In 68 editions of the Daytona 500, NASCAR has seen loads of shock or sudden winners. Nonetheless, it wasn’t till 2017 that the victor in inventory automotive racing’s crown jewel occasion solely led the ultimate lap of the 200-lap battle.
Whereas it didn’t occur as soon as between 1959 and 2016, the phenomenon has now occurred 4 instances within the final decade. It showcases simply how unpredictable fashionable superspeedway racing has turn out to be, and the way typically they finish in race-altering wrecks.
Commercial
This is a take a look at every of the 4 instances the Daytona 500 winner solely led the checkered flag lap, and the way they managed to beat the chances.
2017 — performs the fuel-mileage gameKurt Busch celebrates
Kurt Busch celebrates
In 2017, the five hundred end was very uncommon with solely a handful of vehicles within the lead group, and several other operating on fumes. Busch was close to the entrance for a lot of the ultimate stint, however he did not dare to steer as he wished to avoid wasting as a lot gasoline as potential. With ten laps to go, he was operating third. He then fell again to fourth behind , ., and . With three laps to go, Elliott ran out. A lap later, Truex started to gradual, and whereas Larson led on the white flag, his automotive started to stumble and Busch roared handed him as properly. It was the one time the winner led simply the ultimate lap with out there being a last-lap crash. As a substitute, it was a tense fuel-mileage race that ended with Busch on prime. The automotive was battle-scarred from earlier harm, however he had loads of gasoline within the tank, just because he had the persistence to attend.
Commercial
2018 — Almirola’s failed block on Aric Almirola wrecks from the lead
Aric Almirola wrecks from the lead
Dillon restarted fourth in time beyond regulation in 2018, avoiding the chaos of a crash-filled Daytona 500. There have been solely a couple of dozen vehicles left that would sustain with the pack. He pushed forward, and took the white flag in third, side-by-side with . Down the backstretch, Dillon had an enormous run and Almirola threw an aggressive block. Dillon appeared low, after which excessive, after which Almirola went spinning into the skin wall. It was a tough, single-car crash as Almirola spun from the lead following contact with Dillon. The race remained inexperienced, and Dillon gained the Daytona 500 within the RCR No. 3, twenty years after Dale Earnhardt had accomplished the identical.
Commercial
2021 — The seas half for Fiery crash ends the Daytona 500
Fiery crash ends the Daytona 500
Getting into the 2021 Daytona 500, McDowell had by no means even gained a Cup race earlier than. He had been racing within the Cup Collection since 2008 with 357 begins — and 0 wins. The sphere was principally single-file, ripping alongside the highest with two Penske vehicles within the prime three. Between these Penske vehicles was , and behind them in fourth was McDowell. With two laps to go, held again and acquired an enormous run on Harvick, placing Penske 1-2 with McDowell following them as much as third. On the ultimate lap, it appeared like Penske was assured to win. McDowell gave Keselowski a push he used to make a transfer on teammate , however Logano blocked. The purple and yellow No. 22 spun to the within, the white and black No. 2 spun to the skin, and the seas parted for McDowell as he drove up by way of the center. If the race stayed inexperienced, his victory would have been removed from assured as two different drivers started to move him, however as vehicles erupted into flames and even touched the fence behind them, NASCAR had no alternative however to throw the yellow. McDowell was now a winner within the Cup Collection for the primary time, doing so within the largest race of all of them.
Commercial
Watch: Cinderella: McDowell wins the Daytona 500 in wreck-filled final lap
2026 — with a pleasant pushTyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Crew Penske Ford, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Crew Penske Ford, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
The wildest end of all of them, and also you probably do not want a refresher, however we’ll offer you one anyway. Reddick was second when the ultimate warning of the race flew, and restarted on the entrance row with 4 laps to go. He had 2024 and 2025 Daytona 500 winner hooked up to his rear bumper as McDowell led the way in which. Reddick surged forward however as he tried to dam each lanes, he acquired put within the center between McDowell and Byron. Fortunately for him, his 23XI teammate wedged his method in behind him, and stored Reddick close to the entrance of the pack. With three to go, McDowell continued to steer with teammate second and Reddick third. Reddick dropped to the underside and acquired disconnected from Wallace.
Commercial
With two laps to go, he was again within the prime lane and now ran fourth behind and the Spire teammates. He shortly dropped again right down to the center, and now had Logano as his pusher with the pack dynamic altering quickly. On the white flag, Reddick was within the center, three-wide, and operating fourth on the line. As Hocevar acquired turned from the race lead, each he and Jones got here throughout Reddick’s nostril. He made contact with Jones and doored Byron, however managed to maintain transferring in the appropriate course. For a second, he nosed forward with the lead whereas three-wide with new gamers — . and Elliott.
Reddick began to fade with no assist, and was in determined want of a pusher. Nicely, in his hour of want, one other 23XI teammate appeared as gave him a shot down the backstretch. Getting into Flip 3, he was third, and managed to out-duel , attending to his exterior. Herbst stayed proper there, propelling Reddick ahead. On the frontstretch, he faked excessive earlier than diving low beneath Elliott, taking the lead as Herbst by accident triggered a wreck that destroyed the remainder of the highest 5 within the run to the end line. Reddick was victorious, main solely the ultimate lap of the race.
Watch: Tyler Reddick dissects his successful Daytona 500 lap
Commercial
Learn Additionally:
To learn extra Motorsport.com articles .
