William Byron was declared the winner of the 2024 Daytona 500 on Monday night after a massive wreck occurred just as the white flag fell on the No. 24 car.
It was Byron’s first Daytona 500 victory. Austin Cindric caught up with Ross Chastain at the start-finish line and he crossed the finish line. Both drivers slipped on the grass and crashed into the roadway. NASCAR determined that Byron was in the lead when the yellow flag came out on the final lap.
When asked by FOX Sports’ Jamie Little what the Daytona 500 championship sounds like to him, he replied, “It sounds really good.” “… We’re very blessed and grateful for all the opportunities. We want to keep it going. We have a lot of proof this year. And this is a good start.”
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William Byron celebrates winning the Daytona 500 on February 19, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Ferrand M. Ebenhack)
“And the Daytona 500… it’s awesome!”
The drivers raced particularly hard in the final few laps, with Chastain taking the lead. Somehow, Byron avoided major sinking.
Energy was high and Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer in the FOX booth feared “big things” were coming. And it happened.
Alex Bowman, who ultimately finished second, got in behind Byron and caught Brad Keselowski when Byron came loose. When Keselowski caught pole sitter Joey Logano, it set off a chain reaction that also caught defending NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney.
“Obviously I don’t like what happened on the backstretch. I got pushed and rolled to the side,” Byron told Little.
2024 Daytona 500: Early morning wreck day for several drivers
18 cars were involved in accidents during Monday’s Daytona 500. (Mike Ehrman/Getty Images)
Blaney said after the accident that he was OK because replays showed he may have injured his wrist while behind the wheel.
Bowman made it through the pileup unscathed and moved into second place behind Chastain. Byron managed to avoid a wreck after spinning Keselowski out.
Additionally, Kyle Larson, Noah Gragson, Denny Hamlin, Chase Brisco, Chris Buescher, Martin Truex Jr., Todd Gilliland, Ryan Preece, Erik Jones, Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, Anthony Alfredo, Daniel Suarez and last year’s Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were also among those involved in the accident.
Keselowski said he was happy just to be in the race for the lead.
“It just didn’t work out,” he said.
Fortunately, not everyone had a bad day, and some were able to return to pit road and fight for the win.
The race restarted with five laps to go, with Chastain in the lead, followed by Byron, Bowman, Cindric, and Chase Elliott. Elliott won Stage 1 and Blaney won Stage 2 early in the race.
Joey Logano stops for fuel during the Daytona 500. (AP Photo/David Graham)
Christopher Bell finished third, Corey Lajoie fourth and AJ Allmendinger fifth.
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The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Georgia next week for the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
