Austin Cindric won his first Daytona 500 Sunday in a race that saw multiple crashes take out major contenders, including a pair in the last few laps.
Cindric successfully held off advances by Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace to win the race in his Ford Mustang, delivering Team Penske owner Roger Penske an 85th birthday present in his eighth start.
Cindric also successfully avoided a pair of late-race crashes including one on lap 196 that saw Ricky Stenhouse, who was leading the race with eight laps to go but was ultimately forced to end his day after spinning out into the wall.
Wallace, Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski were also involved in the crash but were able to keep driving.
Two laps earlier, 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larsen crashed into Kevin Harvick, the 2007 Daytona 500 champ, sending him spinning out causing a six-car crash.
Stage 1 ended with an eight-car crash on lap 64 that saw favorite Denny Hamlin eliminated from the race.
Harrison Burton was being tailed closely by Keselowski as his vehicle swerved into the next lane over, colliding with another car and sending Burton flying.
In addition to Burton and Hamlin, William Byron and Ross Chastain were also eliminated in the crash.
Martin Treux Jr., who won the first two stages, was caught up in a crash on lap 152 that also involved contender Joey Logano after Tyler Reddick turned sideways in the middle of a pack and was sent spinning into the far lane.
Reddick was eliminated from the race, while Logano sustained tire damage after he was sent into the grass and Truex’s vehicle saw some right front damage.
Kurt Busch and Jaque Villeneuve were also involved in the crash.
