The Daytona 500 weekend is generally the first auto race of the North American racing season. It is NASCAR’s crown jewel and the beginning of the Monster Energy Cup Series. The Daytona Speedway is one of the last of the Super Speedways left in the United States and still looks impressive as a speed factory. This year was the 61st running of the event and it really is the last great historical connection to the “good ole boy” golden days of Lee and Richard Perry, Fireball Roberts, Cale Yarborough, Fred Lorenzen, Junior Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt. Even A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti have won here. The event harkens back to the early days when the race was run on the beach itself. Lee Petty won the first race in 1959 and his son Richard has the most Daytona victories with 7. Chevrolet has powered the most winners with 23. Since 1982 it has opened the NASCAR season which makes it unique. Most other sporting series have their biggest competition at the end of their seasons. The Daytona 500 garners the viewing audience of any televised automobile race in the United States. The race winner is presented with the Harley J. Earl Trophy and the Daytona Purse is by far the largest in stock car racing. The 2019 race marked the debut for the Ford Mustang taking the place of the Ford Fusion.
There were two 60 lap qualifying Duels on Saturday, Feb. 16. The first one was won by Kevin Harvick, winning the first in a Stewart-Haas Ford, and Joey Logano won the second in a Penske Ford. Second year driver William Byron won the pole in qualifying. Byron was driving a Hendricks Motor Sport Chevy. The race is divided into three stages. The first two stages are 60 laps, and the final stage is 80 laps.
The leaders at the first and second stages are awarded 10 points, with the rest of the top ten awarded accordingly. Kyle Busch and Ryan Balany were the leaders at the first two stages. The race resembled a demolition derby. They had a devil of a time completing the race because of three multiple car wrecks during the last 20 lap, including one involving 21 cars. The race was stopped twice for a total of 39 minutes. Because the race cannot finish under caution, the finish was extended an extra 7 laps. When the white flag dropped, Denny Hamlin was able to hold off teammate Kyle Busch to take the checkered flag for the win. It was Hamlin’s second Daytona win. He won his first in 2016. Joe Gibbs Racing Team claimed the first three finishing positions with Busch taking second and Erik Jones in third place. All three drivers piloted Toyotas. 2018 winner Austin Dillon finished 16th. Pole winner William Byron finished 21st.
Next Sunday, the Cup racers meet at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500.