The 2016 NASCAR season got underway on Sunday afternoon with the 56th annual Daytona 500. After a wild ending sequence, Denny Hamlin zipped to victory lane after some impressive maneuvering around Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr.
Multiple Lead Changes Throughout
Rookie Chase Elliott started the race on the pole in the Hendrick Motorsports’ #24 car, with his teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. starting right behind him.
The combination worked early, as Elliott rode around in the lead with Earnhardt Jr. blocking for him. Eventually, Elliott gave way to Earnhardt Jr. and slowly started slipping back into the pack. His day ended early when on Lap 18 he got in an accident with Carl Edwards. That spin sent Elliott into the infield grass. He did return to the race, but was 40 laps down.
That caution allowed teams to make their first pit stops of the day, and when the field went back to green, Earnhardt Jr. was back in the lead. His lead didn’t last long, however, as Denny Hamlin quickly passed him for the lead. Hamlin was in the lead on Lap 55 when the second caution came out, this time for an accident involving Tony Stewart, Edwards, and former 500 winner Trevor Bayne.
The race returned to green flag on Lap 60, with another Hendrick driver leading. This time it was 5-time champion Jimmie Johnson leading the field to the green flag. The race stayed green with a handful of drivers trading the lead until Lap 92 when Chris Buescher and Matt DiBenedetto made contact and crashed into the outside wall, bringing out the third caution of the day.
Greg Biffle was the next driver to bring out the yellow when he hit the outside wall and heavily damaged his car. It did not end his day, but it did eliminate any hopes he had of winning. Hamlin dominated the race, as he led 94 of the first 155 laps before making his final pit stop with 45 to go.
Miraculous Finish
That set up one of the most exciting final laps in recent memory, as Matt Kenseth was leading, with Martin Truex Jr. in second place with Hamlin in third. Coming out of turn three, Hamlin made his move on Kenseth after getting a run on the outside. Kenseth moved up to block him, but Hamlin crossed to the low side, and Kenseth went hard into the wall. That left Hamlin and Truex Jr. battling for the win.
Truex Jr. had the advantage, but Hamlin had the momentum. As they came to the line, they were side-by-side, and when they crossed the line, it was Hamlin who won the race by less than a foot. It was the closest margin of victory in the race’s history. It was his first 500 win in his career.