William Byron Claims Back-to-Back Daytona 500 Victories in Thrilling Finish
William Byron secured his second consecutive Daytona 500 victory in a dramatic finish at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 16, 2025. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, piloting the No. 24 Chevrolet, navigated through a series of late-race wrecks and chaos to claim the checkered flag. Byron’s win marked the first back-to-back Daytona 500 victory since Denny Hamlin achieved the feat in 2019-20.
The race, which was delayed multiple times due to rain, saw Byron sitting ninth with one lap remaining in overtime. A final crash on the last lap allowed him to surge ahead as NASCAR officials kept the race green, enabling Byron to avoid the wreckage and cross the finish line first. “It’s obviously really special,” Byron said after the race. “It’s an amazing race, and obviously a lot of crazy racing out there tonight and just a lot of pushing and shoving.”
The victory also gave team owner Rick Hendrick a record 10 Daytona 500 wins, breaking a tie with Petty Enterprises. Byron, 27, became the youngest driver to win multiple Daytona 500s, surpassing the previous record held by Jeff Gordon, who is now Byron’s boss at Hendrick Motorsports.
The race was marred by multiple crashes, including a dramatic incident involving Ryan Preece, who went airborne with four laps remaining but emerged unharmed. Former Daytona 500 champions Denny Hamlin and Austin Cindric were among those whose chances were dashed in the final laps due to a multi-car crash triggered by Cole Custer’s three-wide move.
Tyler Reddick finished second, while seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, now a team owner and semi-retired driver, secured a surprising third-place finish. Pole winner Chase Briscoe came in fourth, followed by John Hunter Nemechek.
The event also featured a visit from former President Donald Trump, who took ceremonial laps around the track before the race and addressed the drivers over the radio. However, Trump departed during the rain delays and did not witness the conclusion of the race.
Byron’s triumph capped off a wild and unpredictable Daytona 500, solidifying his status as one of NASCAR’s rising stars. “We plan on trying to win a lot of races this year, so we’re not going to stop here,” Byron said, setting his sights on the championship race in Phoenix.
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