Historical past was made tonight as William Byron achieved the inconceivable, and in essentially the most unconventional of how. At 27 years outdated, he joins 4 different illustrious names in racing, turning into the fifth driver to efficiently defend their Daytona 500 victory — successful back-to-back.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 extra 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, nonetheless, 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 trying 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 monitor because the No. 24 of Byron snuck its manner by means of. Tyler Reddick adopted in his tire tracks, unable to construct a run by means 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 luck, however simply trusted my instincts on the final lap there,” mentioned 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 most likely sixth coming down the again. Simply clearly lucky that it labored out in our favor. However simply actually pleased with this workforce. Labored tremendous exhausting all week and had a tremendous automobile. Simply had a extremely exhausting time with the gasoline saving and sort of staying in the direction of the entrance.
“Loopy. I am unable to 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 Pictures
Reddick comes up one spot brief
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 final result. Because the leaders wrecked, Reddick really scrubbed the wall because the nostril of Hamlin’s automobile collided with Reddick’s door. Whereas he made a fortunate escape, he misplaced quite a lot of momentum and with nobody instantly behind him, there was no probability to make a cost again at Byron.
“Once they began to spin on the dogleg, I sort of jumped out of line pondering that was going to be it, and we simply saved going,” mentioned Reddick, who was sixteenth for the ultimate restart.
“I knew that me and the 24 [Byron] had an excellent run they usually have been throwing large blocks, and once they began spinning on the within and I had a run on the 24, I believed, ‘man, if I can simply make it by means of on the 11 [Hamlin] and never scrub my pace, I might have had at the very least a chance to do one thing.'”
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Toyota Camry
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures
An sudden podium end result for Johnson
Johnson, who already has two 500 victories, was overjoyed together with his first top-five end as a driver/proprietor. Actually, the seven-time Cup Collection champion may hardly consider it after masterfully navigating the last-lap crash. It is his greatest lead to a Cup automobile since Dover in 2020, again when he nonetheless drove the No. 48 for HMS.
“This feels unimaginable. I’ve feelings that I did not anticipate to have,” mentioned the NASCAR Corridor of Famer. “I’ve by no means been on this place as an proprietor, and it is actually opened up a special set of feelings. And the pleasure that I’ve on this end result 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 completely satisfied proper now.”
Jimmie Johnson, Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures
Images from Daytona 500
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