The Latest: Cup Series race at Daytona begins a day late
5:30 p.m.
Justin Haley has won the rain-shortened Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, his first in NASCAR’s top level.
Haley took the lead under warning – Kurt Busch surrendered the top spot when he pitted for tires and was declared the winner after heavy rain followed two lightning delays. There were 33 laps remaining when the 160-lap race has been halted.
Haley was 27th when chief Austin Dillon triggered a 17-car crash that took out almost half the field and most of the top contenders. He passed a range of wrecked automobiles and then several more that left pit stops.
The 20-year-old Haley won’t lock in a place in the playoffs, however. He’s a full-time motorist in the second-tier Xfinity Series and was making his third Cup Series start – all for newcomer Spire Motorsports. The group’s No. 77 Chevrolet can procure a postseason bid, but only if it ends up in the top 30 in points.
Nonetheless, it was a fitting end for the closing July race in NASCAR’s most famous track.
The event, which was postponed a day due to rain, has been plagued by inclement weather and filled with unpredictable winners in the past couple of years. It’s moving to late August at 2020 – the regular-season finale – included in NASCAR’s significant schedule shake-up.
William Byron finished second, followed by seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and Ty Dillon. Manufacturer Chevrolet won for the second consecutive week and took the top four spots.
Ryan Newman was fifth in a Ford.
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4:30 p.m.
Drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Hemric amused lovers during two lightning flaws by throwing a football across the track and into the stands.
Wallace and Hemric each had a few errant throws and even got booed a little.
However, it surely gave fans a reason to stick around for more than an hour with no racing.
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3:18 p.m.
Lighting has halted the NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway with Justin Haley in the lead.
The 20-year-old Haley is a part-time driver for newcomer Spire Motorsports. He finished second in Friday night’s second-tier Xfinity Series race while forcing for Kaulig Racing. That is his third Cup Series start.
Kurt Busch was leading the 400-mile race after a 17-car mess. But Busch ducked onto pit road for fuel under warning. That left Haley front, and when the red flag was pulled because of a nearby lightning strike, it left Busch in 18th. As automobiles were parked and coated on pit road.
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3 p.m.
With dark clouds looming and the close of the race in sight, leader Austin Dillon wrecked nearly half the field at Daytona International Speedway.
“The Big One” occurred on Lap 119 in Turn 1 and included 17 cars – most of them at the front of the field.
Clint Bowyer was pushing Dillon to front on the exterior and made a hard move left to attempt and pass the pioneer. Dillon turned left No. 3 Chevrolet, tagged Bowyer and then began spinning and taking out competitors.
“I guess he didn’t want me to pass him,” Bowyer said.
All four Joe Gibbs Racing cars – Deny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and defending race winner Erik Jones – were included. So were Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott.
“I was being aggressive and trying to maintain the lead,” Dillon said.” That’s what you get.”
Kurt Busch managed to get through the melee unscathed.
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