There have been factors in Sunday’s Daytona 500 the place it nearly appeared unimaginable to see any automotive not from Roger Penske’s three-car steady win the “Nice American Race.”
Regardless of the inherent chaos that comes with each race at Daytona, Penske’s three entries — Austin Cindric, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney — have been clearly three of the quickest vehicles in Daytona Seaside.
Logano led 43 laps and received Stage 1 however was the reason for a lap 71 restart stack-up that began when his No. 22 encountered a mechanical drawback. After fixing the difficulty, Logano stormed again into the combination, solely to be concerned in a crash with 15 laps to go.
All Logano obtained for a stellar effort was a Thirty fifth-place end and a visit to the infield care middle.
“The No. 47 had an indecisive second, and that is what will get you in hassle at instances,” Logano told Fox Sports activities’ Bob Pockrass relating to the crash with 15 laps to go. “I went to the second lane, I felt like I needed to get in entrance of the 47 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) there. “I needed to get to the second automotive in my row to have an opportunity to win the race. I noticed my alternative to get in entrance of a Ford with Noah (Gragson). Simply appeared like I used to be there, we had a late block, I lifted … the check-up was so huge that every one the vehicles behind you at that time are shoving you into it.”
Blaney was additionally concerned within the crash with 15 laps to go however was capable of carry house a seventh-place end to start his 2025 season.
Blaney led 23 laps and was linked up with Cindric for almost all of the race. On the ultimate lap of Stage 2, Blaney obtained round Cindric to earn the stage win.
Cindric had simply been cleared by Denny Hamlin with half a lap to go when the “Huge One” occurred, slowing down Cindric and solely netting him an eighth-place end on a day the place he led extra laps (59) than every other driver.
The 2022 Daytona 500 winner and winner of Duel 1 on Thursday drove among the finest races of his profession on Sunday however was unable to change into the quickest driver in historical past to earn two Daytona 500 victories.
Roger Penske’s Fords have been the quickest autos in Florida on Sunday, however the Harley J. Earl Trophy eluded “The Captain” on Sunday in a method few trophies ever do.
