American Joey Logano held off a host of rivals ahead of a last-lap crash Sunday to win the 57th Daytona 500, American oval-course stock car racing's season opener and biggest event.
It was the first Daytona 500 triumph and ninth career victory for the 24-year-old driver on the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) series.
"I can't believe it. This is absolutely amazing," Logano said. "This is awesome. I was so nervous the entire race. Unbelievable. I'm in awe."
Cars were racing three aside and eight deep along the Daytona International Speedway oval until a late-race crash set up a dramatic two-lap restart to determine the winner.
Logano grabbed the lead and was in front when another major wreck on the backstrtetch of the final lap brought out caution flags, the race ending at slow speed with Logano crossing the finish line ahead of defending series champion Kevin Harvick with 2014 Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jnr in third place.
"We had a fast car," Logano said. "I just had to make the right moves."
Logano gave team owner Roger Penske, who has masterminded a record 15 Indianapolis 500 IndyCar triumphs, only his second Daytona 500 victory, the other by Ryan Newman in 2008.
Logano, whose previous best finish in the Daytona 500 was ninth in 2012, is all-but assured of a berth in the season-ending NASCAR Chase for the Cup playoff battle to decide a season champion.
The multi-car crash at the finish of the 200-lap feature was triggered when pole sitter Jeff Gordon, who has said this will be his final NASCAR season, and Austin Dillon made contact and spun.
Gordon led the most laps with 87 but finished 33rd in his 23rd and final Daytona 500 start.
Kyle Busch was unable to race after suffering a broken right leg and left foot in a Saturday support race. Team owner Joe Gibbs said he is unsure when Busch will return to racing.
Busch's brother Kurt remains suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for domestic violence after a Delaware court commissioner found Friday that he smashed a former girlfriend's head into a wall.
Source: AFP