FEBRUARY 17, 2021

(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
In a stunning upset at the end of an action-filled, rain-interrupted Daytona 500, Michael McDowell (No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford) claimed his first NASCAR Cup Series victory after charging into the lead during a brutal multi-car wreck in Turn 3 on the final lap. “I can’t believe it,” McDowell said. “I’ve got to thank God. So many years of just grinding it out, hoping for an opportunity like this. I’ve got to thank (team owner) Bob Jenkins for giving me this opportunity. I’m so thankful. What a great way to get a first victory — in the Daytona 500!” McDowell, who led only the final lap at 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway, is the eighth driver to get his first Cup win in the Daytona 500. Reigning series champion Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) finished second after contact between Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford) and Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) ignited the final wreck, sending Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) rocketing into the outside wall. When NASCAR illuminated the caution lights, McDowell was in the lead over Elliott by a car length. “I saw the lights come on (for the caution), and I knew it was over right then,” Elliott said. Austin Dillon (No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) finished third, followed by Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford) and Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota), who fell short in his attempt to win a record third straight Daytona 500. The race was a wreck-fest, starting with a massive pile-up on Lap 14 - on Lap 14 - which took sixteen cars out of the race. To make matters worse, nearby lightning strikes delayed the restart of the race and heavy rains followed shortly thereafter. Five hours and 40 minutes later, after the rain faded and the track dried, engines were re-fired at 9:07 p.m. ET, and the race resumed with 24 cars on the lead lap. The NASCAR Cup Series’ next race is scheduled for Sunday (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM) at Daytona’s 3.61-mile road-course layout. Watch a highlight video here. (Thank you to Reid Spencer/NASCAR Wire Service) Editor-in-Chief's Note: It was nice to see Michael McDowell get his first Cup win; but the fact remains that restrictor-plate racing on NASCAR's "long" tracks is a joke, and damn near unwatchable. It's a waste of time and money and once again, NASCAR was lucky to escape without anyone getting hurt. Race 2 on the NASCAR schedule is on the Daytona road course next Sunday. I will watch that. -PMD