5:30 p.m.
Justin Haley has won the rain-shortened Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, his first at NASCAR’s top level.
Haley took the lead under caution – Kurt Busch surrendered the top spot when he pitted for tires and was announced the winner after heavy rain followed two lightning delays. There were 33 laps remaining when the 160-lap race was halted.
Haley was 27th when leader Austin Dillon triggered a 17-car crash which took out almost half the field and the majority of the best contenders. He passed a number of wrecked automobiles and then several more that made pit stops.
The 20-year-old Haley won’t lock at a spot in the playoffs, however. He’s a full-time driver in the second-tier Xfinity Series and was making his third Cup Series beginning – all for newcomer Spire Motorsports. The group’s No. 77 Chevrolet could procure a postseason bid, but only as long as it winds up in the top 30 in points.
Nonetheless, it was a fitting end for the final July race at NASCAR’s most famous track.
The event, which was postponed a day because of rain, has been plagued by inclement weather and full of unpredictable winners in recent decades. It’s moving to late August at 2020 – the regular-season finale – included in NASCAR’s major schedule shake-up.
William Byron finished second, followed closely by seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and Ty Dillon. Manufacturer Chevrolet won for the second successive week and took the top four places.
Ryan Newman was fifth in a Ford.
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4:30 p.m.
Drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Hemric amused fans during two lightning flaws by throwing a football across the trail and in the stands.
Wallace and Hemric each had a few errant throws and even got booed a little.
But it surely gave fans a reason to stay around for at least an hour with no racing.
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3:18 p.m.
Lighting has stopped the NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway with Justin Haley at the lead.
The 20-year-old Haley is a part-time driver for newcomer Spire Motorsports. He finished second in Friday night’s second-tier Xfinity Series race whilst driving for Kaulig Racing. This is his third Cup Series start.
Kurt Busch was leading the 400-mile race following a 17-car wreck. However, Busch ducked onto pit road for fuel under warning. That left Haley out front, and when the red flag was brought out because of a nearby lightning strike, it left Busch in 18th. As cars were parked and coated on pit road.
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3 p.m.
With dark clouds looming and also the close of the race in sight, leader Austin Dillon wrecked nearly half the area at Daytona International Speedway.
“The Big One” happened on Lap 119 in Turn 1 and included 17 cars – most of them in the front of the area.
Clint Bowyer was pushing Dillon to front on the outside and made a hard move left to try to pass the leader. Dillon turned left No. 3 Chevrolet, branded Bowyer and then began spinning and carrying out competitors.
“I guess that he did not need me to pass him,” Bowyer said.
All four Joe Gibbs Racing automobiles – Deny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and defending race winner Erik Jones – were included. So were Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott.
“I was being aggressive and trying to keep the guide,” Dillon said.” That is what you get.”
Kurt Busch managed to get through this melee unscathed.
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