William Byron launched Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary season by snapping the team’s nine-year Daytona 500 losing streak with a win Monday in the rain-delayed “Great American Race.” Byron crossed under the white flag signaling the final lap at the exact moment a crash broke out behind him, which officially ended the race. The last Hendrick driver to win the Daytona 500 was Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2014. Byron is the sixth different driver to win the 500 for Rick Hendrick, the winningest team owner in NASCAR history who made his way to victory lane on the actual 40th anniversary of his first Cup win. It was Byron’s first Daytona 500 victory.
In last night’s finish – Alex Bowman finished second. Christopher Bell, Corey LaJoie and Bubba Wallace completed the top-five.
Early morning rain Monday pushed the X-finity Series back until after the Daytona 500 was run. Austin Hill won the rain-delayed race.
The drivers head to Atlanta this weekend for the second Cup Series race of the season Sunday afternoon.