The first official race of the 2024 NASCAR season kicked off on Monday at Daytona International Speedway after rainy weather pushed the "Great American Race" back by a day.
William Byron, who was listed among FOX Sports NASCAR Insider Bob Pockrass' top candidates poised to notch their first Daytona 500 victory, came away with the milestone win, but not without some controversy.
Byron was declared the winner as the caution flag came out just as the final lap started, as fellow frontrunner Ross Chastain spun out via a collision. Byron was also directly involved in a massive 18-car wreck on the 192nd lap that knocked out several contenders, including past Daytona 500 champions Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski.
Check out all the highlights from an action-packed Daytona 500 below!
William Byron, who was involved in the major wreck near the end of the race, has won the 2024 Daytona 500, just barely crossing the finish line as a caution flag came out as fellow frontrunner Ross Chastain spun out.
Byron is the record sixth driver from Hendrick Motorsports to win the Daytona 500.
Thankfully, it appears no drivers were seriously injured in the crash.
We made it 192 laps in the Daytona 500 without a massive multi-car tangle, but changed when William Byron hit Brad Keslowski near the front of the pack and set several cars spinning. Joey Logano is also out of the race after leading for several laps.
Here's what happens when Corey LaJoie, near the top of the leaderboard as the 2024 Daytona 500 enters its final laps, has to make a pit stop.
After nearly winning Stage 2, an early exit from the pit spelled trouble for Busch, who is looking to win the Daytona 500 for the first time in his decorated career. The issue dropped Busch down the leaderboard, but fortunately did not cause any further damage.
The 2023 Nascar Cup Series champion made a bold statement as his title defense gets underway, edging his way to the front of a closely packed group that included Kyle Busch to win the second stage of the 2024 Daytona 500.
Chase Elliott made a late move to lead a group of Chevrolets and fended off Kyle Larson atop the leaderboard at the end of the first 65 laps. It's Elliott's second stage win at the Daytona 500.
Carson Hocevar, Harrison Burton and Kaz Grala are all ok, but out of the race thanks to their involvement in that sixth-lap crash.
Harrison Burton took the brunt of the damage in this early multi-car collision.
The rain at Daytona has given way to sunny skies, and who better to start the Great American Race than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson?
