5:30 p.m.
Justin Haley has won the rain-shortened Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, his first in NASCAR’s top level.
Haley took the lead under caution – Kurt Busch surrendered the top spot when he pitted for tires – and was announced the winner after heavy rain followed two lightning delays. There were 33 laps left when the 160-lap race has been halted.
Haley was 27th when leader Austin Dillon triggered a 17-car crash which took out almost half the area and the majority of the top contenders. He passed a number of wrecked automobiles and then several more that left pit stops.
The 20-year-old Haley will not lock at a spot in the playoffs, however. He’s a fulltime driver at the second-tier Xfinity Series and has been making his third Cup Series beginning – for newcomer Spire Motorsports. The group’s No. 77 Chevrolet can procure a postseason bid, but only if it ends up in the top 30 in points.
Nonetheless, it was a fitting ending for the closing July race in NASCAR’s most famous track.
The event, which was postponed a day because of rain, was plagued by inclement weather and full of unpredictable winners in recent decades. It’s moving to late August in 2020 – the regular-season finale – included in NASCAR’s significant schedule shake-up.
William Byron finished second, followed closely by seven-time Cup winner Jimmie Johnson and Ty Dillon. Manufacturer Chevrolet won for the second consecutive week and took the top four spots.
Ryan Newman was fifth in a Ford.
—
4:30 p.m.
Drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Hemric entertained fans during two lightning delays by throwing a soccer throughout the trail and in the stands.
Wallace and Hemric each had a couple of throws and got booed a little.
But it certainly gave fans a reason to stay around for more than an hour with no racing.
—
3:18 p.m.
Lighting has stopped the NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway with Justin Haley at the lead.
The 20-year-old Haley is a part time motorist for newcomer Spire Motorsports. He finished second in Friday night’s second-tier Xfinity Series race whilst forcing for Kaulig Racing. This is his third Cup Series start.
Kurt Busch was leading the 400-mile race after a 17-car mess. However, Busch ducked onto pit road for fuel under warning. That left Haley out front, and when the red flag was brought out due to a nearby lightning strike, it left Busch in 18th. As cars were parked and coated on pit road.
—
3 p.m.
With dark clouds looming and also the end of the race in sight, leader Austin Dillon wrecked nearly half the field at Daytona International Speedway.
“The Big One” happened on Lap 119 in Turn 1 and included 17 cars – many of these at the front of the area.
Clint Bowyer was pushing Dillon to front on the exterior and made a hard move left to attempt to pass the leader. Dillon turned left in No. 3 Chevrolet, branded Bowyer and then started spinning and taking out competitors.
“I guess that he did not want me to pass him,” Bowyer said.
All four Joe Gibbs Racing cars – Deny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and defending race winner Erik Jones – were involved. So were Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott.
“I was being aggressive and trying to keep the lead,” Dillon said.” That’s exactly what you get.”
Kurt Busch was able to make it through this melee unscathed.
Read more: ultimatefans.net
Read more about 



