CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rain delays, multiple incidences and two overtimes is how the DAYTONA 500 concluded Monday night.
Chase Elliott was caught up in two accidents, including one on the final lap. He led all Hendrick Motorsports drivers by scoring 17th.
The race went off without a hitch until less than 17 laps left, which saw multiple incidences take out a large chunk of the field, including William Byron, Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman. All three sustained enough damage that they could not continue.
The race was delayed an hour Sunday after a pop-up shower dampened the track, then during Lap 21 a red flag was dropped after another band of showers hovered over Daytona.
The DAYTONA 500 was postponed until Monday, when all drivers started in their same positions after Lap 20.
Denny Hamlin won the race.
Below is a closer look at how Sunday’s Daytona 500 unfolded for the four Hendrick Motorsports teammates.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FINISHED:
17th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Elliott jumped up from the 25th spot to the 14th by the time the fifth lap rolled around, making quick work in climbing his way toward the first half of the pack.
- Once racing resumed Monday, Elliott quickly moved to first place thanks to his teammates. When Stage 1 ended, he was the first to cross the checkered line and earned top Stage 1 points.
- By the time the second stage was well underway, Elliott had fallen back to the top 15, but pushed his way up to second by the 100th lap. At the end of Stage 2, Elliott crossed the line at seventh.
- Elliott was hit with a penalty as Stage 3 started due to a pit stop violation, which had him start at the rear of the pack. Despite this, he had worked his way into the top 10 and, with less than 20 laps left, Elliott was back in the top five.
- He came away unscathed from the huge accident that occurred with less than 17 laps left in the race. Once the red flag was cleared, Elliott continued in third place, but was in 11th place by the time a caution came out with eight laps to go.
- With two laps to go, Elliott was caught up in the third big incident of the night, which forced overtime. Elliott was able to get back on the track, but an incident in the final lap didn’t allow him to cross the finish line.
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FINISHED: 40th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Byron started fourth after he won the second Duel on Thursday night. He held steady at seventh place through the first few laps of the DAYTONA 500, leading all of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates.
- Byron was ready to go on Monday once the race resumed, moving up to the top four with his fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammates.
- With three laps left in the first stage, he was nudged along his rear bumper and had an accident, sliding off the track. He was unable to finish the race.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 ALLY CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FINISHED: 35th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Johnson started sixth and was behind teammate Byron through the first several laps of the first stage, seemingly comfortable working his way in the top 10.
- When he started in eighth place on Monday, Johnson worked his way up to second and was instrumental in helping Elliott finish first in the first stage. He followed closely behind in fifth place.
- Johnson fell back to 19th 11 laps in to the second stage, but pushed his way all the way up to 10th by Lap 100. The end of Stage 2 saw Johnson in sixth place.
- With less than 40 laps to go, Johnson weaved in and out of the top five, even taking first place from the inside. He pitted with teammate Bowman for new tires and a quick fuel up.
- On Lap 184, Johnson was caught up in an incident that involved a large portion of the drivers. He was unable to stay in the race.
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 VALVOLINE CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FINISHED:
24th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After starting on the outside pole, Bowman quickly fell to fifth in the first few laps of the race, but still led the inside lane. As the lanes started to break up, he fell to 13th by the time the fifth lap started.
- Once he was back on the track Monday, Bowman was in third place and helped Johnson push Elliott across the finish line first at the end of Stage 1. He earned points for coming in second.
- Bowman hovered around 18th as the second portion of the race went on, but climbed to 14th halfway through the Stage 2.
- Not much changed for Bowman throughout the latter part of the Stage 2. He ended it in 15th place.
- With less than 30 laps to go, Bowman’s patience paid off when he took over the top spot. He pitted with 27 laps left for fuel and fresh tires, then started working his way back up again.
- Bowman hovered in the top 10 with less than 20 laps left, but the first big incident of the race took the Valvoline Chevrolet out to the infield. He was able to stay in the race, but he pitted after a second accident with less than eight laps due to damage from the first accident. He was unable to finish the race.