Daytona Beach, FL – In an unforgettable finish under the lights at Daytona International Speedway, Harrison Burton made history on Saturday night by securing his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series victory. The win also marked a significant milestone for Wood Brothers Racing, as it was the team’s 100th victory in its storied history.
Burton’s triumph came in dramatic fashion during the Coke Zero Sugar 400, where he led only the final lap of the 164-lap race. In an electrifying move, Burton surged past veteran Kyle Busch just half a lap before the checkered flag, sealing his spot in the 16-driver playoff field.
Kyle Busch, driving the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, crossed the finish line a mere 0.047 seconds behind Burton, taking second place. Christopher Bell finished third, while Cody Ware and Ty Gibbs rounded out the top five.
The race was marred by a significant crash in Stage 2, which took out several top contenders, including Chase Elliott, William Byron, and three-time Daytona winner Denny Hamlin. The incident was triggered when Noah Gragson and Corey LaJoie collided on the backstretch, resulting in a chain reaction that involved 17 cars and reshaped the race’s outcome.
Ford drivers Josh Berry and Joey Logano each secured stage wins, with Berry taking Stage 1 and Logano winning Stage 2. Logano led the most laps with 34, while pole-sitter Michael McDowell led 26. However, both were forced out of contention following a multi-car wreck in Turn 1 with just nine laps left in regulation.
A dramatic moment came late in the race when Berry’s No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford flipped on the backstretch with two laps remaining, leading to a red flag and sending the race into overtime. Despite the harrowing incident, Berry emerged uninjured.
Looking ahead, the NASCAR Cup Series will head to Darlington Raceway for the Cook Out Southern 500, the regular-season finale. The 500-mile race, set for next Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, will determine the final playoff spots in the 16-driver field, setting the stage for an intense postseason showdown.
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