Historical past was made tonight as William Byron completed the unbelievable, and in essentially the most unconventional of the way. At 27 years previous, he joins 4 different illustrious names in racing, changing into the fifth driver to efficiently defend their Daytona 500 victory — successful back-to-back.
These watching the late-running race have been nonetheless reeling from the terrifying airborne crash of Ryan Preece (who fortunately walked away) when the five hundred went into additional time. Because the inexperienced flag waved for the ultimate two laps, Denny Hamlin stationed himself up entrance, searching down a fourth victory in NASCAR’s crown jewel occasion. Destiny, nevertheless, had different concepts.
Down the backstretch on the ultimate lap, Byron was outdoors the highest 5 with little hope of difficult for the victory. Hamlin, in the meantime, was making an attempt to fend off Cole Custer, Chase Briscoe, and Austin Cindric, when all 4 drivers got here collectively in a wild crash. Hamlin spun up the observe because the No. 24 of Byron snuck its method by way of. Tyler Reddick adopted in his tire tracks, unable to construct a run by way of the ultimate corners to take a shot on the win. Shut behind was veteran Jimmie Johnson, who crossed the road in third.
“Clearly some success, however simply trusted my instincts on the final lap there,” stated Byron, who took the white flag in ninth. “I felt like they have been getting squirrelly on the underside and I used to be actually going to go third lane regardless as a result of I used to be in all probability sixth coming down the again. Simply clearly lucky that it labored out in our favor. However simply actually pleased with this group. Labored tremendous onerous all week and had an incredible automotive. Simply had a extremely onerous time with the gasoline saving and sort of staying in the direction of the entrance.
“Loopy. I can not actually consider that. However we’re right here. So pleased with it.”
Byron joins uncommon firm as a back-to-back winner of the Daytona 500. Richard Petty did it first in 1973-1974, adopted by Cale Yarborough in 1983-1984, Sterling Marlin in 1994-1995, Denny Hamlin in 2019-2020, and now, Byron for 2024-2025.
That is Hendrick Motorsports’ tenth victory within the Daytona 500 as Byron turns into the primary driver to lock himself into the 2025 playoffs.
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
Reddick comes up one spot quick
Surprisingly, NASCAR let the race stay inexperienced to the checkered flag, which follows controversy within the Duel qualifying race when the sanctioning physique was criticized for not letting the end finish naturally. Regardless of the choice to let the race play out, it did not change the ultimate end result. Because the leaders wrecked, Reddick truly scrubbed the wall because the nostril of Hamlin’s automotive collided with Reddick’s door. Whereas he made a fortunate escape, he misplaced quite a lot of momentum and with nobody immediately behind him, there was no probability to make a cost again at Byron.
“After they began to spin on the dogleg, I sort of jumped out of line considering that was going to be it, and we simply saved going,” stated Reddick, who was sixteenth for the ultimate restart.
“I knew that me and the 24 [Byron] had a very good run and so they have been throwing large blocks, and once they began spinning on the within and I had a run on the 24, I assumed, ‘man, if I can simply make it by way of on the 11 [Hamlin] and never scrub my velocity, I might have had no less than a chance to do one thing.'”
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Toyota Camry
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
An sudden podium outcome for Johnson
Johnson, who already has two 500 victories, was overjoyed along with his first top-five end as a driver/proprietor. In reality, the seven-time Cup Sequence champion might hardly consider it after masterfully navigating the last-lap crash. It is his finest lead to a Cup automotive since Dover in 2020, again when he nonetheless drove the No. 48 for HMS.
“This feels unimaginable. I’ve feelings that I did not count on to have,” stated the NASCAR Corridor of Famer. “I’ve by no means been on this place as an proprietor, and it is actually opened up a distinct set of feelings. And the pleasure that I’ve on this outcome and the pleasure that I’ve on this firm, now that we’re attempting to realize and the journey we’re on, I’m so happy, so comfortable proper now.”
Jimmie Johnson, Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
Pictures from Daytona 500
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