DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — William Byron achieved a remarkable milestone by winning his second consecutive Daytona 500, showcasing exceptional skill amidst a series of late-race crashes that eliminated many competitors. The driver for Hendrick Motorsports clinched the victory at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday night, February 16, 2025.

Starting from the ninth position in his No. 24 Chevrolet with only one lap remaining, Byron strategically positioned himself near the outside wall during overtime, which led him to become the first driver to win back-to-back Daytona 500 races since Denny Hamlin in 2019-20. Byron capitalized on a final-lap wreck, with NASCAR allowing the race to continue without throwing a caution flag, culminating in another triumphant burnout at the famed track.

“It’s obviously really special,” Byron stated. “It’s an amazing race, and obviously, a lot of crazy racing out there tonight and just a lot of pushing and shoving.” The 27-year-old driver also navigated through two significant weather delays that prolonged the event by over three and a half hours. Notably, former President Donald Trump attended the latter part of the race, having led drivers on two laps around the track in his presidential limousine, known as “The Beast.”

This victory marked the 10th Daytona 500 win for Hendrick Motorsports, setting a new record as the organization broke a tie with Petty Enterprises for the most wins in the history of the prestigious race. Byron remarked, “Just obviously fortunate it worked out in our favor. Crazy? Yeah. I can’t honestly believe that, but we’re here.”

Austin Cindric was in the lead when he became involved in a crash that took out numerous drivers, including notable names such as Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Alex Bowman. This event marked the sixth occasion in the last eight Daytona 500 races that the event extended into overtime, which positioned Byron to join the ranks of only four other drivers who have won the race in consecutive years.

Byron's victory was the 14th of his Cup Series career, and he expressed ambition for the upcoming season, focusing on the championship race in Phoenix, where he previously finished third in the standings over the last two years. “We plan on trying to win a lot of races this year, so we’re not going to stop here,” Byron explained. “We’re going to continue to push forward and try to get to Phoenix.”

As expected at Daytona, the race was marred by intense late-race wrecks, which often lead to overtime situations. With four laps remaining, Ryan Preece flipped his No. 60 Ford, essentially performing a wheelie before landing back on its tires and crashing into the outside wall. Preece signaled his well-being to his crew by dropping his safety net.

Other prominent drivers such as Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez, and Brad Keselowski had their chances at victory thwarted, leading to a red flag situation just 11 laps after another significant wreck had already shuffled the field. The multi-car pileup began when reigning champion Joey Logano’s maneuver in the middle lane was blocked by Ricky Stenhouse, creating a domino effect that ensnared multiple former Cup Series champions, including Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott.

Busch’s car ultimately ended up on a wrecker, extending his streak of 20 races without a win in “The Great American Race.” Tyler Reddick finished in second place, followed by two-time Daytona 500 champion Jimmie Johnson in third, with Chase Briscoe and John Hunter Nemechek rounding out the top five. This performance was particularly noteworthy for Johnson, who is now the majority owner of Legacy Motor Club, and it marked his highest finish in the event since his victory in 2013.

“I have emotions that I didn’t expect to have,” Johnson reflected on his dual role as a driver and team owner. “I’ve never been in this position as an owner, and it’s really opened up a different set of emotions.”

However, not all drivers had a successful day, as four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and 2017 NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr. exited the race prematurely after being caught in accidents before the halfway mark. Castroneves, racing under a new rule allowing world-class drivers provisional spots, expressed disappointment yet optimism about his NASCAR experience. Meanwhile, Truex, who retired from full-time racing after last season, lamented his 38th-place finish, calling the outcome “disappointing.”

As the NASCAR series continues, the focus shifts to the upcoming race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Daniel Suarez will defend his title as the reigning race winner.