerged victorious after passing Kyle Busch on the last of 65 laps. Chevrolets dominated the top six spots, with Larson, Chastain, Bowman, and Byron following closely behind Elliott. However, a wreck early on in lap 5 collected seven cars and prematurely ended the race for Harrison Burton, Carson Hocevar, and Kaz Grala.
Stage 2 saw Ryan Blaney pushing Cindric to the lead before ultimately passing him on the last lap to secure the win. Daniel Suarez finished third, while Busch, who had faced a safety violation during a pit stop, managed to rally back and claim fourth place. Tyler Reddick completed the top five.
During the break between Stages 2 and 3, all lead lap cars opted to pit, with Cindric emerging as the first off pit road. However, Suarez faced a penalty for speeding on pit road and had to restart from the rear of the field. Additionally, Busch’s car experienced a mechanical issue when it was discovered that a lug nut was missing from his left-front wheel.
The final stage commenced with Cindric leading the pack. As the laps dwindled down, LaJoie and Busch engaged in a fierce battle for the lead. Eventually, Denny Hamlin took the lead for the first time in the race. However, a group of Fords led by Joey Logano utilized the inside line to surge to the front with 36 laps remaining.
With 22 laps left, Hemrick led a group of five cars from the back of the field to initiate the final round of green flag pit stops. Most of the Toyota drivers followed suit a lap later. After the pit stops concluded, Suarez found himself in the lead with 14 laps remaining, closely trailed by Byron and Elliott.
However, on Lap 192, Byron made contact with Brad Keselowski, causing a chain reaction that resulted in a massive wreck involving 23 cars. NASCAR red-flagged the race for approximately 16 minutes to clear the debris from the track. While several cars opted to pit during this time, Chastain remained on the track and maintained his lead.
When the race resumed with just four laps remaining, Chastain led the way, followed by Byron, Bowman, and Cindric. However, Byron wasted no time in powering past Chastain to reclaim the lead. With his sights set on victory, Byron skillfully navigated the final laps and crossed the finish line as the Daytona 500 champion.
William Byron’s triumph at the Daytona 500 marks a significant milestone in his career and sets a promising tone for the rest of the NASCAR Cup season. As he revels in his well-deserved victory, Byron remains determined to continue