Denny Hamlin wins 2020 Daytona 500

Story Originally Published by USA Today (2/18/20)

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A violent 62nd Daytona 500 that featured a visit from President Donald Trump and covered two days ended Monday evening with Denny Hamlin celebrating victory in NASCAR's biggest race for the second year in a row and all of motorsports concerned for driver Ryan Newman.

Hamlin held off Ryan Blaney in a photo finish in the second overtime at Daytona International Speedway after multiple wrecks in the final 20 laps decimated the field in the longest Daytona 500 in history.

But Hamlin’s celebration was muted as emergency crews tended to Newman after he was involved in a horrific crash on the final lap.

Newman, who held the lead as the field took the white flag, got turned while racing for the win, and his No. 6 Ford slammed into the wall then flipped up and over landing on its roof before Corey LaJoie’s Ford slammed into his car, flipping the car once again.

Safety crews rushed to Newman’s aid to remove him from the car. He was taken to a local hospital. Newman's team, Roush Fenway Racing, issued a statement Monday night with an update: "Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center. He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening."

Hamlin now has won three of the last five Daytona 500s, while giving newly minted Hall of Fame owner Joe Gibbs his fourth victory in the Great American Race. Hamlin also won in 2016 in the closest finish in the event's history. This year's finish took several moments to decide before Hamlin was declared the winner in the second-closest finish in history.

"Things really worked out perfectly there for me at the end," Hamlin said. "I’m very fortunate to be in this place, but we all have to bow our heads and pray for Ryan Newman. That’s the number one thing we should all be thinking about right now.”

Hamlin's three career wins at the Daytona 500 tie him with Bobby Allison, Dale Jarrett, Jeff Gordon for the third-most in the race's 62-year history.

In the first overtime, Michael McDowell and Clint Bowyer made contact on the restart second the race to the second overtime.

Contact between Ross Chastain and Ryan Preece running near the front of the pack with three laps remaining caused a multi-car wreck that also collected Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Ty Dillon and Tyler Reddick. NASCAR officials dropped the red flag to clear the track, leaving 18 cars on the lead lap to chase victory in overtime with Hamlin leading the way with Chris Buescher in second.

Following a restart with 10 laps to go, Reed Sorenson cut a tire and slid up in front of Timmy Hill, causing damage to both vehicles and bringing out another caution.

Nearly 20 cars were involved in the mayhem, with Johnson, Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. and Kurt Busch knocked out of the race with severe damage. When the race returned to green with 10 laps to go, only 22 cars remained on the lead lap.

One lap prior to the big wreck, Kyle Busch's No. 18 Toyota started smoking and he brought it to pit road. But after changing four tires and getting back on track, smoke continued to pour out of Busch's car, and the reigning series champion, who has won everything but the Daytona 500, was forced to go to the garage, ending his race.

Stage 2

Defending Daytona 500 champ Hamlin had the lead for the restart at the beginning of the second 65-lap stage, and he never relinquished it, winning the stage and earning one playoff point. He and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, who spent a large chunk of the first stage in the back of the field, were running up front with him for much of the stage.

Behind Hamlin, Kyle Busch, pole winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Truex, Chastain, Johnson, Elliott, Blaney, Logano and Chris Buescher finished the second stage in the top 10.

Edward DeBartolo, Jr.

DeBartolo was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

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