Austin Dillon Wins Wild Daytona 500

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Austin Dillon won the Daytona 500 on Sunday afternoon from the Daytona International Speedway.

Dillon picked up his second career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory in NASCAR’s most prestigious race.  Dillon took the lead on the final lap after making contact with Aric Almirola while making a pass for the lead.

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Dillon said he didn’t mean to wreck Almirola for the lead.

“I hate it for the 10 [of Almirola],” Dillon said.  “We just had a run and I stayed in the gas…I did what I had to do at the end.”

Dillon restarted fourth heading into overtime, and he used a push from Darrell Wallace Jr. to take the lead.  Wallace finished second, and he became the highest-finishing African American driver in the Daytona 500 in just his first start with a new team.

Dillon’s win returns the iconic No. 3 to victory lane 20 years after Dale Earnhardt won the Daytona 500.  Dillon was in victory lane with Earnhardt back in 1998, and he said he was excited to take his grandpa back to victory.

“It is so awesome to take the 3 car back to victory lane,” Dillon said.  “20 years ago…this one’s for Dale Earnhardt Sr. and all those Sr. fans.”

“I said that my first win…I couldn’t beat it, and this does.”

Wallace was emotional following his second-place finish, but he said he was excited to start the season off strong with a new team.

“I’ve got so many emotions right now,” Wallace said.  “Thank you to the King [Richard Petty] for giving me this opportunity.”

“We know how much stress this team has been through in the last three or four months just trying to get this thing together, so for me to come out here…P2 in my first Daytona 500.”

Unofficial results:

1. Austin Dillon

2. Darrell Wallace Jr.

3. Denny Hamlin

4. Joey Logano

5. Chris Buescher

6. Paul Menard

7. Ryan Blaney

8. Ryan Newman

9. Michael McDowell

10. AJ Allmendinger

11. Aric Almirola

12. Justin Marks

13. Trevor Bayne

14. David Gilliland

15. Clint Bowyer

16. Jamie McMurray

17. Alex Bowman

18. Martin Truex Jr.

19. Kyle Larson

20. Gray Gaulding

21. Jeffrey Earnhardt

22. Mark Thompson

23. William Byron

24. DJ Kennington

25. Kyle Busch

26. Kurt Busch

27. Matt DiBenedetto

28. Brendan Gaughan

29. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

30. David Ragan

31. Kevin Harvick

32. Brad Keselowski

33. Chase Elliott

34. Kasey Kahne

35. Danica Patrick

36. Erik Jones

37. Daniel Suarez

38. Jimmie Johnson

39. Ty Dillon

40. Corey LaJoie

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