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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla – Michael McDowell was glued to Brad Keselowski’s bumper, watching and waiting for his chance to win the Daytona 500.
Joey Logano was the leader, the laps were ending and yet no one had the courage to withdraw from the traffic. McDowell was certain that Keselowski would eventually go, and when he did, McDowell would play his hand.
In the last lap, Keselowski tried to get around Logano, but Logano threw a block on his teammate who crushed them both. McDowell stayed where he was, flat in the gas, and walked through an accident scene to a stunning surprise.
DANIEL SUAREZ ONE OF 16 DRIVERS INVOLVED IN A DAYTONA 500 CRASH
“I knew he would go for a winning move and my plan was to let him make that move,” McDowell said. “I knew I didn’t want to make my move too soon, so I engaged on the bumper (Keselowski) and when he made the move the hole opened up.”
A 100-1 underdog when the race started on Sunday afternoon, McDowell won the 358 Cup for the first time when the checkered flag finally flew around 15 minutes after midnight. The race was stopped by rain for almost six hours and ended nine hours after the green flag was waved at Daytona International Speedway.
Michael McDowell celebrates after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Monday, February 15, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo / John Raoux)
“There have been many years where I have wondered what I am doing and why I am doing it?” McDowell said. “I always knew that if I kept fighting someday everything would line up and be fine.
The opening of the NASCAR season was filled with stories. Denny Hamlin was looking for a third straight Daytona 500 victory, and the team he created with Michael Jordan was making his debut with rider Bubba Wallace.
Kyle Larson was back after nearly a year in exile for using a racial slur, and defending Cup champion Chase Elliott was going for his first Daytona 500 victory.
And deep in the field, 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope did what he said was his last NASCAR start. At 62, he was the oldest driver in the field, and his thwarted victory 31 years ago was considered the greatest in racing history.
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McDowell didn’t take that title from Cope, in part because McDowell is a powerful superspeedway runner able to mix him up with the usual suspects. If he could end up in the right place at the right time, McDowell believed he could steal a victory.
“It has been a difficult road for me. I had to spend many years fine-tuning it, ”McDowell said. His career was stabilized by four seasons at the wheel of Front Row Motorsports, a small Ford family team that can stand out at Daytona.
McDowell was in the mix even before the two Penske cars derailed the finish line. His Ford was strong enough to push Keselowski, and McDowell figured with the checkered flag in sight, he would try to pass Keselowski on the exit of the last corner.
Logano’s Keselowski block – it seemed late, Keselowski had already started shooting alongside his teammate – set off a stack of several flaming cars in McDowell’s rearview mirror.
“Brad was turning right, Joey was turning left and I went right through the middle,” McDowell said. “It’s just a little fuzzy from there.”
Keselowski subtly blamed Logano for the messy finish.
“I wanted to make the pass to win the Daytona 500 and it went really badly,” said Keselowski. “I don’t feel like I made a mistake, but I can’t drive everyone’s car. So frustrating.”
Logano had no explanation for the end.
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“Pandemonium, I guess. Chaos has struck,” said Logano, who then praised McDowell. “It’s a shame that none of the Penske cars won, but at least one Ford won and I’m really happy for McDowell.
“If we couldn’t win, I’m really happy to see McDowell win this thing.”
McDowell, who led less than half a lap, raced Elliott and Austin Dillon drag races until NASCAR finally called a warning.
A lot of strong contenders were knocked out of the race just 15 laps by a 16-car crash that started in front of the field. This cleared up the field and set up a showdown between Kevin Harvick and Hamlin.
Hamlin and Harvick had the two best cars, but the pit strategy ended Hamlin’s attempt to win a third consecutive Daytona 500 record. The Ford drivers faced each other first as a group, followed by the Chevrolets one lap. later and finally Toyota.
But the Toyota group has only five cars and they were unable to regroup to regain control of the race. This put Logano, Keselowski and the Ford drivers in front, and Logano led the final 25 laps until Keselowski made his move.
McDowell stood up to Elliott and Dillon. Harvick was fourth and Hamlin fifth after leading a record 98 laps.
Only 11 cars finished in the lead lap.
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