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DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (AP) – Latest news on the Daytona 500 (local time):
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4:03 p.m.
Kyle Busch won the first leg of the Daytona 500, making an impressive run in the squad of 40 cars after starting the 31st.
Alex Bowman finished second, followed by defending champions of the Cup series, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney.
The end of the stage comes a few laps after Kurt Busch, Bubba Wallace, Jamie McMurray and reigning Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillion were involved in an accident.
The first warning of the race came after Corey LaJoie punctured a front right tire and broke his face. Yes, his face. The face of old Spice Ford LaJoie 32 included a picture of his face and beard. It was mutilated after the rubber blowing from the blown tire tore the sheet.
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3:50 p.m.
Kurt Busch, Bubba Wallace, Jamie McMurray and reigning Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillion were involved in the first crash of the Daytona 500.
Busch seemed to come off at Turn 2 passing Ricky Stenhouse Jr. about 50 laps in "The Great American Race".
Busch, Wallace and McMurray managed to have their cars repaired by cars. Wallace and McMurray seem to have suffered the most damage.
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3:20 p.m.
Joe Gibbs Racing and Fox Sports paid tribute to JGR's late co-founder, J.D. Gibbs.
The team and television network recognized Gibbs on the 11th round of the Daytona 500.
Team owner Joe Gibbs turned a blind eye during the tribute. The crew members stood at the top of the pit wall and waved a banner reminding Gibbs and all he had done for the team. Fox showed a photo of J.D. Gibbs smiling.
Gibbs' favorite number was 11, the car number Denny Hamlin has been driving for the team since 2005.
The eldest son of Joe Gibbs died last month as a result of a long battle against degenerative neurological disease. He was 49 years old.
Hamlin dedicates this season NASCAR in memory of J.D. In the early 2000s, the young Gibbs discovered Hamlin during a final test on the Hickory Motor Speedway, North Carolina.
Hamlin's charity donates $ 111 to the J.D. Gibbs Legacy Fund for every ride he drives in the # 11 Toyota in 2019.
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3:07 p.m.
The Daytona 500 is underway, with William Byron leading the 40 cars up to the green flag.
Byron and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman, 21, was the youngest front-line team in the 61-year history of The Great American Race.
Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears were forced to collapse at the back of the field due to unapproved modifications to their cars. Larson and Mears have changed transmission; McMurray went to the back of the field because of a rear gear change.
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1:15 p.m.
J.J. Watt used an off-season movie session to prepare the Daytona 500.
The Houston Texans star and the Grand Marshal of the Daytona 500 watched the video of the last decade of celebrities who launched the race with the most famous phrase of motorsport. Watt said Dale Earnhardt Jr. had "tons of energy" when commanding last year.
"I practiced in front of my girlfriend at home last night," Watt said. "She gave me a thumbs up, so we're good to go guys."
Watt was raised in Wisconsin and said that a seventh grade teacher had introduced him to the sport, specifically to former Dick Trickle driver. Watt said his teacher would inform the class of Trickle results every week. Watt said he loved both Earnhardts and Jeff Gordon and that he could feel the excitement at Daytona.
"This circuit is huge. It's huge, "said Watt.
Watt is a three-time defensive player of the year in the NFL and is well known for his charity work with the Justin J. Watt Foundation, which offers children opportunities after school. Following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Watt is set as a goal to raise $ 200,000 for recovery efforts in Houston. He ended up collecting more than $ 41 million, helping to win the Walter Payton NFL Best Player of the Year Award.
"I'm in a position where I can play a game to make a living and be very well paid to do it," said Watt. "We have a chance to use this platform to give back and do a good job with it."
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12:45
Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman felt the buzz at the Daytona 500.
Edelman, wearing well-trimmed facial hair, served as an honorary departure and had to wave the green flag for Sunday's race. The star receiver of the New England Patriots has called the NASCAR drivers "absolutely crazy".
"It's a level of respect for these guys, who are clearly adrenaline junkies," Edelman said. "Football players, we miss screws. These guys are definitely too. "
Edelman had his bushy beard trimmed at the recent recording of the movie "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" with the trimmings used to raise funds for the Boston Boys & Girls Club.
Edelman does not know if he will grow his beard again next season. But he grew up taking to heart the opinion of Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
"He says put everything in the draw and worry after the football season," Edelman said. "So, I put my razor in the draw and I worried after the football season."
Edelman won the Super Bowl MVP after scoring 10 passes for 141 yards while helping the Patriots win a 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
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24:30
Jim France, CEO of NASCAR, said his family remains committed to NASCAR.
"This sport was built by families," said France at the Daytona 500 rally. "It's so important to remember that it's still a family business. Our family is committed to it.
Some reports suggest that the France family was looking to sell NASCAR, reports that have not been specifically addressed by current leaders.
France has been visible at almost every NASCAR race since arriving last August after the arrest of his nephew, Brian France. But he mostly kept a low profile public. He gave no public indication as to how he plans to end the NASCAR crisis and did not give any interviews during his six months at the helm.
France also encouraged the drivers to make an exciting victory at Daytona 500 after three exhibition races that produced a dull and unenthusiastic run beyond a pair of accidents triggered by Jimmie Johnson .
"I hope some of your drivers will know the bottom with Denny (Hamlin) and Chase (Elliott) and will make a show today," said France.
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24:15
ONE J. Foyt was delighted to return to Daytona International Speedway.
The former winner of the 84-year-old Daytona 500 was happy to be anywhere, really.
"It's good to be back at the funeral home," said Foyt.
Foyt won the 1972 Daytona 500 – in addition to his four wins at Indianapolis 500 – and stated that he was lucky to be born with the ability to "adapt quickly" when he s & # 39; 39 was driving different types of cars in several series.
Foyt said he had taken a step back from the day-to-day operations of his IndyCar team.
"I come home when they need money and raise hell," he said.
Foyt recently fought health problems and had trouble hearing questions in the media room.
"I hate hearing aids because when you leak, it looks like 100 gallons of flowing water," he joked.
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12
Country singer Jake Owen has already made several appearances at the Daytona 500 and knows what to give fans for his pre-race concert.
"Let's hope it's a good time," said Owen.
Owen, a native of Floridian, introduced Daytona Beach in his hit "Beachin." From 2013. Owen played golf with his friend Kevin Harvick on Saturday and chose the 2007 500 Daytona champion to win it again.
"After what he said, he feels really good about it," Owen said.
The track featured Owen's custom-made Daytona 500 guitar. Fine artist Sam NAS designed and painted. Bass helped design paint schemes and program covers that illustrated a whole sport. His death was announced Saturday. He was 57 years old.
Owen was touched by the gift that would be the last guitar Bass made before his death.
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11:15
Kyle Larson will start the Daytona 500 at the back of the field because of a transmission change.
The No. 42 Chevrolet Larson had a transmission leak before training on Saturday. The crew tried to fix it, but ended up trading it completely.
Larson was to start 26th in the group of 40 cars.
Jamie McMurray, who was scheduled to retire from the full-time races after the 500, also found himself at the back of the field due to a gear shift. McMurray won the Daytona 500 in 2010 and was ranked 16th.
Casey Mears also went to the back because of a transmission change, but he did not have a long way to go. Mears was already starting last.
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10:30
Dale Earnhardt Jr. can not get away from the Daytona 500.
Earnhardt won "The Great American Race" in 2004 and a decade later. He stayed in touch with NASCAR's early season, even in retirement. He is an honorary speed truck driver on Sunday. For the first time in the history of the race, a truck will lead the pack to the green flag.
Earnhardt was the grand marshal of the race last year and gave the drivers the order to start their engines. Who knows, maybe next year, Earnhardt will be able to sing the national anthem or work concessions.
"I will try to find other odd jobs every year as we progress," said Earnhardt.
Earnhardt retired after the 2017 seasons with 26 career wins. He owns JR Motorsports in the second-ranked Xfinity series and was back in the lineup Saturday with driver Michael Annett. But Earnhardt, who also works for NBC Sports, took advantage of his retirement with his wife and young daughter.
"I thought that when I got out of the car I would really miss it and it would get weaker," said Earnhardt. "It's actually the opposite. When I rounded the car, it was: "Thank God, I'm going to have some free time." I was so happy to be under pressure. But as time passes, you miss more and more, which was unexpected. "
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10 hours
William Byron will start from pole in the 61st race of the Daytona 500, teaming up with teammate Alex Bowman to create the youngest front line in the history of The Great American Race.
Byron is 21 years old and Bowman is 25 years old. Both drive Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
Six Ford drivers will line up behind the Hendrick duo, including reigning Cup champion Joey Logano. He starts fourth and tries to become the first defending champion since Dale Jarrett in 2000 to win the first game of the season.
The winner of the race, Austin Dillon, starts from the 10th row of the # 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.
Eight drivers will make their Daytona 500 debut, most of them at the back of the pack.
It's also the first Daytona 500 since 2011 to not include a driver. Danica Patrick moved away from NASCAR after the first game of last year.
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