Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Wins Daytona 500 As Chaos Unfolds In Overtime
Buckle up, strap in, crack a beer and fire up the grill ... the 2023 Daytona 500 is set to go green today to kick off the NASCAR season.
After three months, we've made it. NASCAR returns for its 75th season today at Daytona International Speedway, where over 101K fans are expected to take in the glorious sights and sounds of the sport's biggest race.
OutKick is on the scene and will have updates throughout the day. And, of course, we'll have some of the best images from The Great American Race.
Most of the images will of course be of great Americans!
Think these fellas are excited for the Daytona 500?
If that doesn't say Daytona 500, I don't know what does!
Anyway, let's jump in. We have a weather report from yours truly, the Daytona 500 starting lineup, Charlotte Flair burning some WWE rubber, betting odds and more.
Check back throughout the day leading up to the 3:14 p.m. green flag, and through all 500 miles.
Let's go racing, boys!
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wins Daytona 500
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is a Daytona 500 champion.
Stenhouse took the lead coming to the white flag in the second NASCAR overtime, and held it long enough for a massive wreck to unfold behind him. That crash brought out the caution, ending the race and giving Stenhouse Jr. the win.
Stenhouse Jr. also won at Daytona in the 2017 summer race.
Kyle Busch led with three laps to go thanks to teammate Austin Dillon, who shoved him ahead of Brad Keselowski a few laps prior. Busch and Dillon led the field for the next two laps until Daniel Suarez spun out, bringing out the yellow and setting up NASCAR overtime.
Stenhouse Jr. ultimately passed Joey Logano in the waning laps and held the lead until Kyle Larson wrecked a few rows back on the final lap, bringing out the caution and the checkered flag.
Harrison Burton leads as wreck takes out seven cars
A seven-car wreck has put the Daytona 500 under caution with 17 laps to go. Harrison Burton is your leader followed by Joey Logano and William Byron.
The mayhem started when Ryan Preece got bottled up going into Turn 1. Preece checked up with Aric Almirola in front of him, causing a pileup behind him that took out Michael McDowell, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Ty Gibbs.
Burton, in his second full-time season, has never won a NASCAR Cup race.
Chase Elliott out of Daytona 500
Kevin Harvick gave Tyler Reddick a shove going into Turn 4, Reddick hit the wall and spun into the middle of the field and took out several big-name drivers.
Most notably, Chase Elliott - the 2020 NASCAR champion. Elliott appeared to have missed the wreck, but Erik Jones' No. 43 Chevy came back up the track and slammed into his the left-front of Elliott's car at the end of the chaos.
Elliott went to pit-road, but was eventually towed away. Ryan Blaney also suffered significant damage, but appears to be OK. Reddick and Jones are out of the race, which is nearing the end of Stage 2.
Joey Logano leads.
Bubba Wallace shoved out of lead, Brad Keselowski wins Stage 1
Pretty orderly first stage of the 2023 Daytona 500. Brad Keselowski won with a last lap pass of Martin Truex Jr. thanks to a huge run from a line of Fords.
The only drama in the opening stage came when Truex Jr. gave leader Bubba Wallace a huge shove coming out of Turn 4, putting Bubba slightly into the wall and then onto pit road for a fresh set of tires.
Wallace is currently 34th and one lap down.
What's the weather for the Daytona 500?
Good news on this front!
In short: there is no front!
While things can change - that happens once in a while in Florida, you know - things look great for today's Daytona 500.
Sunny skies, highs around 80, no wind and little chance of rain - according to the crack OutKick weather team.
I've seen crazier things happen, but I think we're in store for a dry day. At least when it comes to the weather!
Daytona 500 Monster Energy Girls are ready to roll.
Daytona 500 betting odds
I wrote about this earlier in the week, so I'd suggest checking that out if you want to get rich.
But, here's a quick excerpt. Spoiler alert: I like Ryan Blaney today, but wouldn't mind a sprinkle on Michael McDowell.
McDowell sitting at 35/1 is a steal. Put the ticket in before finishing this sentence if that’s at all possible. I doubt it is, but give it a shot.
Austin Dillon won the Daytona 500 a few years back, and nearly won again last year. He likes his car this week, was fast in the qualifiers, and will have plenty of help in the Chevy camp.
He’s a good gamble at 30/1, as is Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Aric Almirola won Thursday’s second qualifier and almost beat Dillon a few years back before getting punted on the final lap, and you can get him at 25/1 right now. Probably worth it if you can swing it.
WWE superstar Charlotte Flair stays hot
WWE superstar Charlotte Flair, the daughter of legend Ric Flair, is ready for the Daytona 500.
What a great American!
Flair, who was named an honorary official earlier this week, was up and at ’em bright and early Sunday, and arrived at the track hours before the green flag was set to wave to kick off NASCAR’s 75th season.
