William Byron’s victory in the 2025 Daytona 500 highlighted his driving skill and ability to trust his instincts in the midst of chaos. On Sunday night, Byron navigated a smoky, last-lap wreck at Daytona International Speedway, emerging from the wreckage to secure back-to-back Daytona 500 wins, a feat not achieved since Denny Hamlin in 2019-2020.
The 67th running of the “Great American Race” had all the drama and unpredictability fans have come to expect from the Daytona 500. The race, already delayed by weather and rainstorms, saw Byron seize the opportunity after Cole Custer’s contact with three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin sent the front runners into a wreck. Byron, who was positioned in sixth place coming down the backstretch, made a daring move to the outside and found himself in the right place at the right time.
“Obviously, some good fortune, but just trusted my instincts on the last lap there,” Byron said after crossing the finish line 0.113 seconds ahead of runner-up Tyler Reddick in overtime. “I felt like they were getting squirrelly on the bottom, and I was honestly going to go third (top) lane regardless. Just really proud of this team. We worked super hard all week and had an amazing car.”
Byron’s second consecutive Daytona 500 victory came on the heels of a highly successful 2024 season, where he claimed all three of his NASCAR Cup Series wins in the first 11 races. As the season opens, Byron is determined to keep the momentum rolling.
“It’s an amazing race, a lot of crazy racing out there tonight,” Byron added. “But just really proud of our team. We plan on trying to win a lot of races this year, so we’re not going to stop here.”
Byron’s victory didn’t come easily. The race featured numerous wrecks and intense three-wide racing, with 56 lead changes among 15 drivers. The most significant of these crashes came on Lap 196, when Custer’s bump sent Christopher Bell into the outside wall. Bell’s Toyota car then ricocheted off the SAFER barrier, causing a massive pileup that involved 10 cars and forced the race into overtime.
Hamlin, who had only recently surged into the lead, expressed his frustration with the situation. After pulling ahead of Cindric, the three-time Daytona 500 winner had hoped for a smooth finish but was caught off guard by Custer’s move. “I stayed with him long enough where I could kind of control which side I wanted to pass him on,” Hamlin explained. “But I chose not to block him because these races, you have to live to make it off of Turn 4.”
Key Players and Key Moments
Austin Cindric, who led a race-high 59 laps, also experienced disappointment despite showing great promise. Cindric, who had qualified on the front row, was leading as the race reached its final stages when the overtime caution disrupted his chances. Although frustrated, Cindric remained positive. “It was still a decent points weekend,” Cindric reflected. “Incredible showing by our team for the entirety of Speedweeks. It’s just a shame we couldn’t get this Discount Tire Ford Mustang in Victory Lane.”
Jimmie Johnson, in his role as both owner and part-time driver for Legacy Motor Club, finished third — his best finish since 2020 at Dover. Other notable finishers included pole winner Chase Briscoe (fourth) and John Hunter Nemechek (fifth), with Legacy Motor Club securing two drivers in the top five.
The race saw its share of controversy and chaos with multiple accidents, including a significant wreck involving Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. that resulted in the elimination of several top contenders, including Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. It was too bad, because Logano had a fast car, especially his pit crew, during a stop, managed to speed him up after removing a Kroger bag (you read that right). They had tried a few different things, including changing the air box! But it turned out to be lag issues caused by a plastic bag. As always, Daytona provided its share of drama, with 47 laps of caution periods and unpredictable lead changes keeping both fans and drivers on edge.
The Road to Phoenix and Beyond
Byron’s win positions him as an early contender for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. He has made it clear that he’s not stopping with just one major victory this year. “We plan on trying to win a lot of races this year, so we’re not going to stop here,” he said. His goal now is to make it to Phoenix for the Championship 4 race, keeping his momentum strong after a stellar start.
Viewership and Ratings
The 2025 Daytona 500 attracted significant attention from fans around the world, as is customary for NASCAR’s most prestigious race. This year’s event took place in front of a packed grandstand, marking the 10th consecutive sellout for the race. Despite the weather delays, the race captivated viewers both in the stands and at home. The presence of President Donald Trump at the event further heightened the spectacle.
From a broadcast perspective, the Daytona 500 delivered a solid ratings performance. The race generated substantial TV viewership, reflecting its enduring status as one of the most-watched sports events in the United States. As one of NASCAR’s crown jewels, the Daytona 500 consistently draws millions of viewers, with this year’s race expected to maintain that trend. The long-standing appeal of the event, combined with its unpredictable nature, continues to attract fans to the sport. It is a race where anything can happen — and in 2025, it was William Byron’s time to shine.
Along these same lines but of course different, NASCAR and The CW Network announced that the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona delivered 1.8 million total viewers, marking the largest audience for an Xfinity race in almost three years. The race became the most-viewed Xfinity opener at Daytona since 2020 and the most-watched since Talladega in April 2022. Viewership peaked at 2.2 million during the thrilling finish, where Jesse Love claimed victory. Compared to last year’s weather-impacted opener, viewership surged 93%, with significant increases in key demographics, including a 76% rise in Adults 18-49 and 47% in Adults 25-54. This strong start highlights the growing popularity of The CW as the new home of the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
As NASCAR heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway next week for the next Cup Series race, Byron’s victory at Daytona was a powerful reminder that in racing, you drive hard to the finish knowing anything is possible — and sometimes, the greatest triumphs are born from seizing the right moment.