DAYTONA BEACH, FL. — Joey Logano hung on to win his first career Daytona 500 in a wild race on Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway.
The end came under a caution after Justin Allgaier’s late wreck forced a red flag and a green-white-checkered finish in the Great American Race.
Logano, who led 31 laps and seized command for good in Lap 191, kept the lead on the restart and appeared headed for a dramatic finish with defending Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick and defending Daytona 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. in hot pursuit.
With the race in overtime, a massive wreck in the back of the pack forced a caution flag to come out on Lap 203, securing the victory for Logano and the 22 team.
Harvick finished second, while Earnhardt Jr., who led 32 laps, came in third.
Jeff Gordon, who sat on the pole in his last start at the Daytona 500, led much of the first half of the race but was involved in the late wreck and finished in 33rd place.
Tony Stewart, looking for his first career victory in the Daytona 500, did not finish after getting mixed up with Matt Kenseth on Lap 41. His car was taken to the garage but was too damaged to continue.
