Denny Hamlin was on the verge of securing his fourth victory in the Daytona 500, known as 'The Great American Race,' when a dramatic turn of events unfolded on the final lap. As Hamlin surged into the lead, a potential caution was anticipated after a spin by Riley Herbst of the 23XI Racing team, co-owned by Hamlin and Michael Jordan. However, NASCAR opted not to issue a caution as Herbst managed to save his car, leading to a chain reaction that resulted in a race-deciding crash.
Hamlin found himself in the middle of a three-wide situation, with Cole Custer making an aggressive move that triggered the crash. Ultimately, William Byron emerged victorious, claiming his second consecutive Daytona 500 title, while Hamlin finished in 24th place.
