![]() Hamlin, who won two other races in the buildup to Sunday and was trying to become the first driver to sweep Daytona, wound up second in a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. I never take this for granted, man because it doesn't happen twice, let alone once." We got a little help at the end there from Jeff to get away on the restart," Earnhardt said. Then an accident farther back involving former winners Kevin Harvick and Jamie McMurray brought out the caution and the win belonged to Earnhardt. But Denny Hamlin came charging through the field and Earnhardt suddenly had a challenger with one lap to go. 3 - Earnhardt's father's number making its return to the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2001 - set up a final two-lap shootout to the finish.Įarnhardt got a great jump past Brad Keselowski on the restart, and had Gordon behind him protecting his bumper. There were 42 lead changes and four multi-car accidents as the field closed in on the checkered flag.Īn accident with seven laps to go triggered by pole-sitter Austin Dillon, driving the No. He led six times for a race-high 54 laps - all after the rain delay - and seemed to have it under control until things got chaotic near the end. When it resumed, Earnhardt dominated at the track where his father was killed in an accident on the last lap of the 2001 race. ![]() Rain stopped the race about 45 minutes after it began for a delay of more than six hours. "That's a sign it's going to be a great season." "The world is right right now - Dale Junior just won the Daytona 500," teammate Jeff Gordon said. 88 Chevrolet, the few who withstood a rain delay of 6 hours, 22 minutes screaming their support, Earnhardt euphorically radioed his crew, saying: "This is better than the first one!" He was met by Rick Hendrick after his victory lap, and the team owner climbed into the driver's window for a ride to Victory Lane. "I didn't know if I'd ever get the chance to feel it again and it feels just as good."Īs he crossed the finish line in his No. "Winning this race is the greatest feeling that you could feel in this sport besides accepting the trophy for the championship," said Earnhardt, who climbed from his car in Victory Lane and hugged every member of his Hendrick Motorsports crew. The victory Sunday night ended a streak of futility at Daytona International Speedway, where he finished second in three of the previous four 500s. NASCAR's most popular driver won the Daytona 500 for the second time - a decade after his first victory - to snap a 55-race losing streak dating to 2012. Through rain and wrecks, on Daytona's longest day, this was a drought Dale Earnhardt Jr. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĭAYTONA BEACH, Fla.
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