NASCAR 2024: William Byron wins Daytona 500, seasons first race

William Byron has won the Daytona 500, the first official race of the 2024 National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) season, which began on Monday at Daytona International Speedway after rainy weather pushed the "Great American Race" back by a day, Fox News reported.

Just as the last lap started, Byron was pronounced the winner after fellow frontrunner Ross Chastain pulled out due to an accident.

On the 192nd lap, 18 cars crashed, which eliminated many competitors. Byron, too, was part of the crash but managed to get out on time.

Kyle Larson, Noah Gragson, Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Chris Buescher, Martin Truex Jr, Todd Gilliland, Ryan Preece, Erik Jones, Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, Anthony Alfredo, Daniel Suarez, and last year’s Daytona 500 winner Rickey Stenhouse Jr were among those involved in the crash.

It’s the first Daytona 500 win for Byron, who has become the sixth driver from Hendrick Motorsports to win the title.

Alex Bowman came in second.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Georgia next week for the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

William Byron was listed among FOX Sports NASCAR Insider Bob Pockrass' top candidates poised to win the Daytona 500.