William Byron emerged victorious in the 2024 Daytona 500, securing a narrow win over Alex Bowman and clinching a 1-2 finish for Hendrick Motorsports in The Great American Race.
At 26 years old, Byron showcased his prowess by leading just four laps in his No. 24 Chevrolet throughout the eventful race. The final moments were marked by two significant wrecks, including a massive 17-car pileup famously known as “the big one,” which occurred as Byron approached the white flag.
Christopher Bell claimed third place, followed by Corey LaJoie in fourth, and A.J. Allmendinger rounding out the top five.
A major incident unfolded during the Daytona 500 with just eight laps remaining as Ross Chastain defended his lead against Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski. Attempting to assist his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, Alex Bowman’s maneuver inadvertently caused Byron to spin out, colliding with Keselowski and triggering a chain reaction that involved a total of 17 cars at the end of the back straightaway.
Ross Chastain narrowly avoided disaster by mere inches, emerging unscathed from only the second crash of the race, which prompted officials to bring out the red flag. However, luck did not stay on Chastain’s side for long.
Among the drivers caught up in the pileup were notable names such as 2023 Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Noah Gragson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Todd Gilliland, Ryan Preece, Erik Jones, Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, Anthony Alfredo, and Daniel Suarez.
Following the restart, the race resumed with just four laps remaining, with Ross Chastain maintaining his lead.
However, chaos ensued as Austin Cindric made contact with Chastain at the finish line, sending both drivers sliding into traffic. Despite the confusion, officials determined that William Byron was leading when the yellow flag was displayed on the final lap.
Securing his first Daytona 500 victory, Byron made history as the first Hendrick driver to claim the prestigious title since Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2014. Additionally, he joined the elite ranks as the sixth Hendrick driver to triumph in the Daytona 500.