He did it again. Honestly, at this point, you've gotta wonder if William Byron just owns the keys to the Daytona International Speedway.
While everyone was talking about the new playoff format and the return of "The Chase," Byron was busy cementing his legacy. He didn't just win today; he joined the most exclusive club in motorsports. To understand how hard this is, you only have to look at the names who haven't done it. Dale Earnhardt didn't win back-to-back. Jeff Gordon didn't do it. But today, the driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet became only the fifth person in history to win consecutive Daytona 500s.
It wasn't a clean, easy Sunday drive. Not even close.
How the Daytona 500 Was Won
The race was basically a chess match at 200 mph until it wasn't. For most of the afternoon, it felt like the Fords had the upper hand. Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney were working that top lane like a well-oiled machine, leading a combined 125 laps. But Daytona doesn't care about your leading stats. It cares about who is left standing when the "Big One" inevitably strikes.
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The chaos started early, but the real heartbreaker happened during the overtime finish. We saw a massive seven-car melee in Turn 1 that wiped out heavy hitters like Martin Truex Jr. and Ross Chastain. If you were watching the live feed, it was pure carnage.
Byron was sitting in sixth when the white flag waved.
Basically, he used a "Houdini" move. While Cole Custer and Denny Hamlin were tangled up at the front, Byron stayed disciplined. He saw the bottom lane getting "squirrelly"—his words—and committed to the third lane. That split-second decision was the difference between a trophy and a tow truck.
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The Top 10 Finishers
If you missed the final lap, here is how the lead pack shook out:
- William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)
- Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
- Jimmie Johnson (Legacy Motor Club)
- Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)
- John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)
- Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)
- Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)
- Austin Cindric (Team Penske)
- Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)
- Chris Buescher (RFK Racing)
The Jimmie Johnson Surprise
Can we talk about Jimmie Johnson for a second? The guy is a legend, obviously, but seeing him pull off a P3 finish at his age is wild. He was in the race thanks to the "Open Exemption Provisional," and he made every single lap count. It’s funny—people were writing him off as a "victory lap" entry, but he was right there in the mix when the fenders started flying.
Tyler Reddick also deserves a massive shout-out. He finished just 0.113 seconds behind Byron. That is less than the blink of an eye. Reddick has been vocal about wanting to prove 23XI Racing belongs at the top of the Toyota totem pole, and a runner-up finish at the 500 is a hell of a statement.
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Why Today Changed Everything for 2026
The 2026 season is already feeling different. We've got the new (well, old-school) 10-race Chase format returning. This win means Byron is effectively safe, but more importantly, it shows that Hendrick Motorsports hasn't lost their superspeedway edge.
There were 56 lead changes today. Fifty-six! That tells you the parity in the current car builds is through the roof. It also means that fuel-saving strategies, which kinda annoyed fans last year, were still a huge factor. Drivers were "saving" for nearly the entire first stage, which is why the racing looked a bit stagnant early on before exploding into that chaotic final 20 laps.
What’s Next for the Cup Series
If you're looking to follow the momentum, the circuit moves to Atlanta Motor Speedway next Sunday. Atlanta has basically turned into a "mini-Daytona" with its drafting-style racing, so expect more of the same high-stakes pack action.
For the fans of the blue oval, don't panic. Even though Byron took the check, Ford dominated the laps led. Blaney and Cindric have the speed; they just need the luck to hold through the final restart.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the official NASCAR points standings tomorrow morning; with the return of "The Chase," every stage point from today carries extra weight.
- Watch the post-race breakdown on NASCAR’s YouTube channel to see the onboard footage of Byron's final-lap move—it’s the only way to appreciate how close he came to being caught in the Custer/Hamlin wreck.
- Get your tickets for Atlanta early, as the "Byron Repeat" hype is likely to drive a sell-out crowd for next weekend.