Chaotic 21-car crash destroys Daytona 500 field

A huge wreck involving 21 cars interrupted the Daytona 500 with just 10 laps to go.

It all started when Paul Menard turned Matt DiBenedetto, who had led 49 laps on the day, from behind.

Among the 21 cars involved in the wreck were those of defending 500 champion Austin Dillon, pole-sitter William Byron, former Cup champ Martin Truex Jr, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Aric Almirola.

Six of the drivers involved in the 21-car pile-up had led laps during the race.

The wreck brought out a red flag for the massive clean-up effort.

“It wrecked a lot of cars. That was my bad. I wrecked a lot of cars, I feel bad about that,” Menard said.

In a sporting move after the crash, Menard and DiBenedetto shook hands to put any frustration to bed.

A stunning slow-motion replay showed Almirola’s car ride up on a rival as sparks flew around them:

The crash was a case of deja vu for Almirola.

Last year he was headed to victory at Daytona when he was spun from behind on the final corner of the final lap.

It wasn’t even the last crash

Once the 21 cars were cleared many would have hoped the race would finish with clean racing.

But on the ensuing restart, Ricky Stenhouse Jr got loose and caused another big wreck involving six cars.

On the restart after that caution, Clint Boyer made an aggressive move and another wreck occurred that set up an overtime finish.

Denny Hamilin went on to win the 61st running of the Daytona 500, his second in NASCAR’s most prestigious race.

“This one’s for JD,” Hamlin said, referring to JD Gibbs, the son of team owner Joe Gibbs who died recently of a degenerative neurological disease.

“The whole family – they did so much for me over the course of my career. This one is for J.D. We are desperately going to miss him the rest of our lives. His legacy still lives on through Joe Gibbs Racing and proud to do this for them.

“Just amazing to be in this position. I don’t want to tear this (car) up because I want to put it back in my house.”

Hamlin said his immediate plan was to party heartily in Daytona Beach.

“I’m going to hate tomorrow,” he said.

with Reuters