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In a finish that evoked memories of NASCAR’s darkest day, the Daytona 500 ended Monday night with a harrowing, last-lap crash involving <a href="https://www.nascar.com/drivers/ryan-newman/" target=_blank>Ryan Newman</a>, who was leading at the time.

Newman was left with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after his Ford was knocked into the wall by challenger Ryan Blaney at nearly 190 mph and flipped onto its roof. Newman’s car was skidding upside down, spewing flames, when it was hit again by the onrushing Corey LaJoie.

Up ahead, defending champion Denny Hamlin seized quick advantage and whipped around Blaney to win stock-car racing’s Super Bowl by inches. It was his third Daytona win and the fourth for team owner Joe Gibbs.

But the celebration was cut short over concern for Newman as emergency vehicles and track safety workers sped to his car to extinguish the flames. Track workers erected black screens around the wreckage as Newman, 42, was extricated.

He was transported to Daytona’s Halifax Medical Center, the same hospital that received the body of seven-time series champion <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/02/19/dale-earnhardt-killed-at-daytona/e2823a75-2327-4f3a-8324-95ef1efd6627/" target=_blank>Dale Earnhardt Sr. following his fatal crash</a> on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

Nearly two hours after the race ended, NASCAR officials read a statement from Roush Fenway Racing confirming Newman was undergoing treatment and in “serious condition” but that his injuries were not life-threatening. “Our thoughts are with Ryan and his family,” NASCAR executive Steve O’Donnell said.

“Definitely was trying to push him to a win,” Blaney explained later. “I don’t want to say, ‘Those things happen.’ I feel really bad about it, man, but close one. I hope Ryan is all right.”

Word on Newman’s condition was slow in coming, leaving Fox broadcasters, fellow racers and fans fearing the worst, given the harrowing sequence of events. Many recalled the crash that had killed Earnhardt as he rounded the track’s fourth turn 19 years earlier, the checkered flag in sight. In many ways, Monday’s proceedings felt like a ghastly reprieve.

The season-opening race had gotten underway Sunday afternoon as scheduled, but downpours halted the proceedings after just 20 laps.

After years of declining TV ratings and a precipitous slide in attendance, NASCAR officials were hoping the 2020 edition of “The Great American Race” would mark a turnabout, with close-quarters racing and a thrilling finish. But as the 200-lap event wound down, drivers’ aggression ramped up. They jockeyed for position two- and three-wide over the final 40 laps, and a multicar pileup resulted, wiping out several top contenders. Another melee followed until there were only 18 cars from the field of 40 on the lead lap. Newman was among them, having slipped past trouble at every turn.

With three laps remaining, an attempt to restart the race was marred when three cars tangled, bringing out the caution flag again. The second attempt worked.

The violent sequence of events unfolded with Newman leading a pack around 21/2-mile Daytona International Speedway. As Newman sped toward the finish, his Ford Mustang was punted skyward and into the wall after contact from Blaney. It landed on its roof, momentum carrying it along as sparks flew and flames erupted. Then came a second hit, from LaJoie, who saw nothing but smoke ahead.

LaJoie said he’d hoped that Newman "would kind of bounce off the fence to the left, but he didn’t, and I hit him. ... It was some scary stuff.”

Newman was eventually credited with a ninth-place finish as Hamlin steered his car toward Victory Lane. The Fox broadcast continued, but the gravity was evident to racers, both active and retired, who immediately turned to social media to voice their concern and offer prayers.

Newman’s toughness and tenacity have earned him admirers across motorsports.

Among those voicing concern Monday were two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and 2013 Indianapolis 500 champion Tony Kanaan.

<a href="https://twitter.com/CoreyLaJoie/status/1229576392209260545" target=_blank>Wrote LaJoie on Twitter</a>: “Dang I hope Newman is ok. That is worst case scenerio and I had nowhere to go but smoke.”

<a href="https://twitter.com/keselowski" target=_blank>Fellow NASCAR racer Brad Keselowski simply tweeted</a>, “Please please please!”

Fears increased after Fox analyst Jeff Gordon returned following a commercial break to close the broadcast, which had run overtime. Gordon, whose eyes appeared red, offered: “Safety has come a long way in this sport. Sometimes we are reminded that it is a very dangerous sport. Thoughts and prayers are with Ryan Newman.”

Speaking on SiriusXM Radio, Gibbs apologized after the race for his team’s celebration, explaining that the group didn’t realize the severity of the crash until it reached Victory Lane. He added his voice to the prayers for Newman.

Feb. 17, 2020

In many ways, NASCAR has never recovered from the death of Earnhardt Sr., its most polarizing champion, who was regarded as its fiercest competitor and the master of Daytona’s aerodynamic draft. But stock-car racing moved forward, instituting a series of safety precautions that made the cars safer and racetrack walls more forgiving.

Although fans intermittently complain that NASCAR had made the races boring, turning the competition into a single-file parade, there has not been a death in the sport’s top series since 2001.

Find live updates from the Daytona 500, by Des Bieler and Cindy Boren, below.

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/02/13/nascar-hybrid/?itid=lk_inline_manual_41" target=_blank>NASCAR, the sport of noise and nostalgia, is making its trickiest turn yet: Hybrid engines</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-kicks-off-daytona-500-as-grand-marshal/2020/02/16/53bb323e-50d5-11ea-9e47-59804be1dcfb_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_42" target=_blank>Trump kicks off Daytona 500 as Grand Marshal</a>

In the wake of Ryan Newman’s crash near the end of the Daytona 500 that horrified onlookers and left the veteran driver hospitalized in serious condition, Denny Hamlin and his team, Joe Gibbs Racing, have been criticized for the victory celebration they staged. After edging out Ryan Blaney for the win, Hamlin did doughnuts in his car before feting the triumph with Gibbs and his crew members in victory lane.

Hamlin subsequently wrote on social media that he was initially unaware of what had happened to his competitor, whose car hit the wall after being contacted by Blaney’s car, flipped and then went airborne when it was struck again by another car.

“First a[nd] foremost I want to give well wishes and prayers to [Newman]. I had absolutely NO IDEA of the severity of the crash until I got to victory lane,” Hamlin <a href="https://twitter.com/dennyhamlin/status/1229613440433639424" target=_blank>said</a> on Twitter. “There’s very little communication after the finish and i had already unhooked my radio.

Hamlin, who won his second straight Daytona 500 and third in five years, had told <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNMcGee/status/1229576757109547008" target=_blank>ESPN</a>: “The finish, the history, that’s all great. One day it will all sink in. But right now all I’m thinking about is Ryan Newman.”

Gibbs apologized for the celebration and also said he and his team did not know at first of the severity of Newman’s crash.

“We got in [the winners’ circle] and we’re celebrating, and I think it probably looked to some people that we were celebrating — we didn’t understand that,” he said. ” … After that, when people told Denny and everything, it was subdued after that.” 

“I think we take for granted sometimes how safe the cars are,” Hamlin <a href="https://apnews.com/cd792b4bdb2924e6d76e216438df4884" target=_blank>said</a> after the race. “But number one, we are praying for Ryan.”

Des Bieler

Ryan Blaney said he was trying to help fellow Ford driver Ryan Newman win the Daytona 500. Instead, Newman suffered a horrific crash as Toyota driver Denny Hamlin edged Blaney for the win.

Of the fateful nudge he gave Newman’s car in the final turn, Blaney <a href="https://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/20200217/daytona-500-ryan-blaney-calls-wreck-with-ryan-newman-rsquounintentionalrsquo?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ghf-daytona-main" target=_blank>said</a>: “I thought I was pretty square, but I just got him to the right. I hope he’s alright. That looked really bad, and it’s not something I wanted to do. It definitely wasn’t intentional.”

The <a href="https://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/20200217/daytona-500-ryan-blaney-calls-wreck-with-ryan-newman-rsquounintentionalrsquo?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ghf-daytona-main" target=_blank>Daytona Beach News-Journal</a> reports that Blaney was “visibly somber” when he spoke with reporters.

“Even though it’s unintentional, you don’t want to hurt anybody,” Blaney said. “I’m just waiting to see if he’s okay.” 

After those comments, NASCAR provided an update from Roush Fenway, which stated Neman’s injuries, while serious, were not considered to be life-threatening.

Ryan Newman was described Monday evening as having non-life-threatening injuries but in serious condition while being treated at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla.

“He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening,” NASCAR executive Steve O’Donnell said at a news conference, reading a statement from Newman’s team, Roush Fenway Racing.

“We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and ask that you respect the privacy of Ryan and his family during this time,” the statement continued. “We appreciate your patience and cooperation and we will provide more information as it becomes available.”

“We’re grateful for the news about Ryan,” Ford Performance Motorsports global director Mark Rushbrook said in a <a href="https://twitter.com/FordPerformance/status/1229606016259588096" target=_blank>statement</a>. “We had been waiting for information just like everyone else, so to hear some positive news tonight is a relief.

“Ryan has been an important part of the Roush Fenway and Ford NASCAR program this past year, and he is so respected for being a great competitor by everyone in this sport.”

Joe Gibbs, whose racing team employs Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, apologized Monday for their celebration of that victory as Ryan Newman was taken to the hospital. Newman was leading the race after the final turn when his car was contacted from behind that of Ryan Blaney, sending Newman into a horrifying wreck and allowing Hamlin to edge out Blaney for the win.

There has been no immediate word on the condition of Newman, 42, who was taken to a hospital.

“Everybody was celebrating, and you knew there was a wreck, but we have a lot of wrecks and didn’t know that there was something serious about it,” Gibbs <a href="https://twitter.com/DarenStoltzfus/status/1229591527946641414" target=_blank>told reporters</a> after the race. “We got in [the winners’ circle] and we’re celebrating, and I think it probably looked to some people that we were celebrating — we didn’t understand that. … After that, when people told Denny and everything, it was subdued after that.”

“It just makes it so hard,” Gibbs, 79, <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachDeanDBNJ/status/1229586572053446656" target=_blank>said</a> of Newman’s crash and uncertain condition at a post-race news conference. “It’s such a close-knit community, you know everybody. … It’s hard. We’re all waiting.”

Hamlin’s spotter, Chris Lambert, said on <a href="https://twitter.com/3widemiddle" target=_blank>Twitter</a> that it was his fault Hamlin did donuts in his No. 11 Toyota as track personnel worked to extricate Newman from his car.

Lambert, who has been working with Hamlin since 2012, said he told the driver there had been a “bad wreck” and advised Hamlin to slow down on the backstretch to give the emergency crew time and space to operate. Lambert said he saw Hamlin line up for a lug nut check and assumed the driver’s next move would be to head straight to victory lane.

“I did not communicate any more info to [Hamlin] after that, because I was only concerned with finding out info on Ryan,” Lambert <a href="https://twitter.com/3widemiddle/status/1229591109506158595" target=_blank>tweeted</a>. “That is 100% on me, and I’M EXTREMLY [sic] SORRY.”

About an hour after Ryan Newman was taken to the hospital following a terrifying wreck at the end of the Daytona 500, his team asked an end to speculation on his condition.

“We ask that out of respect for privacy that you please do not speculate on Ryan Newman’s condition until an official statement has been issued by @NASCAR, @FordPerformance, or @roushfenway racing. Thank you,” Roush Fenway Racing <a href="https://twitter.com/roushyates/status/1229584535953854465" target=_blank>said</a> in a statement.

Newman, 42, has been with Roush Fenway since 2019, following five years with Richard Childress Racing. “All our thoughts and prayers are with our former teammate @RyanJNewman right now,” that team <a href="https://twitter.com/RCRracing/status/1229587070575955969" target=_blank>said</a> in a statement.

Another of Newman’s former teams, Stewart-Haas Racing, offered <a href="https://twitter.com/StewartHaasRcng/status/1229573095389831168" target=_blank>prayers</a> for him.

The team with which Newman first began his Cup Series career in 2000, Penske Racing, now has among its drivers Ryan Blaney, whose contact with Newman’s car initiated the crash. Blaney finished second in the race as he was edged out by Denny Hamlin.

Just yards from the finish line at the Daytona 500, Ryan Newman suffered a terrifying wreck when he was contacted from behind by Ryan Blaney as Denny Hamlin edged ahead to win the race. Newman’s car struck a wall, flipped and then went airborne as it was hit by cars coming up from behind.

Newman was reported as having been taken to a hospital, but there was no immediate news on his condition. While anxiously waiting to hear word on Newman, NASCAR drivers and teams expressed their concern on social media.

“This [expletive] is real,” <a href="https://twitter.com/ClintBowyer/status/1229574784570314753" target=_blank>tweeted</a> Clint Bowyer, who finished sixth in the race. “We’re all on the road together doing what we love. Please let @RyanJNewman be ok here.”

In a chaotic, extremely close finish, Denny Hamlin won his second straight Daytona 500 and his third in the past five years. Hamlin edged out Ryan Blaney after Ryan Newman, who was just yards from winning the race, instead saw his car spin out, crash and go airborne as he crossed the finish line.

Newman wound up ninth, while Chris Buescher came in third, David Ragan fourth and Kevin Harvick fifth. 

The Daytona 500′s first attempt at a two-lap overtime didn’t last long. Just after cars got the restart, Clint Bowyer, Michael McDowell and Justin Haley were involved in a wreck. Their cars survived but the three were sent to the back of the field. Let’s try it again, shall we?

The crashes are mounting at Daytona, turning the race into a battle of attrition. Ross Chastain was a central figure in a multi-car pileup with just two laps left, and Joey Logano was among those involved.

Others affected by the crash reportedly included Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Preece, Aric Almirola and Ty Dillon. The red flag has come out again, and the race will go to overtime.

A Daytona field already thinned heavily by a major crash quickly lost three more cars, as Alex Bowman, Reed Sorenson and Timmy Hill went out. Sorenson appeared to blow a tire, and Hill hit him from behind. Bowman’s car was damaged in a separate incident, but the upshot was that the race went to a caution with eight laps to go.

Kyle Busch, the defending Cup champion, is now zero-for-15 at the Daytona 500. His car blew an engine just before a massive crash decimated the field, and the only good news for him was that he was able top get to the garage a bit sooner than others.

Busch, 34, played down the importance of a win in NASCAR’s most prestigious race, <a href="https://apnews.com/5b315f977fe2b25d6496b7382d20aa83" target=_blank>saying</a> last week: “The whole aspect of having one item not checked is not that big of a deal. It’s not going to end my career by any means.”

Last year brought an agonizingly close call; Busch finished second to Denny Hamlin.

At Daytona, it’s often just a matter of time before “The Big One” hits, and sure enough, lap 185 saw a huge crash strike the field. And if Brad Keselowski came into the race already miffed at teammate Joey Logano, their relationship probably hasn’t improved.

The crash appeared to begin when Logano moved up into the back of the car of Aric Almirola, which then made contact with Keselowski, who was near the lead. Keselowski was sent into the wall on the high side, while Almirola also spun out.

Along with Keselowski and Almirola, those reportedly affected by the crash included Alex Bowman, Matt DiBenedetto, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Austin Dillon, David Ragan, John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Hailey, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Bubba Wallace and Jimmie Johnson.

Johnson, a seven-time Cup Series champion, was in his final Daytona 500, having announced that this will be his last season. It remains to be seen if he and others can rejoin the field.

With the race sent to a red flag while the debris was cleared, the top 10 were, in order: Ryan Newman, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Logano, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Michael McDowell, Ty Dillon and Reed Sorenson.

After staring in pole position, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was looking like a strong contender for most of the day, but his hopes for a victory took a big hit when he was sent spinning off the track with 25 laps to go. Erik Jones made contact with Stenhouse’s car, which sustained heavy damage.

Shortly before that, Stenhouse was penalized for going below the yellow line and was sent to the back of the main field.

With 40 laps — i.e., 100 miles — to go in the Daytona 500, Brad Keselowski was in the lead, just ahead of Penske teammate Joey Logano. Keselowski had expressed notable irritation with Logano after last week’s Busch Clash, accusing Logano of reckless blocking that caused a major crash.

“We shouldn’t be wrecking all these cars. You’d think these guys would be smarter than that. It’s the same thing over and over, somebody throws a stupid block that’s never going to work and wrecks half the field,” Keselowski <a href="https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/28689944/joey-logano-says-cleared-air-brad-keselowski-clash-crash" target=_blank>said</a> at the time.

Logano later said that the two had settled their differences amicably.

“I just explained my side of the story,” Logano said last week. “You know how it is, you get out of the car, you’re frustrated, you’re mad. Your emotions are running high, you haven’t watched anything and they stick a microphone in your [face] like this and tell you, ‘What happened out there?’ ”

It will be interesting to see the level of cooperation between Keselowski and Logano the rest of the way today.

Stage 2 at Daytona went to Denny Hamlin, who managed to hold off a couple of passing attempts by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Kyle Busch, managed to also slip ahead of Stenhouse just before the close of Lap 130, which marked the end of the stage.

Hamlin got 10 points toward the Cup race, as well as one point toward the playoff chase, as did Chase Elliott for winning Stage 1. The seven drivers who rounded out the Stage 2 top 10, all getting points, were (in order): Martin Truex Jr., Ross Chastain, Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Chris Buescher.

After making a pit stop, Truex hit a gas can left by Elliott on his way out of pit row, forcing him to return for a damage inspection. “You’ve got to be [expletive] kidding me!” Truex was <a href="https://twitter.com/PRNlive/status/1229540593480740865">heard</a> exclaiming on his radio. Elliott was sent to the back of the field for his infraction.

2007 Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick has some work to do if he wants to get win No. 2 in his No. 4 Ford. The decorated veteran’s car was damaged in the crash that took out Quin Houff, and he fell toward the back after making a pit stop for repairs.

Teammates on his Stewart-Haas squad, including Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer, reportedly moved back to help Harvick, who was in 30th place after 116 laps. That’s not necessarily the worst spot to be in with this much race left, particularly given the chances that a big crash could take out some competitors ahead of him.

Quin Houff and B.J. McLeod crashed on Lap 90, producing the fourth caution of the day.

Houff appeared to be turned by Aric Almirola, with McLeod collected in the incident. McLeod’s team was reportedly trying to repair his car and get him back in the race, but Houff is done for the day.

Toyota’s strategy for the race was apparently to cede Stage 1, then try to seize control of the rest of the race. As Stage 2 began to unfold, the five Toyota drivers — in order, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Erik Jones and Christopher Bell — shot to the front.

Behind them, through 78 laps, were a pack of Ford drivers, led by Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney.

Chase Elliott won the first stage of the Daytona 500, leading the pack at the end of the 65th lap. Driving the No. 9 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, Elliott finished just ahead of teammate Alex Bowman’s No. 88 Chevy.

The others receiving points for finishing in Stage 1′s top 10: Aric Almirola, Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Matt DiBenedetto, Chris Buescher and Ty Dillon.

Toyota drivers hung back during most of Stage 1, looking to stay out of trouble and conserve fuel.

The Daytona 500′s first crash was William Byron, whose No. 24 car plunged down off the track and struck a SAFER barrier on the infield. Byron was reported to be okay, but NASCAR’s 2018 rookie of the year will have to wait another year before hoping to notch a career-defining victory.

Byron did win one of the two Duel at Daytona races last week, but on Monday, his car was nudged from behind by the No. 47 driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the 59th lap. Byron, 22, is in his third season as the driver of a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

President Trump is not at Daytona on Monday but he wanted people to know the race is back on. “Completion of the Daytona 500 on Fox Network now,” he tweeted about half an hour after racing resumed. “Enjoy!” 

Trump <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-kicks-off-daytona-500-as-grand-marshal/2020/02/16/53bb323e-50d5-11ea-9e47-59804be1dcfb_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_165" target=_blank>served as Grand Marshal</a> on Sunday, telling the drivers to start their engines after taking a lap around the oval in his presidential limousine.

“Have a phenomenal day," he told drivers through their radio feeds. “Have a great race. Be safe. God bless you. We love you.” 

Trump was the second sitting president to attend the Daytona 500, following George W. Bush in 2004.

With the race starting on Lap 21, the first stage ending at 65 laps and the cars’ fuel windows expected to be approximately 40 laps, most teams took advantage of the first opportunity to make a pit stop a few laps in. Some of the few drivers who stayed out reportedly took a pit stop shortly thereafter, opting to get in an extra lap, and a few drivers who pitted initially returned to get topped off.

After 37 laps, Brad Keselowski took the lead, followed by pole-sitter Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

On Sunday, President Trump had the honor of telling the 40-driver field: “Gentlemen, start your engines.” With the race postponed until Monday and Trump long gone, the fans who returned to Daytona International Speedway were given that task.

“You guys will be the grand marshals,” a public address announcer at the racetrack reportedly told those who returned for the final 180 laps.

Some fans expressed frustration Sunday at long, slow-moving lines at entrances, with increased security because of Trump’s presence. The scene was different on Monday, as NASCAR officials made a point of thanking fans for coming back to the track.

NASCAR Daytona 500 Auto Racing

NASCAR officials decided to postpone the race until 4:05 p.m. Monday due to the rain that continues to drench the area. 

Cindy  Boren

Timmy Hill made the best of the second rain delay, seeking sustenance for what he knows could be a long night of racing ahead.

Discovering that the NASCAR caterers had packed up, he headed for the media center “where you all have food,” only to discover nothing more than popcorn. So he went to grab some Bojangles’ fries and returned to the media center, where the beverages flow generously and, more importantly, freely.

In return, he did a little news conference. He started 33rd and was 10th after 20 laps. “I told you guys I’ve had fast cars this weekend,” he said, “and I meant it.” 

This seems like as good a time as any to mention that the race can be a long one. In 2012, the 500, scheduled to begin at noon, was postponed to Monday and then delayed to a 7 p.m. start. That was the first primetime start for the race, which ended with Matt Kenseth’s win at around 1 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday.

In 2014, coffee, not beer, was the best beverage for race fans, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning the race for the second time, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2014/02/24/dale-earnhardt-jr-wins-daytona-500-snaps-victory-drought-video/?itid=lk_inline_manual_189" target=_blank>finishing at 11:18 p.m</a>.

Showers popped up out of nowhere and, unlike the earlier rain, this time racing was delayed by a heavy downpour after 20 laps. The good news was that the entire 2.5-mile track won’t require drying. The bad news was that there was a lot of water to be removed. The sun quickly came out and was helping matters. At least until the next shower.

All of which means that this race is going to end up under the lights.

Over the first dozen laps, drivers were being conservative (if that can be said of people driving 200 mph) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the pole winner, was the leader, followed by Joey Logano and Aric Almirola. Stenhouse, dumped by Roush Fenway Racing last year, quickly joined JTG Daugherty Racing’s two-car team and was a surprise pole winner.

Drivers were keeping an eye to the sky as they climbed into their cars, hoping to outrun any more rain, and by lap 21 there were more sprinkles.

President Trump and the First Lady saw precious little racing at Daytona International Speedway, thanks in part to a brief shower that delayed the start of the actual race. As drivers returned to their cars for the start of the race, now guarantee to end Sunday night, Air Force One took off, with Trump destined for a Western campaign swing.

Behind them, they left a group of drivers wondering how much racing they could get in before the next shower moved through.

No sooner were the preliminary warmup laps completed than a brief shower passed over the Daytona International Speedway and drivers headed for their pit crews. It was extremely fast moving, but crews had to dry the track before drivers could return to their cars and start the race.

That gave Jimmie Johnson a moment to reflect on the pageantry of a presidential visit. “Pretty amazing opening ceremony for a lot of reasons,” he told Fox. Among them was Johnson leading the pack of drivers on a lap of honor in which is likely to be his final Daytona 500.

As the drivers took their preliminary laps, President Trump asked if he could speak directly to drivers and crews and radioed this message shortly after telling them to start their engines:

“Drivers, this is President Trump and it was an honor to open the Daytona 500. Have a phenomenal day, have a great race and be safe. God bless you; we love you.”

The preliminary lap also was part of a tribute to Jimmie Johnson, making what is believed to be his last appearance in the race. He led the field on a lap of honor.

President Trump may have made the appearance as part of his reelection strategy, but he told Fox there was more to it than that.

“It really is the Great American race and I look at this as almost a patriotism kind of thing,” Trump said in a brief interview. “It’s incredible. The people are incredible. We love the area. We love the state and it’s very exciting. You know, I’ve been here four times before as a civilian and now I’m in a different capacity. We love NASCAR and the people of NASCAR.”

Trump last was at Daytona in 2001 and explained why he was drawn to auto racing.

“I think it’s really the bravery of these people. They do all the safety things and everything, but it takes great courage. It’s the speed, It’s really the technology. You look at what’s happened just over the last 10 years with the cars. I love to see it. I love to watch it.”

As president, driving is frowned upon, but he threatened to join the race.

“I’m going to hop into one of these cars and get into this race, if possible," he joked. "I love the idea.”

Jimmie Johnson

One of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, Jimmie Johnson, shook fans’ hands as he made his way to his car for what may well be his final Daytona 500. It was a chaotic scene on the infield before the race, with Sheamus, the actor/wrestler, telling him, “I love your sandwiches.”

As for Johnson, he hasn’t won a race since 2017, but has been victorious in NASCAR’s top-level series seven times, tying legendary drivers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. He plans to retire from full-time racing after this season, leaving a legacy that will be debated long after he walks away.

As for what’s next, Johnson has plenty of ideas. “I’ve always wanted to run the New York City Marathon,” he told Fox Sports.

The winner of 83 races in auto sports, Johnson, who is 43, finished the Boston Marathon in just over three hours last April.

He was honored at the start of the Daytona 500, leading all drivers on an emotional lap of honor.

Trump's 'Beast' limo takes lap around Daytona 500 track

In his duties as the race’s Grand Marshal, President Trump was tasked with uttering some of the most important words of NASCAR’s day. “Gentlemen,” he told the all-male field, "start your engines.”

As he waited for race time to approach, the president lingered on the track and met a few drivers, including Aric Almirola. After his visit to Daytona, Trump was to head west for a campaign swing.

In addition to his appearance, Trump’s reelection campaign will air an ad during the Fox broadcast of the race and will fly an aerial banner, according to the Associated Press, with a crowd of around 100,000 attending the first race of the 2020 NASCAR season.

Here’s what you need to know about the 62nd running of the Daytona 500.

Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Streaming: <a href="http://foxsportsgo.com/" target=_blank>FoxSportsGo.com</a> and the Fox Sports app (cable provider login required). Fox also is offered on <a href="https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-watch-the-daytona-500-without-cable/">many streaming options</a>, including Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV and AT&amp;T TV Now.

Weather: The <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=29.19&lon=-81.04#.Xkg8SP5KhEY">forecast </a>calls for light winds and a 20 percent chance of rain, with a high near 78.

The race is 200 laps around Daytona’s 2.5-mile track and split into three stages, the first two comprising 65 laps and the final stage lasting 70 laps. Drivers who finish in the top 10 of the first two stages are awarded points that accrue throughout the season and determine the circuit’s playoff field. The overall winner of the race earns an automatic berth in the season-ending playoffs plus points, with the other finishers awarded points based on where they ended up.

In the case of bad weather, the race is considered official if 100 laps are run and the leader after 100 laps will be named the winner (assuming the race cannot be restarted).

● It’s the last Daytona 500 for Jimmie Johnson, who has won NASCAR’s top-level series seven times, tying him with legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. Johnson, who hasn’t won a race since 2017, <a href="https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/11/20/jimmie-johnson-retire-2020-season-seven-time-champion-nascar/">announced in November</a> that he is retiring from full-time racing after this season. His legacy on the circuit will be long debated, considering his dominance came at a time of tremendous upheaval at NASCAR, including unpopular rules changes, plummeting TV ratings and declining race attendance. But fellow driver Chase Elliott thinks Johnson’s impact on stock-car racing won’t be fully understood until after his retirement.

“I don’t think he’s ever got the respect that he deserves over the course of his career. I think he’s the best to have come along,” Elliott <a href="https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/elliott-jimmie-johnson-more-respect/4684712/">said</a> last week.

“I really think once he’s gone, I do think that will change a lot then. If it doesn’t by year end, I think it will when he leaves.”

● Joe Gibbs Racing will look to continue its NASCAR dominance after its drivers won a record 19 of 36 races last season, Hamlin won the Daytona 500 and Kyle Busch took home its fifth Cup series title. It was the second Cup series victory for the 34-year-old, but he’s still looking for his first Daytona 500 win in his 15th attempt (he finished second last year).

“Not being able to win the Daytona 500 isn’t something that’s going to kill me,” Busch <a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/article240243491.html">said</a> last week. “But it’s certainly going to weigh on me in the late goings of a race to try to get out there and win this thing.”

● Will this be the year that the pole-sitter finally wins the race again? It hasn’t happened since Dale Jarrett won in 2000. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has the pole for Sunday’s race, and his two Cup series wins (both in 2017) came at Daytona and sister track Talladega.

Hamlin, meanwhile, will be looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Sterling Marlin in 1994-95.

● Only two active drivers have won the 500 more than once: Johnson and Hamlin. Both have two Daytona 500 wins.

The first two spots in the Daytona 500 were set based on <a href="https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/02/09/daytona-500-pole-recap-results-speeds-ricky-stenhouse-jr/">the fastest qualifying runs</a>. Those belonged to Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Alex Bowman. Stenhouse’s lap was clocked at 194.582 mph. The rest of <a href="https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/02/13/daytona-500-starting-lineup-nascar/">the lineup</a> was determined based on Thursday’s Duel races.

1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., JTG Daugherty Racing

11. Bubba Wallace, Richard Petty Motorsports

13. Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing

16. Matt DiBenedetto, Wood Brothers Racing

Ryan Newman hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after scary Daytona 500 crash

Live coverage contributors 4