DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Brad Keselowski of RFK Racing was able to beat Ryan Preece by one car-length to end Stage 1 of Sunday’s 65th Daytona 500. Keselowski timed his move just right, leading the only lap in the first 65 laps of NASCAR’s biggest race.
Chris Buescher’s RFK Ford was third followed by the Ford’s of Kevin Harvick and Michael McDowell, Ty Gibbs’ Toyota, Jimmie Johnson’s No. 84 Chevrolet, Aric Almirola’s Ford, Martin Truex’s Toyota, and Todd Gilliland’s Ford.
Those drivers all earned stage points.
Christopher Bell led three times for 20 laps in the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Truex led once for 13 laps, and pole winner Alex Bowman led three times for 11 laps.
There were no cautions in the first 65 laps. The first yellow flag was at the conclusion of Stage 1.
The race got off to a clean start with Kyle Larson taking the lead from Bowman on lap one before Bowman regained the lead and kept the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet in front for the next nine laps.
Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Toyota grabbed the lead on lap 13. Fourteen laps later, Ty Dillon’s engine blew up on his No. 77 Chevrolet, sending him out of the race and behind the wall.
Pit stops began on lap 37 when 11 Fords pitted in unison. The Chevrolet’s followed one lap later and on lap 39, the rest of the field made their pit stops.
It was on lap 39 that the last place starter, Travis Pastrana, led a lap – a first for the extreme sports star who is driving the Daytona 500 in a 23XI Racing Toyota.
Riley Herbst locked up his brakes entering the pits on lap 39 and spun sideways near the tri-oval grass at the head of pit road. He was able to continue, and the race remained under green. However, Herbst was issued a commitment line violation by NASCAR Race Control and had to drive down pit road, dropping one lap down.
After pit stops were completed, Chase Briscoe’s Ford was in the lead ahead of Bubba Wallace’s Toyota, Denny Hamlin’s Toyota, Martin Truex, Jr’s Toyota, and Chase Elliott’s Chevrolet.
On lap 51, Wallace’s Toyota hit the backstretch wall after his team owner, Hamlin ran into the back of Truex, which pinched Wallace into the wall.
Wallace dropped to the rear of the field and immediately pitted to change tires and quickly return to the track.