The 2025 Daytona 500 was one other wild season-opener for the NASCAR Cup Sequence, kicking off the 77th season with the form of madness the race is understood for, en path to William Byron profitable for the second 12 months in a row.
However earlier than Byron lifted the Harley J. Earl Trophy, chaos reigned. A roughly three-hour rain delay was an omen of the messiness to come back: eight cautions, three crimson flags, one airborne crash, and 56 lead modifications between 15 drivers.
In any case that — plus 201 laps of precise racing — loads of drivers and groups had been capable of stroll away with their heads held excessive. Others, not a lot.
These are the winners and losers of the 2025 Daytona 500.
WINNER: William Byron brings extra glory to Gordon’s No. 24
Watch: William Byron displays on back-to-back 500 wins, eyes a three-peat
Certain, it is apparent, however Byron is now simply the fifth driver in historical past to win back-to-back Daytona 500s — and in doing so, breaking a document for the youngest multi-time winner of the five hundred beforehand held by his boss (and former driver of the No. 24 var) Jeff Gordon. Enjoyable truth: Byron’s solely led a complete of 14 laps between his two 500 victories. He has a knack for realizing precisely the place to place his automotive at this 2.5-mile superspeedway, and positioned himself completely to capitalize when a lot of the leaders obtained tousled on the ultimate lap.
WINNER: William Byron’s automotive designer
William Byron’s flaming Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Mike Ehrmann – Getty Pictures
Whoever cooked up the brand new paint scheme on the No. 24 automotive, with its blue, crimson, and yellow flames, deserves to hoist the trophy, too.
LOSERS: Trackhouse and a no good, very costly week
Helio Castronoves’ No. 91 ending its race
Trackhouse went into Daytona missing one well-known co-owner, however making historical past as the primary staff to enter 4 drivers from 4 completely different international locations, together with four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves (racing on a particular exemption) and three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen. As a substitute, the staff ended up with plenty of wrecked metallic. Three vehicles had been utterly destroyed within the two pre-race Duel qualifiers, forcing the staff to make use of each of their obtainable backups whereas additionally burning the midnight oil to restore Castroneves’ automotive.
Then, three of their vehicles had been severely broken in a single incident on a Stage 2 restart throughout the 500. Ross Chastain and Castroneves by no means made it again on observe. Van Gisbergen limped on with a wounded machine, whereas solely Daniel Suarez remained unscathed. However he suffered injury later within the race, dragging the automotive to a team-best — by far — Thirteenth-place end. The remainder of Trackhouse squad completed with SVG in thirty third, Castroneves in thirty ninth, and Chastain in fortieth.
WINNERS: Jimmie Johnson and Legacy Motor Membership
Watch: Jimmie Johnson ‘feels unbelievable’ after third-place Daytona 500 end
It is not typically you see a seven-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion get emotional over a third-place end, however Johnson’s Daytona podium outcome was particular for the Corridor-of-Famer. The 233rd top-five end of his illustrious profession was his first since turning into a staff proprietor. After qualifying into the massive present on velocity, the outcome stands as the all-time efficiency by an open driver within the Constitution period of Charters (beating out a sixth by Ryan Preece). Johnson showcased his still-formidable abilities as he reduce a path via the race-deciding wreck, rising with out a scratch. Even higher, Legacy Motor Membership notched a double top-five as John-Hunter Nemechek completed fifth.
LOSERS: Group Penske wonders what might have been
Watch: Joey Logano: ‘Tried to again out and could not’ after crash ends Daytona 500 bid
Penske has a knack for profitable championships within the present period of NASCAR, however that success didn’t lengthen to The Nice American Race this 12 months. All three Penske vehicles had been in competition for the win late within the operating, however the always-aggressive Joey Logano went for a niche that wasn’t fairly there, and noticed his race finish 15 laps shy of the end. Worse but, he collected Ryan Blaney — who was operating second — within the course of. Penske’s Austin Cindric lead on the white flag earlier than getting caught up within the race-deciding wreck. Each Cindric and Blaney nonetheless held on for top-ten finishes, however it’s a far cry from the place Penske might have — and will have — ended up.
Watch: Race Rewind: Daytona 500
WINNERS: NASCAR officers are listening and studying
Again on Thursday, NASCAR race officers hit the warning button simply seconds away from Erik Jones crossing the road in Duel #2, robbing the viewers of an epic photograph end and denying Jones a well-deserved victory. However NASCAR heard — and heeded — the criticism from followers, media, drivers.
When Daytona’s leaders began crashing in every single place on the ultimate lap, officers confirmed restraint and let the race play out. That meant we obtained to look at Tyler Reddick chase William Byron throughout the road at full velocity, as an alternative of one other yellow flag video overview to see who completed the place. Hopefully Daytona represents a brand new benchmark for considered use of the yellow.
LOSER: Kyle Busch and 20 years of frustration
Watch: Kyle Busch on huge crash: ‘Quickest automotive obtained in a rush to get to the wreck’
Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch is now 0-20 within the Daytona 500. Regardless of an early spin and a few pit highway points, he remained a agency contender all through a lot of the race. After the ultimate pit cease, he discovered himself operating a robust third with teammate Austin Dillon straight behind him. It was an ideal place…save for the truth that he was proper subsequent to Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. when the 2 drivers began elbowing for area down the backstretch. Busch obtained door-slammed and spun into the within wall, in the end ending thirty fourth. He had some alternative phrases for Logano for making an attempt to pressure it up the center — and for NASCAR officers attributable to confusion over the brand new broken automobile coverage.
WINNER: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s foray into Cup staff possession
Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports Chevrolet with Dale Earnhardt Jr., JR Motorsports proprietor
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures
Dale Jr. has been a child in a sweet retailer all week. JR Motorsports, which he co-owns, raced its method into the five hundred with Justin Allgaier behind the wheel and introduced him to tears. Earnhardt has dreamed of proudly owning a Cup Sequence staff for years whereas having fun with loads of success as an proprietor within the Xfinity Sequence. He places within the work, even displaying up earlier than dawn to look at the crew unload the automotive. Whereas making the race was its personal victory, Allgaier took that No. 40 Chevrolet to a ninth-place end within the Daytona 500. little doubt Earnhardt and his co-owner, sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, are busy determining the right way to put JR Motorsports on a path into full-time Cup possession.
LOSERS: NASCAR cannot preserve Preece grounded
Watch: Preece “fortunate to stroll away” from second terrifying airborne crash at Daytona
You may’t blame Sunday’s large crash on Ryan Preece — it is actually the fault of dangerous pushes and draft packages. However you must really feel for him. Embarking on a brand new enterprise with RFK Racing, he was in an all-too acquainted state of terror racing down the backstretch at Daytona Worldwide Speedway. Lower than two years after his surprising airborne crash that resulted in NASCAR ripping the grass out across the Le Mans chicane, right here he was going airborne as soon as once more — tossed skyward when his automotive successfully wheelied over a perpendicular-to-the-track Christian Bell, then tumbleover Erik Jones’ roof rail.
Publish-race, a “fortunate to stroll away” Preece advised reporters that he considered his daughter because the No. 60 automotive climbed larger, going eerily quiet earlier than it slammed again down onto the asphalt, roof-first. In-car video reveals him bracing for impression whereas closing his eyes.
Preece had been was quick all day, even main the race on the midway level, and operating contained in the top-ten when his automotive took flight. Hopefully he is capable of shake it off and are available again subsequent week even stronger than earlier than.
WINNER: Corey LaJoie stacks some extra pennies
Corey LaJoie, Rick Ware Racing Ford, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota, Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures
It might appear unusual to put Lajoie within the “winners” class for a Twenty second-place end (the results of a last-lap spin), however this is why: LaJoie wasn’t even imagined to be on the grid this 12 months. He fronted his personal cash to safe a part-time trip in January, doing so with zero assure of being within the Daytona 500. Lajoie race his method into the present, lining up twelfth within the 41-car grid, then put himself in place to doubtlessly win the race, main with fewer than ten laps remaining. With out the spin, he brings dwelling top-five end (or higher). Even nonetheless, LaJoie put up an unbelievable displaying, reminding everybody that he belongs behind the wheel of a NASCAR inventory automotive. Here is hoping his Daytona opens just a few extra doorways.
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