William Byron Wins Second Straight Daytona 500 After Late-Race Chaos/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ William Byron dodged multiple late-race wrecks and surged from ninth place in overtime to secure his second consecutive Daytona 500 victory. The Hendrick Motorsports driver became the first back-to-back winner since Denny Hamlin in 2019-20, helping Hendrick break the all-time record for Daytona 500 wins. A wild night at Daytona International Speedway featured two weather delays, multiple massive crashes, and a dramatic finish that left several top contenders wrecked out.
Daytona 500: Quick Look
- Winner: William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet (Hendrick Motorsports).
- Historic Win: First back-to-back winner since 2020; Hendrick Motorsports’ record-breaking 10th Daytona 500 victory.
- Overtime Finish: Race extended after multiple crashes, including a late wreck that took out Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe.
- Final Lap Drama: Byron surged from ninth to victory after avoiding last-lap carnage.
- Top 5 Finishers: 1) Byron, 2) Tyler Reddick, 3) Jimmie Johnson, 4) Chase Briscoe, 5) John Hunter Nemechek.
- Notable Wrecks: Multi-car crashes eliminated Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Bubba Wallace.
- Up Next: The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway.
William Byron Wins Second Straight Daytona 500 After Late-Race Chaos
Deep Look: Byron’s Second Straight Daytona 500 Victory Amid Chaos
William Byron made history at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday night, surviving a wreck-filled overtime finish to win his second consecutive Daytona 500. The Hendrick Motorsports driver became the first repeat winner since Denny Hamlin (2019-2020) and delivered Hendrick’s record-breaking 10th Daytona 500 victory, breaking a tie with Petty Enterprises.
Despite sitting ninth with one lap left, Byron’s clean positioning allowed him to escape a final-lap crash and take the checkered flag.
“It’s not all luck to win twice in a row,” Byron said. “It’s an amazing race, and obviously a lot of crazy racing out there tonight.”
Wild Daytona 500 Finish: Wrecks Shape Overtime Drama
The race, delayed twice due to weather, saw multiple contenders wiped out in late-race crashes, a typical scene at Daytona.
With one lap remaining, Austin Cindric led the field but was collected in a multi-car pileup that also ended the chances of Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, and Alex Bowman. Byron, racing on the outside lane, managed to avoid the wreckage and surged ahead for the win.
Byron joins an elite club of back-to-back Daytona 500 winners, including Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Sterling Marlin, and Denny Hamlin.
Major Crashes Shake Up the Field
- Ryan Preece’s Terrifying Flip: With four laps left, Ryan Preece’s No. 60 Ford flipped upside-down, briefly doing a wheelie before crashing onto its roof. He signaled he was okay by dropping his safety net.
- Big One Eliminates Multiple Stars: Earlier in the race, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott were among those taken out when Logano made a late block on Ricky Stenhouse Jr., triggering a massive pileup.
- Kyle Busch’s Daytona 500 Misery Continues: The two-time Cup champion crashed out yet again, extending his 0-for-20 streak in “The Great American Race.”
Jimmie Johnson Finishes Third, Legacy Motor Club Impresses
Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, now a co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, finished third in his first Daytona 500 start since 2023.
“I have emotions I didn’t expect,” Johnson said. “I’ve never been in this position as an owner, and it really opens up a different set of emotions.”
Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club teammate John Hunter Nemechek also finished in the top five, marking a strong performance for the rebranded team.
Hendrick Motorsports Makes History
Byron’s victory was a landmark moment for Hendrick Motorsports, breaking the all-time record for Daytona 500 wins (10).
Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, who won three Daytona 500s in the No. 24 car and now serves as Hendrick’s vice chairman, celebrated Byron’s success.
“I hope he breaks all my records,” Gordon said. “I’m in full support of that.”
Byron, who started his racing career as a teenager using iRacing simulators, has now established himself as a legitimate Cup Series championship contender.
“We plan on winning a lot of races this year,” Byron said. “We’re going to keep pushing and aim for the championship in Phoenix.”
Early Exits for Truex and Castroneves
Notable drivers who exited the race early included:
- Martin Truex Jr. – The 2017 Cup champion, now retired from full-time racing, failed to win the Daytona 500 in 21 attempts.
- Helio Castroneves – The four-time Indianapolis 500 winner was making his Daytona 500 debut with Trackhouse Racing’s “Project 91” but was collected in an early wreck.
Looking Ahead: NASCAR Heads to Atlanta
After a chaotic Daytona opener, the NASCAR Cup Series shifts to Atlanta Motor Speedway next Sunday, where Daniel Suárez is the defending race winner.
With Byron already locking in a playoff spot, the early-season momentum is on his side. However, if this Daytona 500 proved anything, it’s that anything can happen in NASCAR’s biggest races.
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