Ricky Stenhouse Jr. an unlikely winner in unpredictable and historic Daytona 500

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. received a wild and unpredictable Daytona 500 on Sunday night time, in a race marked by a sequence of late crashes that took the occasion into two overtimes.

Stenhouse received The Great American race as a consequence of being fractionally forward of Joey Logano for the time being a remaining warning flag got here out, to cap off the undisputed spotlight of his profession.

There may hardly have been extra drama, particularly within the closing levels, however Stenhouse made probably the most of his alternative at simply the fitting time, having run steadily all day after qualifying in thirty first.

Stenhouse’s victory was the third of his NASCAR Cup Series profession and his first in six years (snapping a 199-race winless streak), however he was not seen as a probable winner. Yet this race may be assured to offer the surprising, and it did so once more.

“My team left me a note on my car,” Stenhouse stated. “They believed in me.”

Due to repeated stoppages, the race in the end ended on the 211th lap, making it the longest Daytona 500 in historical past.

Minutes earlier than the top, teammates Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon appeared in place to manage issues in extra time, however could not generate sufficient pace — Dillon obtained turned and main carnage ensued.

That left Stenhouse in entrance, battling with Logano and Kyle Larson. It figured to be a dash to the end, however one other wreck, as a result of the white flag had already been raised, primarily ended the race.

NASCAR’s signature occasion had seen upsets twice in succession. Michael McDowell received in 2021 after avoiding an enormous late wreck, and Austin Cindric topped the rostrum final 12 months — these triumphs stay the one Cup Series victory for every man. This 12 months appeared like it will have a extra acquainted really feel, with Larson and Logano being the final two Series champions.

Busch headed a gaggle of huge names that had been chasing their first success within the 500, together with Brad Keselowski, who received the primary stage and led late. None of them had been capable of greatest Stenhouse ultimately.

Ross Chastain took Stage 2 forward of pole-sitter Alex Bowman and Logano, however couldn’t preserve momentum when issues resumed.

Busch had an eventful week, having been within the headlines following a latest gun carry situation in Mexico and a crash in qualifying that noticed him pressured to retreat to the again of the sector at the beginning as he was utilizing a backup automobile. Busch went a lap down, battled again and strongly threatened, however his dream consequence didn’t materialize.

The first half of the race handed with out main incident, however that modified on lap 118, when Tyler Reddick piled into the wall after a bump from Kevin Harvick, with the collision additionally taking Erik Jones and Chase Elliott out of the race.

That was nothing in comparison with what passed off close to the top, as alternative beckoned and no scarcity of drivers made daring strikes in a bid for glory.

Such was the wild nature of the closing levels, that motocross famous person Travis Pastrana discovered himself on the perimeter of the highest 10 earlier than the ultimate restart.

In the top although, it was Stenhouse’s night time, capable of journey out the chaos and pull off a memorable victory.

Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports and the creator of the FOX Sports Insider e-newsletter. Follow him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the each day e-newsletter.

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