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 warning – Kurt Busch surrendered the top spot when he pitted for tires and was declared the winner after heavy rain followed two lightning flaws. You will find 33 laps left when the 160-lap race has been halted.
Haley was 27th when leader Austin Dillon triggered a 17-car crash that took out nearly half the area and most of the top contenders. He passed a range of wrecked cars and then several more that left pit stops.
The 20-year-old Haley won’t lock at a place in the playoffs, though. He’s a fulltime motorist at the second-tier Xfinity Series and was making his third Cup Series beginning – for newcomer Spire Motorsports. The group’s No. 77 Chevrolet can procure a postseason bid, but only if it ends up in the top 30 in points.
However, it was a fitting ending for the final July race at NASCAR’s most famous track.
The event, which was postponed a day because of rain, was plagued with inclement weather and full of unpredictable winners in recent decades. It’s moving to late August at 2020 – the regular-season finale – as part of 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 spots.
Ryan Newman was fifth in a Ford.
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4:30 p.m.
Drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Hemric entertained fans during two lightning delays by throwing a soccer across the trail and into the stands.
Wallace and Hemric every had a couple of throws and even got booed a bit.
But it surely gave fans a reason to stick around for more than an hour without any racing.
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3:18 p.m.
Lighting has halted 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 forcing for Kaulig Racing. That is his third Cup Series start.
Kurt Busch was leading the 400-mile race following a 17-car mess. However, Busch ducked onto pit road for fuel under caution. That left Haley out front, and when the red flag was pulled because of a nearby lightning strike, it left Busch in 18th. As cars were parked and covered on pit road.
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3 p.m.
With dark clouds looming and the close of the race in sight, pioneer Austin Dillon wrecked almost half the field at Daytona International Speedway.
« The Big One » happened on Lap 119 in Turn 1 and included 17 cars – many of them at the front of the area.
Clint Bowyer was pushing Dillon into front on the outside and made a tough move left to try to pass the leader. Dillon turned left No. 3 Chevrolet, tagged Bowyer and then began spinning and carrying out competitors.
« I guess that he didn’t 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 involved. So were Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott.
« I was being aggressive and trying to keep the lead, » Dillon said. » That is exactly what you get. »
Kurt Busch was able to get through this melee unscathed.
Read more: todayinsport.net