DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Normally in sports activities, when somebody makes use of the phrase “laughter” to explain a contest, it signifies that one group dominated.
For the 2025 Daytona 500, it took on a unique which means, as William Byron went from seventh to first within the ultimate two miles because the leaders crashed in entrance of him, and he slipped by on the surface.
Byron began the ultimate lap in ninth.
“This win, it introduced me to laughter,” Byron crew chief Rudy Fugle mentioned. “As a result of I regarded up and we’re on the point of win, and it was simply wonderful.”
Byron, who gained NASCAR’s greatest race for the second consecutive yr, acquired out of his automotive and was, frankly, somewhat perplexed.
“Loopy,” Byron mentioned. “I can not truthfully imagine that. However we’re right here.”
There have been loads of others within the race who couldn’t imagine what they noticed or felt. And it had nothing to do with laughing.
Topping that listing was Ryan Preece.
He flipped for the second time within the final 4 Daytona races after a crashing Christopher Bell slid into the aspect of Preece, launching him within the air. It was the worst wreck in a day crammed with carnage, because the vehicles typically accordion when the drivers are both not full throttle as they attempt to save gas or then have to shove one another to realize spots within the aerodynamic draft.
“We preserve beating on a door hoping for a unique outcome,” Preece mentioned concerning the flip. “And I believe we all know the place there’s an issue at superspeedways. I do not need to be the instance of when it lastly does get any individual, I do not need it to be me.
“I’ve acquired a two-year-old daughter, and identical to numerous us, we now have households. So one thing must be executed as a result of vehicles lifting off the bottom like that. That felt worse than Daytona in ’23.”
Preece didn’t really feel that kind of contact ought to have prompted his automotive to elevate.
“With the hit like that, I don’t suppose it ought to have gone airborne,” he mentioned. “I’m simply not very completely satisfied. We had a very quick automotive, however you’ll be able to solely achieve this a lot when all people stacks up.”
Bell appeared to get turned from contact with Cole Custer.
“No person did something improper,” Bell mentioned. “You must be pushing if you wish to succeed, and it is the secret. It’s the way in which it goes.
“I’m positive [physically]. I am as beat down as you’ll be everytime you’re on the entrance of the Daytona 500 with 5 laps to go.”
That wreck got here with 4 laps remaining. It was bookended by a Ricky Stenhouse Jr.-Joey Logano triggered crash that collected 14 drivers.
There was sufficient blame to go round, and Jeff Gordon put it squarely on Logano. When Byron was requested if any driver made dumb strikes, Gordon interjected, saying, “Joey did,” on that individual one.
Logano: “It is best to say, ‘Simply do not make the transfer,’ however not making the transfer would not win the race both. Late within the race and a late block sort of acquired us all in bother.”
Stenhouse: “I felt like perhaps he was making an attempt to fill the hole. After which him and any individual else acquired collectively after which hit me within the left rear.”
After which there was the crash on the ultimate lap that took out Denny Hamlin — additionally from contact with Custer — with Byron operating in seventh.
NASCAR Cup Sequence: 2025 Daytona 500 Highlights
Hamlin didn’t fault Custer, who returned to the Cup Sequence after two years in Xfinity, for making an attempt to make the transfer, although he felt it was the improper one.
“It comes with expertise. I don’t fault Cole going for it,” Hamlin mentioned. “He’s again within the Cup Sequence. He’s acquired a very good alternative to come back out right here and lock himself within the playoffs. … He’s going to do all the pieces he can to make a transfer that he thinks is the race-winning transfer.
“I mentioned to him from my expertise, it’s a must to get off of [Turn] 4 first.”
Custer mentioned he must take a look at replays to know what occurred.
“That is the largest race of our lives, the highest of our sport, and it is a life-changing race,” Custer mentioned. “You are simply going for all of it.”
Can that be the excuse? And in that case, then Byron in all probability deserves credit score for being considered one of six drivers (out of 41 within the race) not concerned in an accident.
“These vehicles do not push and obtain pushes very simply,” Byron mentioned. “It appears prefer it’s in management, however the automotive has numerous drag. So while you come off the nook, it is easy to get to any individual’s bumper. However the vehicles do not get pushed simply. You will have your fingers full the entire straightaway.
“I really feel like what created the ending … was numerous lane swapping [to try to block or get runs]. And anytime you had that quantity of lane swapping, you had numerous runs come from behind.”
So how did Byron really feel?
He mentioned Cup drivers are so proficient, he would not take into account any win a fluke.
“I did not know the right way to really feel after we took the checkered,” Byron mentioned. “Final yr was somewhat bit — it was positively simpler to know the feelings. However this yr was totally different.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time overlaying motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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