William Byron had never finished in the top 10 of the Daytona 500 before Monday’s belated race. But 40 years to the day since his team owner Rick Hendrick’s squad entered its first NASCAR race at Daytona, he headed to Victory Lane after a wild 200 laps that boasted 41 lead changes.
Twenty-six hours later than originally planned due to rain, the 40-car entry was led to the green flag on Monday afternoon by polewinner Joey Logano, who had given his legendary team owner Roger Penske his first-ever Daytona 500 pole (see panel, p21).
As with so many rain-delayed races, it didn’t take long for the first wreck to happen, as ambition outweighed patience. Coming to the end of lap five, Brad Keselowski wasn’t lined up straight when he pushed John Hunter Nemechek off Turn 4. A sideways Nemechek clipped Harrison Burton, who connected firmly with Carson Hocevar. Locked together and out of control, Burton and Hocevar careered through the soaked
