Fiery wreck on Daytona 500's final lap gives 36-year-old NASCAR veteran his first career win on the sport's biggest stage
- Michael McDowell wins the Daytona 500 for his first career NASCAR victory.
- The win came after a huge wreck on the final lap took out many of the other contenders.
- Despite the fiery wreck, all drivers were able to climb out of their cars.
Michael McDowell is the winner of the Daytona 500 after a fiery wreck on the final lap vaulted him past the leaders.
After The Big One wreck on lap 14 and a long weather delay, things were relatively calm for the next 180 or so laps.
But as the drivers in the lead group started to fight for the lead on the final lap, all hell broke loose. In the end, McDowell leap-frogged past Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski for his first career win in 358 races.
Replays showed that McDowell got into the back of Keselowski, who then spun Logano. As the yellow flag came out, McDowell was in the lead, and he took the checkered flag.
Despite the scary wreck, the hard hits, and lots of fire, all drivers eventually climbed safely from their cars. This was just another example of the safety measures NASCAR has taken over the last 20 years or so.
Needless to say, McDowell was pumped up after the race, screaming, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!"