By Roy J. Akers-www.skyviewsports.net
The Daytona 500 is full of both Hall of Fame winners and drivers who are one-shot wonders. President Donald Trump made his second Presidential appearance at the track just before the race got underway. (Trump) described the Daytona 500 as a “legendary display of roaring engines, soaring spirits and the American skill, speed and power that we’ve been hearing about for so many years. The tens of thousands of patriots here today have come for the fast cars and the world-class motorsports. But NASCAR fans never forget that no matter who wins the race, what matters most is God, family and country.’’ This race was full of carnage and most was saved for the last 30 laps and it was almost like a movie finish as William Byron went from 9th to first and escaped the final big one and secured a back to back Daytonavictory.
Here is how it happened
Trump is the First POTUS to ever lead the Daytona 500
“This is your favorite president. I’m a big fan, I’m a really big fan of you people,” he told the drivers. “How you do this, I don’t know, but I just want you to be safe. You’re talented people, and you’re great people and great Americans. Have a good day, have a lot of fun and I’ll see you later.”
Trump gives up the lead when the sharpshooters were not allowed to ride shotgun in the Beast.
Stage One
With Chase Briscoe leading the field into lap one, he leads the 41-car field into turn one. Briscoe leads the first four laps before defending race champion William Byron takes the lead. With rain in the area, the race was moved up one hour. The race moved to three wide by lap six and four different leaders emerged including Ty Dillon and Austin Cindric. The first raindrops fall on lap ten and the race earns its first caution. What a caution it was. Four hours and 15 minutes.
Stage One Restart
Not a fan of wasting laps on cautions and CUP officials ran 14 of 65 Stage One laps. Onlap 26, Joey Logano runs the third lane and is pushed to the lead. Corie LaJoie also leads the race. In all, by lap 38, there are ten lead changes featuring eight leaders. Kyle Busch is the big winner moving second by lap 42 after starting in the mid 30’s. Chase Elliott wrestles the lead from Logano but quickly regains it on lap 43. On the same lap, AJ Allmendinger experiences engine trouble as his car begins to smoke in the tri-oval. He slows down and reports a blown engine to his team. The race stays green. Joey Logano stays in the lead throughout Stage One and a spinout by Denny Hamlin collected Josh Barry and Zane Smith drawing the first driver caution. Fords sweep 1-2-3 in the Stage as Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Blaney finish out. It’s Logano’s first stage win at Daytona.
Stage Two
On the restart on lap 70 as leader Logano lost power and crumbled up the outside line and a spinout back in the pack ruined the day for several drivers. In all, ten drivers were collected in the wreck including Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson, and Helio Castroneves. After the drivers pitted, the field was reset with three new Ford drivers. Austin Cindric, Noah Gragson, and Ryan Preece lead the field which returns to three wide. Logano has major problems as his machine runs 1000 RPMs off the pace and loses a lap. Debris on lap 83 brings out a caution saving Logano who rejoins the lead lap. Pit road will bring the field in when pit road opens for drivers to top off with fuel to finish Stage Two. Cindric continues to lead until lap 93 and several drivers trade the lead including Michael McDowell in his 71 machine and Gragson. Logano’s second pit stop was productive and his pit crew found debris lodged in his airflow which was removed. He quickly motors through the field and goes from 37th to 6th. Penske cars have led most of this race between Cindric and Logano. Finishing Stage Two, Ryan Blaney, with a push from Chase Elliott wins the stage. Cindric and Elliot finish 2/3. Castroneves had this takeaway from his first 500 at Daytona. “It’s such a different show. You know, this has an incredible feeling and incredible energy. Both events are incredible. That’s why I decided to do this, and that’s why I want to do the Indianapolis 500, as well.”
Stage Three
With only six drivers out of the race, the Roger Penske drivers have dominated the first two stages and all three have led. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson starts the stage ninth after repairing his car damaged in a Stage Two accident. Multiple cars take turns leading the race which has seen 37 lead changes thus far. On lap 148, Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace engage in a side-by-side battle for the lead as the bottom lane begins to lose momentum. The Blaney and Wallace trade for the lead lasted the first half of the stage. Handling goes away from Bubba and he moves to the third line. Kyle Busch, making his 20th Daytona start, moves to third.
Wallace slides to 19th and Logano, who led the most laps Sunday, cannot break the top 12. With 15 laps to go, the Big One happens. Ricky Stenhouse pushed Corey LaJoie and cars got loose. Blaney, Logano, Stenhouse Jr. Busch and others saw their days end. Cindric was shuffled to second. LaJoie takes the lead. Toyota’s has replaced the Ford as the top machines with five in the top ten. The Green flag is dropped with eight laps to go. Its Bell, Hamlin, and Cindric trading the lead. Bell goes into the wall and Ryan Preece goes airborne. Keselowski takes on heavy damage and two RFK Racing cars see their days end. The caution and cleanup takes us to overtime.
Overtime
Hamlin, Cindric and Herbst take the flag 1-2-3. Cindric quickly goes by Hamlin with one to go. On the final Lap, Riley Herbst gets bumped in the trioval while running fifth but manages to save it. Denny Hamlin moves to the outside, but contact between Cole Custer and Chase Briscoe triggers a multi-car crash. William Byron, running ninth, avoids the chaos and leads Tyler Reddick to the finish line to secure the victory. Reddick is second and seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson is third.
Final Standings
Roy J. Akers covers NASCAR for www.skyviewsports.net
