DAYTONA (SNN-TV) – On the 85th birthday of his car owner, Roger Penske, 23-year-old NASCAR Cup Series rookie Austin Cindric beat Bubba Wallace to the finish line by .036 seconds in overtime to win Sunday’s 64th running of the Daytona 500.
In a thrilling run to the finish in NASCAR’s new Next Gen race car at Daytona International Speedway, Cindric held off Wallace and Chase Briscoe to notch his first Cup victory in his eighth start in the series.
Ryan Blaney came home fourth, followed by Tampa’s own Aric Almirola, who will leave full-time racing at the end of the season. Kyle Busch, Michael McDowell, David Ragan, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott completed the top 10.
The Cup Series season continues this Sunday in Fontana, California at Auto Club Speedway for the Wise Power 400.