Ryan Newman‘s car went airborne coming to the checkered flag in the Daytona 500 allowing Denny Hamlin to win the race for a second consecutive year.
The 62nd running of the Great American Race was postponed a day as rain encompassed the Daytona International Speedway after 20 laps were completed Sunday (2/16).
Monday (2/17) the race resumed in the afternoon and had its share of racing incidents throughout. There were a total of nine caution flags issued. Two of those yellow flags involved enough cars that the red flag had to be issued to clean up the accidents.
Chase Elliott seemed to be a solid contender all day and was the winner of stage one. Denny Hamlin also looked strong as he claimed the win in stage two of the race.
The 2020 Daytona 500 was sent into “NASCAR Overtime” when an accident took place on lap 196 of the scheduled 200 lap race. There were two attempts made at the green-white-checkered finish.
During the second (and final) attempt at the green-white-checkered finish, Denny Hamlin raced out to the lead and took the white flag. One the final lap of the race Ryan Newman was able to get around Denny for the lead on the back stretch. Coming out of turn four Ryan got turned sideways and then hit sending his car into the air. It landed on the roof and slid across the finish line (in 9th place) coming to rest at the end of pit road.
While that happened, Denny Hamlin was able to edge out Ryan Blaney giving Denny his second consecutive Daytona 500 win. He is now one of only four drivers to win the Daytona 500 in back-to-back seasons (Richard Petty 1973 & 1974, Cale Yarborough 1983 & 1984, Sterling Marlin 1994 & 1995). Denny now has a total of three Daytona 500 wins. He is one of six drivers now that have three or more Daytona 500 wins in their careers (Jeff Gordon 3, Dale Jarrett 3, Bobby Allison 3, Cale Yarborough 4, Richard Petty 7).
Ryan Blaney finished in second place. Chris Buesher claimed third place with David Regan and Kevin Harvick finishing in fourth and fifth places respectively. See the complete race results for the Daytona 400 here.
Denny Hamlin begins the 2020 season now as the leader in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings. Ryan Blaney is in second place with Kevin Harvick and Chris Buesher in third and fourth places respectively. Amazingly, Ryan Newman holds the fifth place in the point standings at current time. See the complete NASCAR Cup Series point standings here.
Roush Fenway Racing and NASCAR released the following statement regarding Ryan Newman’s condition…
(Obviously the text on the video should read 2020 Daytona 500 Statement on Ryan Newman)
The NASCAR teams and drivers now head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400 Sunday, February 23rd.
By: Buck Stevens
