An epic finish, the long awaited-awaited Daytona 500 is now done and dusted but the race has entered the record as the longest Daytona 500 in history hitting 212 laps before producing a surprise winner. The speedweek commenced on Wednesday 15th and since then NASCAR fans have been treated to nothing but exciting on-track shows from practice and qualifying to Daytona 500.
Just like most Daytona 500, this year’s event which was marking its 65th start recorded a brand new winner who also doubles up as a winless driver since his Cup Series debut. Ricky Stenhouse Jr is the new Daytona 500 trophy winner after holding off Joey Logano in the last laps to take the checkered flag in the slightest of margins over the reigning Cup Series champion.
Reigning Daytona 500 champion, Austin Cindric was among the unlucky drivers who had a rough day in the office encountering wrecks in late laps. While Stenhouse Jr entered the list of Daytona 500 winners, Austin Cindric settled in 23 positions behind Brad Keselowski who was also eliminated from the top position in a late-lap wreck.
Read Also: 2023 Daytona 500 Winner: Ricky Stenhouse Jr Edges Logano to Win Daytona 500
2023 Daytona 500 Final Result: The Longest Daytona 500 in History.
RT to congratulate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on his #DAYTONA500 win! pic.twitter.com/OstRwcdmFi
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 19, 2023
The top three positions were evenly distributed with all car models getting a share of the top position. Chevrolet has been fast all week, taking the pole and eventually winning the title, with JTG Daughety Racing pushing them to the victory stage.
Joey Logano and the No.22 Ford Mustang for Team Penske place the Ford team in the front lane finishing second. Logano ended the 2022 season as the Cup Series Champions and it seems the season starter has aligned with his 2022 finishing energy. Sealing the top three positions, Christopher Bell and his No.20 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing gave Toyota team their front position share.
Pole winner Alex Bowman, failed to convert the pole to a win but he wasn’t locked out of the top five positions as he concluded his day on 5th finish sitting behind RFK’s Chris Buescher and his No.17 Ford Mustang.
Other drivers who were locked in the top ten grid include, Aj Allmendinger, finishing 6th place, Daniel Suarez finishing 7th, Ryan Blaney finishing 8th, Ross Chastain finishing 9th and Riley Herbst finishing 10th. Veteran Motocross and Rally driver Travis Pastrana performed excellently finishing 11th ahead of Kevin Harvick.
Full Final Results
1. RICKY STENHOUSE JR (Winner)
47
2. JOEY LOGANO
22
3. CHRISTOPHER BELL
20
4. CHRIS BUESCHER
17
5. ALEX BOWMAN
48
6. AJ ALLMENDINGER
16
7. DANIEL SUĂREZ
99
8. RYAN BLANEY
12
9. ROSS CHASTAIN
1
10. RILEY HERBST
15
11. TRAVIS PASTRANA
67
12. KEVIN HARVICK
4
13. ZANE SMITH
14. CODY WARE
51
15. MARTIN TRUEX JR
19
16. COREY LAJOIE
7
17. DENNY HAMLIN
11
18. KYLE LARSON
5
19. KYLE BUSCH
8
20. BUBBA WALLACE
21. ARIC ALMIROLA
10
22. BRAD KESELOWSKI
6
23. AUSTIN CINDRIC
2
24. NOAH GRAGSON
42
25. TY GIBBS
54
26. HARRISON BURTON
21
27. TODD GILLILAND
38
28. MICHAEL MCDOWELL
34
29. CONOR DALY
50
30. BJ MCLEOD
78
31. JIMMIE JOHNSON
84
32. JUSTIN HALEY
31
33. AUSTIN DILLON
3
34. WILLIAM BYRON
24
35. CHASE BRISCOE
14
36. RYAN PREECE
41
37. ERIK JONES
43
38. CHASE ELLIOTT
9
39. TYLER REDDICK
45
40. TY DILLON