Rick Hendrick was hesitant to believe that his team had emerged victorious in the Daytona 500 until one of his cars crossed the finish line and NASCAR confirmed it. William Byron was declared the champion of the 66th edition of the Daytona 500, with teammate Alex Bowman finishing in second place. NASCAR determined the winner by examining the timing of the caution flag, as well as reviewing video and photographic evidence. Hendrick, who had experienced disappointment in the past, exercised caution in celebrating prematurely. This triumph marked the first Daytona 500 victory for Hendrick Motorsports since 2014.
Hendrick elaborated, stating, “I have been eagerly awaiting this triumph for so long that I refrained from allowing myself to become excited until it was officially confirmed. I stood there after the race, contemplating whether we had truly emerged victorious. Did we cross the finish line in time? Did the caution flag hinder our chances? However, when we lined up, I felt optimistic that we had a great opportunity.”
During the final restart, Byron selected the inside lane of the front row, with Ross Chastain in the lead. Bowman occupied fourth place on the outside lane, while Chase Elliott restarted in sixth position. With two laps remaining, Byron led the pack, followed by Austin Cindric and Corey LaJoie. Chastain made a move in Turns 3 and 4, closing in on Byron’s rear bumper. However, when Byron defended his position, Chastain collided with Cindric, resulting in a multi-car crash. Byron managed to maintain his lead as Bowman attempted to overtake him, but ran out of time when NASCAR called for a caution.
This victory held significant significance for Rick Hendrick, as it commemorated the 40th anniversary of his team’s debut in NASCAR. In 1984, when the team was known as All-Star Racing, Geoff Bodine finished eighth in the Daytona 500. Reflecting on that moment, Hendrick remarked, “When I look back to 40 years ago, I felt as though we did not belong here. We were up against legends like Junior Johnson, the Pettys, and the Wood Brothers. We were a small team without a sponsor, yet we still managed to finish in the top 10. Winning this race after a decade feels incredible, especially considering the setbacks we have encountered in the past.”
Hendrick expressed his gratitude for being a part of NASCAR and the exhilaration of equaling the all-time record for Daytona 500 victories. He also extended his congratulations to William Byron, Rudy Fugle, and the entire organization, while acknowledging Alex Bowman’s second-place finish. With this triumph, Hendrick Motorsports matched Petty Enterprises’ record for the most Daytona 500 wins by an organization, with a total of nine. The team’s previous victories came in 1986, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, and now 2024 with Byron’s triumph.
According to racer.com
