The 2025 Daytona 500 wasn’t just long—it was brutally long. Six hours. Rain delays, wrecks, and the sheer unpredictability of superspeedway racing turned NASCAR’s biggest spectacle into a test of endurance for fans, drivers, and even team owners.
But when the smoke cleared and the chaos settled, William Byron stood tall, pulling off back-to-back Daytona 500 victories—a feat only four other drivers in history have achieved. The 27-year-old became the youngest to do it, adding yet another monumental milestone to Hendrick Motorsports’ storied legacy.
And no one was happier—or more stunned—than Rick Hendrick himself.
Rick Hendrick Missed the Moment—But Not the Celebration
For all of Hendrick’s legendary wins at Daytona, this one came with a twist. He wasn’t even at the track.
After hours of rain delays, Hendrick called it quits and headed home to North Carolina, expecting the race to drag on indefinitely. But when he turned on his TV, he found himself watching one of the most chaotic final laps in Daytona history—and his driver was in prime position to capitalize.
“I was in shock. I had no idea what was going on,” Hendrick admitted to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “Then I saw [Byron] come off the corner. I said, ‘We’re gonna win this thing.’”
And he was right.
Byron had been sixth heading into Turn 3 on the final lap, seemingly out of contention. But then, as Denny Hamlin and Austin Cindric fought for control, Cole Custer squeezed them on the inside, setting off a massive wreck. The carnage cleared the way for Byron, who sliced through the chaos like a surgeon and took the checkered flag.
Kyle Busch Gets Daytona Heartbreak—Again
For Kyle Busch, the story wasn’t about triumph—it was about bitter disappointment.
The two-time Cup Series champion had once again seen a chance at his elusive first Daytona 500 go up in smoke. Caught in a multi-car wreck with 15 laps to go, Busch was knocked out of contention, finishing a brutal 34th place.
Afterward, Busch’s frustration boiled over, not just at Joey Logano—who triggered the wreck—but at NASCAR’s procedural rules.
“We got beat by NASCAR procedures again,” Busch fumed.
Under NASCAR’s revised Damage Vehicle Policy, teams can now make unlimited repairs in the garage—but only if the car first meets minimum speed on the track. Busch, trapped under caution, couldn’t meet the requirement and was eliminated.
Hendrick’s Take: ‘It’s Never Over Until It’s Over’
While Busch vented, Rick Hendrick simply savored another Daytona triumph.
“Every time there’s a wreck like that, I look for my cars,” Hendrick said. “This time, my car survived.”
Hendrick didn’t mince words when discussing Busch’s disappointment.
“You see guys like Kyle Busch, who have won everything but never got a chance [to win Daytona],” Hendrick noted.
It was a brutal truth. Busch, who has won at every major track, remains haunted by the one that got away.
But for Hendrick and Byron, the story was completely different.
With back-to-back Daytona 500 victories, Byron has joined elite company.
And with Rick Hendrick’s empire continuing to set records, one thing is clear:
In NASCAR, history doesn’t just repeat itself. It’s written by Hendrick Motorsports.
