William Byron survives a chaotic Daytona 500 finish to secure his second consecutive victory, making history with a dramatic win amid crashes and weather delays.

William Byron made history by securing his second straight Daytona 500 victory, outlasting a chaotic finish filled with crashes, delays, and dramatic wrecks that eliminated multiple top contenders.

The 27-year-old driver took advantage of a string of incidents in the final laps to emerge as the victor in Sunday night’s thrilling race at Daytona International Speedway.

Byron, racing in his No. 24 Chevrolet, was in ninth place with just one lap remaining. As the race entered overtime, he positioned himself on the outside wall, ready to capitalize on any opportunity. That chance came when another multi-car wreck erupted on the final lap.

NASCAR decided not to throw a caution flag and allowed the drivers to race to the finish, which benefited Byron, who took the lead as others were caught in the aftermath.

“I can’t honestly believe it, but we’re here,” Byron said in victory lane, visibly stunned by the outcome. “It’s an amazing race. Just a lot of pushing and shoving, but it worked out in our favor.”

The victory marked Byron’s 14th career Cup Series win and his second Daytona 500 title in a row. His back-to-back victories at the prestigious race made him the first driver since Denny Hamlin to achieve this feat in consecutive years (2019-2020).

Byron’s triumph was significant not only for him but also for Hendrick Motorsports, which clinched its 10th Daytona 500 win, breaking a tie with the legendary Petty Enterprises for the most victories in the event’s history.

Byron’s performance came after more than three hours of weather delays. A storm had disrupted the race earlier, but the drivers and fans rallied, with the atmosphere charged as the race resumed.

The delays also saw former U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance, adding another layer of drama as he made an appearance at the track.

Trump had already made waves earlier in the day by leading a ceremonial lap in his heavily armored limousine, “The Beast,” before the race continued.

Byron, reflecting on the victory, acknowledged the unpredictability of the event. “Crazy? Yeah,” he admitted. “But that’s what Daytona is all about.”

While Byron celebrated, several other high-profile drivers had their hopes dashed in the dramatic final laps. With just four laps to go, a terrifying crash saw Ryan Preece’s car flip upside down and briefly land on its roof.

The incident sent shockwaves through the field, but fortunately, Preece signaled to the crews that he was unharmed. The wreck caused a significant delay and altered the competitive landscape.

Byron wasn’t the only one to navigate the chaos. Other drivers, including Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez, and Brad Keselowski, all saw their chances of victory destroyed in the wrecks.

The field was further thinned out when a massive multi-car pile-up occurred involving reigning NASCAR champion Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse.

This accident, triggered by an aggressive move from Logano, caused a chain reaction that wiped out former champions such as Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott.

Busch’s car was severely damaged, extending his unfortunate winless streak at the Daytona 500 to 20 years.

Despite the chaos, Byron held strong, staying in the thick of things and waiting for the right moment to pounce. The 27-year-old’s consistency paid off as he was in the right place when the wreck unfolded in the final moments.

“Just fortunate it worked out in our favor,” Byron said. “A lot of crazy racing tonight.”

Byron’s victory also marked a significant milestone for Legacy Motor Club, which had two of its drivers finish in the top five.

Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion and now the majority owner of Legacy Motor Club, finished third, his best Daytona 500 result since his victory in 2013.

“I have emotions that I didn’t expect to have,” Johnson said. “It’s a different experience now as an owner. It’s opened up a new perspective for me.”

As for the rest of the top finishers, Tyler Reddick took second place, while Chase Briscoe and John Hunter Nemechek rounded out the top five. Johnson’s third-place finish was a shining moment in a race full of unexpected twists.

However, not everyone left Daytona with a smile. Two notable drivers, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and 2017 NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr., found their races cut short due to early wrecks.

Castroneves, who was racing in his first Daytona 500 as part of Trackhouse Racing’s “Project 91,” expressed his frustration after being forced to retire from the race before the halfway point.

The IndyCar legend, still learning the nuances of NASCAR racing, had hoped to improve with each lap but was ultimately sidelined early.

Truex Jr., who retired from full-time racing at the end of the previous season, failed to break his 0-for-21 Daytona 500 streak, finishing in 38th place.

“It’s always disappointing when you don’t finish, especially with it being probably our only shot this year,” he lamented.

As the NASCAR Cup Series moves forward, all eyes are now on the next race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Daniel Suarez is the defending race winner.

The Daytona 500, however, will remain a symbol of the unpredictability and intensity that defines NASCAR, with Byron’s second consecutive victory etching his name even more firmly into the sport’s history.