Devon HenryDAYTONA BEACH – Through nearly 48 straight hours of rain, Mother Nature couldn’t put a damper on one of the biggest events in all of sports.
The 2024 Daytona 500 kicked off a day late on Monday after being postponed due to weather. After an early wreck in the field, the race remained mostly clean until the final ten laps. A caution reset the field for a dash to the finish where William Byron outlasted the field to the white flag when chaos erupted, bringing out the yellow and checkered flags to conclude the 66th running of the Daytona 500.
Byron came close to winning the NASCAR Championship at Phoenix Raceway last year and at just 26 years old, he picks up his 11th win at NASCAR’s highest level and writes his name in history as a Daytona 500 Champion.
“I can’t believe it. I wish my dad was here. He’s sick, but this is for him, man. We’ve been through so much, and we sat up in the grandstands together and watched the race (when Byron was younger). This is so freaking cool.”
DAYTONA 500 CHAMPIONS!!! pic.twitter.com/QUlK4JONUo
— William Byron (@WilliamByron) February 20, 2024
The victory marked the ninth Daytona 500 championship for Hendrick Motorsports, tying the team for the most wins in the history of the race with Petty Enterprises.
“I’m telling you, you couldn’t write the script any better,” team owner, Rick Hendrick said. “When we thought about coming down here the first time, we didn’t think we should be here, felt so out of place.
“We win this on our 40th [anniversary] to the day, it’s just… and tied a record now, so that’s awesome.”
Tucson’s, Alex Bowman, was in contention for the win coming to the line but came up short by just inches when the caution flew. Bowman spent nearly a third of the race running in the top 15 and nearly brought home the victory for Hendrick Motorsports but will have to settle for a second-place spot. Bowman has now either started the race or finished the race in the top two spots for the past seven consecutive years.
Glendale’s Michael McDowell led six laps early in the Daytona 500, looking to add another trophy to his 2021 victory from The Great American Race. His Front Row Motorsports machine suffered from electrical issues throughout the race and had to settle for a 36th-place finishing position.
NASCAR returns to Phoenix Raceway for the Shriners Children’s 500 weekend March 8-10, tickets are still available for all three days of action. Plus, NASCAR Championship Weekend returns to Phoenix Raceway to crown four champions in three days November 8-10.
