DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. (WFLA) — After a series of runner-up finishes, NASCAR driver Kurt Busch will finally take home the winner’s share at the Daytona 500.
Busch was able to slip past Kyle Larson with two laps left to finish in first place.
A string of multi-car crashes sent much of his competition off the track early. Busch’s own blown tire sent big contenders like Dale Earnhardt Jr. home. A 16-car accident followed.
It was also the first Dayton 500 win for Busch after 17 attempts.
You can follow today’s action on our live blog:
6:29 pm ET: Kurt Busch wins!
—
6:26 pm ET: Truex takes the lead with 2 laps to go.
—
6:24 pm ET: Chase Elliot maintains lead in late stages. 5 laps to go.
—
6:19 pm ET: Chase Elliot remains in the lead with 12 laps to go.
—
6:10 pm ET: Chase Elliot leads with 23 laps to go. Logano trails behind in second place.
—
5:53 pm ET: Almirola, Larson and Whitt lead with 46 laps to go.
—
5:32 pm ET: McMurray clips the back of Elliot’s car. Drivers under caution yet again.
—
5:12 pm ET: After 132 laps, both of the stage winners are out. Danica Patrick and others eliminated in crash. Chase Elliot is the current leader. Jamie McMurray is in second place.
—
5:07 pm ET: Fifth caution flag of the day after massive pile up. Danica Patrick has damage.
—
5:05 pm ET: Pole-sitter Chase Elliot takes the lead! Elliot won the race pole for the second straight year in a row.
—
4:35 pm ET | At this time, leaders through 108 laps are:
4:24 pm ET: Wreck forces red flag stoppage.
—
4:19 pm ET: Kyle Busch is OUT!
—
4:16 pm ET: Massive pile up in turn three apparently caused by Kyle Busch’s tire. Six vehicles involved including leader Dale Earnhardt Jr.. Earnhardt Jr’s car is on the 5-minute crash damage clock.
—
4:14 pm ET: The race is half way finished.
—
3:49 pm ET: All 40 cars are out on the track. Kyle Larson leads.
—
3:30 pm ET: Kyle Busch wins stage 1.
—
3:22 pm ET: Ryan Blaney, who started in 36th place has pushed all the way to the lead.
—
2:54 pm ET: Joey Logano makes a pit stop after lap 15, falling one lap behind his competition.
—
2:46 pm ET: 2010 Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray takes the lead with Kevin Harvick trailing behind him in second place.
—
2:26 pm ET: And they’re off! Actor Owen Wilson gave the command to start engines. Wilson, who voices the animated character Lightning McQueen in Disney Pixar’s “Cars 3” serves as the Grand Marshal for today’s race.
—
—
2:13 pm ET: Opening ceremonies have begun. Singer Jordin Sparks performs the National anthem. Sparks, who is known for her run on ‘American Idol’ was a presenter at the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards.
What a way to begin! @JordinSparks performs the National Anthem as the @AFThunderbirds fly over!
#DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/shboKaV5rm
— Daytona IntlSpeedway (@DISupdates) February 26, 2017
—
1:30 pm ET: Grammy Award-winning trio Lady Antebellum performs the pre-race concert.
This crowd for @ladyantebellum is
! #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/eQkNNEbkVF
— Daytona IntlSpeedway (@DISupdates) February 26, 2017
Chase Elliot captured the pole for the second straight year and will start on the front row with teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.
ere is the starting lineup:
| STARTING POSITION | DRIVER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2. | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 3. | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 4. | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 5. | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 6. | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 7. | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske |
| 8. | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 9. | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 10. | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing |
| 11. | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 12. | Danica Patrick | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 13. | Aric Almirola | Richard Petty Motorsports |
| 14. | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing |
| 15. | Joey Logano | Team Penske |
| 16. | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 17. | Cole Whitt | TriStar Motorsports |
| 18. | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing |
| 19. | Daniel Suarez | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 20. | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports |
| 21. | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 22. | Michael McDowell | Leavine Family Racing |
| 23. | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 24. | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 25. | Matt DiBenedetto | Go Fas Racing |
| 26. | Kasey Kahne | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 27. | Landon Cassill | Front Row Motorsports |
| 28. | DJ Kennington* | Gaunt Brothers Racing |
| 29. | Joey Gase | BK Racing |
| 30. | Michael Waltrip | Premium Motorsports |
| 31. | Corey LaJoie* | BK Racing |
| 32. | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Circle Sport – The Motorsports Group |
| 33. | Paul Menard | Richard Childress Racing |
| 34. | Erik Jones | Furniture Row Racing |
| 35. | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing |
| 36. | Ryan Blaney | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 37. | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 38. | AJ Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 39. | Brendan Gaughan* | Beard Motorsports |
| 40. | Elliott Sadler* | Tommy Baldwin Racing |
WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON RIGHT NOW
- Father of dead Navy SEAL refused to meet Trump at ceremony
- Actor Bill Paxton dies at age 61
- Report warns millions could lose coverage under GOP health proposal
- Florida Florida man shot dead by deputies in Citrus County after car chase, crash
- Florida Florida man with axe attacks two women in Marion County, one victim on life support
>> back to WFLA.com for more top stories
