Bubba Wallace did not get the start he wanted to, but it worked out in the end.

Wallace’s number 23 car failed the pre-game inspection twice at the Daytona 500 before passing on the third inspection. The inspection failure prompted the ejection of Wallace’s car chief Greg Emmer from the race. As for Wallace, he was forced to start from the back of the field. The 27-year-old driver was slated to start in the third row before the failed inspection forced him in the back.

However, despite starting from the back, it did not stop the 27-year-old. Wallace went on to become the first black driver to lead a lap in the Daytona 500. He grabbed the lead on lap 129 before losing it to the two-time defending champion Denny Hamlin.

Wallace finished 17th as Michael McDowell won the Daytona 500. Wallace had high expectations heading into the race. Although he didn’t win, he did make history.

In the wake of his terrifying crash at Daytona 500 Monday night, Ryan Newman is awake and talking to family and doctors.

The 42-year old has had a long career in NASCAR, spanning over 20 years, but Monday night’s crash was the worst he’s endured. In the final lap of the race, Newman’s car can be seen swerving into the barriers after being bumped from behind, turning over and skidding along the track, very close to open flames.

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Track workers placed large black screens around the car and worked diligently to get him out. It took two hours for NASCAR to get word that Newman was in serious condition, however his injuries were non-life threatening.

Roush Fenway Racing released a statement Tuesday afternoon on Twitter saying Newman was awake and talking with his family and doctors.

Roush Fenway Racing president Steve Newmark also released a statement on Twitter on behalf of Roush Fenway Racing and Newman’s family expressing their gratitude for the support and compassion from everyone.

A margin of victory less than a blink of an eye on Monday as three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin wins by 0.014 seconds. This was Hamlin’s third Daytona 500 victory of his career. He has become the first racer to do so since Sterling Marlin in 1995 to win in consecutive seasons.  Hamlin’s finish is the second closest winning margin in history, only after his finish 0.01-second win over Martin Truex in 2016.

Hamlin joins a small group of Hall-of-Famers to win three or more Daytona 500’s. This list includes Hamlin tieing Jeff Gordan, Bobby Allison and Dale Jarret. The 39-year-old stock car driver trails Cale Yarborough with four and Richard Petty that holds the record with seven Daytona 500 wins.

“I feel like I am a student to the game,” Hamlin said, “I never stop learning and trying to figure out where I need to put myself at the right time. It doesn’t always work. We’ve defied the odds in the last eight years or so in the Daytona 500, but I trust my instincts, and so far, they’ve been good to me.”

With the victory on Monday, it gives Joe Gibbs his fourth Daytona 500 victory as an owner, and Toyota’s third, all by Hamlin. This makes Gibbs and his team is the team to be in all of NASCAR. Last year, Gibbs and his team had a 1-2-3 sweep in the “Great American Race” and stared a year-long celebration for the company with a record-breaking 19 wins, plus a Cup Championship.

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The celebration in victory lane, however, was subdued by the terrifying crash late in the final lap by Ryan Newman. In the final straightaway, Newman’s bumper was caught by the trailing car behind him. This sent Newman hard right and a harsh crash into the wall. The car flipped, rolled and was hit by another driver on the driver-side door while upside-down. Newman’s car skidded across the track in flames. Fortunately, his injuries were not life-threatening and will recover in due time.

Denny Hamlin came out on top on Sunday in the Daytona 500. He won the 61st running of it by holding off reigning Cup Series champ Joey Logano and teammate Kyle Busch. The 38-year-old previously won the Daytona 500 three years ago, in 2016.

Hamlin Takes Top Honors At Daytona

Despite his first winless season and turmoil within the Joe Gibbs Racing team, Hamlin held on. In overtime, he was able to maintain his composure and block out Logano and Busch for the checkered flag.

But the win took on a deeper meaning, one bigger than Hamlin. The No. 11 driver made sure to dedicate the win to J.D. Gibbs, who served as the team president from 1997 to 2015. Gibbs passed away in January at 49 after a four-year battle with a degenerative neurological disease.

After his win, Hamlin proclaimed “This one’s for J.D.”

The elder Gibbs reflected that sentiment. “What happened here is really unreal,” he said. “I’m just thrilled. I think J.D. had the best view of everything,” he added.

After J.D. Gibbs died, Hamlin tweeted “His car. His number. His signature above my door. I will always be grateful for what His family did for mine and the opportunity he gave me 14 years ago. Now more than ever #doitforJD.”

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This isn’t a new story, though. Just last year, the race took on a special meaning as well. Austin Dillon won it all while driving the No. 3 car, made famous by Dale Earnhardt Sr., 20 years after his only Daytona 500 win.

After the race, Hamlin continued a Joe Gibbs Racing tradition. When the team first won the Daytona 500 in 1993, they took the trophy to Steak N Shake. On Sunday, Hamlin would do the same.

Peyton Manning may have retired from football two years ago, but he has continued to find ways to entertain himself and fans — one way is by driving the pace car for NASCAR’s season-opening Daytona 500.

Peyton Manning Daytona 500 interview news

The former MVP quarterback gave a rather hilarious interview to FOX Sports on Sunday while driving around the same track as some of the fastest stock cars in the world.

“I’ve never been sideways before,” said Manning as he drove around one of the turns.

“I didn’t realize these guys were going to be quite so close to me,” Manning said with a laugh. “What a cool environment to be a part of.”

Austin Dillon ended up winning the event at Daytona International Speedway, the first Daytona 500 victory of his career. Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin filled out the podium.

Manning has been known for his humor before: he has appeared in several quirky commercials with NationWide Insurance and Papa John’s Pizza, and recently voiced a character (a bull named Guapo!) in the Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated animated film Ferdinand. 

The two-time Super Bowl champion also showed off his comedic chops by delivering a set at the Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe in 2016. Manning ripped the former brat pack and West Wing actor for falsely reporting his retirement from the NFL in a tweet in 2012.

Manning made news last week, as he is reportedly being pursued by both ESPN and FOX to be part of their coverage team for the 2018 NFL season. ESPN is hoping to fill the vacancy left by Jon Gruden, who left as a Monday Night Football analyst to become the next head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

Fans would likely love the idea of Manning returning to the NFL scene as a commentator.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 12: Host Peyton Manning speaks onstage at The 2017 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Sunday afternoon’s Daytona 500 will likely go down as one of the craziest and accident-filled races in NASCAR history.

Kurt Busch Wins Daytona 500, Celebrates with Gronk

Kurt Busch eventually came out on top, and the veteran driver accurately and succinctly described what the big race was all about.

“Daytona is all about survival,” Busch, 38, said.

The win marked Busch’s 29th victory and first Daytona 500 title.

The madness began when his younger brother Kyle’s car blew a tire, thus knocking out fan favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Kurt then sealed the deal, driving with blinders on after his rear-view mirror fell off with 30 laps remaining.

“I felt with the car numbers I was looking at, 24 — it wasn’t Jeff Gordon,” Busch said. “I didn’t see [Matt] Kenseth up there. I didn’t see [Kevin] Harvick up there. Young guys. All these guys. I’m like, ‘a-ha. I’m the old bull here. I just have to take my time.’ ‘’

One of those youngsters, Hendrick Motorsports rival Chase Elliott, led 39 laps and seemed poised to take it all until his Chevrolet ran out of gas with three laps left. Then, it became Kyle Larson’s turn to lose fuel.

The race had so many wrecks that only 15 cars remained on the lead lap. With 48 laps still left, 35 of 40 cars had received damage.

That included seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, whose Lowe’s Chevy went spinning following contact with Jamie McMurray’s car.

“It was crazy to say the least,” said Joey Logano, who finished sixth. “Right after the last segment it was like everyone turned up the wick a little bit and at the end it was like it burned out.”

Busch has had a good start to 2017. He married Ashley Van Metre in early January.

Among the famous faces celebrating with Busch was Rob Gronkowski. The New England Patriots tight end apparently picked Busch, his fellow Monster Energy pitchman, to win the Great American Race.

According to USA TODAY’s Heather Tucker, Gronkowski only explained his prediction by saying: “because he’s the man.”

Busch didn’t even start the 2015 Daytona 500, suspended by NASCAR while accusations of domestic violence were investigated and authorities later decided not to file any criminal charges.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 26: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, races during the 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

The Daytona 500 is fast approaching, and FOX made sure to let fans know by airing a commercial for the big NASCAR race during Super Bowl LI on Sunday night.

Daytona 500 2017 Ad

The race will be held Feb. 26 at 2 pm ET, and will air on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

There will be four drivers in the field competing for their third win in the Great American Race this year: Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Michael Waltrip.

In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, FOX Sports’ Chris Myers and FOX NASCAR analyst Larry McReynolds were on FS1’s NASCAR Race Hub remote from Houston to decide who will win their third 500 first.

McReynolds chose seven-time and defending Monster Energy Cup Series champion Johnson, while Myers went with Kenseth, who was one turn away from winning the Daytona 500 in 2016 until Denny Hamlin sped to the lead for the big victory. It marked the closest finish in Daytona 500 history.

As for the commercial itself, which included the “Daytona Day” tune, shows NASCAR fans excitedly preparing for the competition and watching the race unfold. Kenseth and Hamlin both appear, as do other famous drivers like Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Danica Patrick, Aric Almirola, Brad Keselowski and FOX analyst Jeff Gordon. 

The ad also includes a brief cameo from “Dawson’s Creek” and “Varsity Blues” actor James Van Der Beek, who appears dressed like a former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion.

Here is the preview for the race:

FOX asked fans to vote for who they believe the winner of this year’s Daytona 500 will be and Earnhardt Jr. won with 57 percent of the vote.

Caption: DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 21: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, takes the checkered flag ahead of Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 21, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

Denny Hamlin pulled out the closest win in the history of the Daytona 500 on Sunday after beating Martin Truex Jr. by just a few inches.

Denny Hamlin Predicts Daytona 500 Win In Revealed Elementary School Essay

Hamlin’s mother, Mary Lou Hamlin, proved that the driver had a lifelong dream of winning the big race when she tweeted a photo of a short essay her son wrote in elementary school about his hopes of one day winning the Daytona 500.

“If I won the Daytona 500 I would like it to come true on Feb 17, 1998. My car would be red, white, blue and gold just like (Bill Elliott’s) car,” he wrote.

Hamlin currently drives the No. 11 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He was in fourth place on the final lap of the Daytona 500 before making his move to win first place.

PHOTO: DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 21: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, takes the checkered flag ahead of Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 21, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

NASCAR dealt punishment to two teams in Sunday’s Daytona 500 post-qualifying inspection, disallowing qualifying speeds for two Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolets.

Nos. 4, 14 Fail Post-Daytona 500 Qualifying Inspection

The Stewart-Haas No. 4 Chevrolet, which was driven by former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick and the SHR No. 14 Chevy — currently wheeled by Brian Vickers in place of the injured Tony Stewart — were both found with track bars that failed to comply with NASCAR specifications. Harvick had posted the 14th-fastest lap and Vickers the 21st-fastest, but their their qualifying times were disallowed soon afterward.

Rodney Childers, crew chief for SHR’s No. 4, posted on Twitter after the qualifying inspection session that the violation “was a simple mistake on our part.” Childers explained that the team had measured the track bar from a different point than NASCAR officials, which resulted in a quarter-inch discrepancy.

A third car, the Furniture Row No. 78 Toyota Camry, which was piloted by Martin Truex Jr., was also stopped before making a qualifying attempt due to an issue involving an out-of-compliance right-side roof flap. The No. 78 team was forced to forfeit after they were unable to fix the problem in the allotted five-minute warning time.

NASCAR officials stated that the issues involving all three cars would be further explained in competition meetings on Tuesday.

All three teams will be guaranteed starting berths in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 21, (1 pm. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM) through the NASCAR Charter system. All three will start in the rear of the field for Thursday’s Can-Am Duel qualifying races (7 pm. ET, FS1).

TALLADEGA, AL – OCTOBER 25:  Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, is introduced prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 25, 2015 in Talladega, Alabama.  (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

Rookie NASCAR driver Chase Elliott kept the No. 24 Chevrolet on the pole for the second straight Daytona 500, thus becoming the youngest to earn the top spot in NASCAR’s biggest race.

Rookie Chase Elliott Becomes Youngest To Land Top Spot in Daytona 500

Elliott snatched the seat from retired four-time champion Jeff Gordon at Hendrick Motorsports, and outran 43 others on Sunday to qualify for the front row.

Elliott, 20, is the son of Hall of Fame driver and two-time Daytona 500 champion Bill Elliott. 

Gordon sat in the broadcast booth at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, calling the shots as the No. 24 went around the track for the first time since 1992. Gordon was a three-time Daytona 500 winner and won a pair of poles in the 24. Elliott reached a top speed of 196.314 mph, which earned team owner Rick Hendrick his 10th overall pole in the Daytona 500.

“I don’t know if this opportunity has sunk in yet, much less sitting on the pole for the Daytona 500,” Elliott said.

Elliott won the pole at 20 years, 2 months and 17 days, besting 2014 pole-sitter Austin Dillon’s mark of 23 years, 9 months and 27 days. The rest of the Daytona 500 field will be set in Thursday’s two qualifying races.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kenseth, Elliott, Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch and Joey Logano advanced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU3qq52MKb8

Caption: DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, poses with his car after winning the Pole Award during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Check Out uInterview.com’s exclusive interview with racing great Kyle Busch! For more of the Busch interview click here.

Joey Logano and the Penske Racing #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford took the spoils of victory at the 57th running of the Daytona 500 this Sunday. It’s the 24-year-old Connecticut native’s 9th career victory and 6th trip to victory lane since last April, but his first in NASCAR’s biggest race.

Logano charged up to the front in the late portion of the race and was at the head of the pack with 10 to go. As some of NASCAR’s biggest stars were going 3-wide behind them, Logano was able to pick and choose which lane to go on to help keep him in front. However, a late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish, NASCAR’s two lap overtime, to finish the race. As the front four tamed themselves to go single file on the final lap, Austin Dillion spun Jeff Gordon, running his final Daytona 500, to cause a multi-car accident on the backstretch. The caution flag waved to freeze the field before defending series champion Kevin Harvick and defending 500 winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. could mount a charge, ensuring Logano his biggest win of his career. Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top five.

“I was so nervous pretty much the whole race,” Logano told reporters in victory lane. “We worked so hard in the offseason and this is my weakest race track, the superspeedways, and we worked so hard at them. I couldn’t be more proud.” He was also overwhelmed by the fact he had won the crown jewel of NASCAR’s schedule. “That is really amazing,” he exclaimed. “The Daytona 500. Oh my God. Are you kidding me?”

The exciting finish capped off a wild week in NASCAR. On Friday, Kurt Busch was suspended indefinitely after a ruling on a domestic violence charge brought up by his ex-girlfriend was made against him in Delaware. The next day in the XFINITY Series race, his brother Kyle was injured in a hard crash coming out of the tri-oval. Kyle Busch will likely miss several months with a leg injury, but avoided any other serious injuries. Regan Smith replaced Kurt in the #41 car and Matt Crafton did the same for Kyle in the #18, and both came away with solid top 20 finishes.

But the main storyline of the week was the fact that this was going to be four time champion and three time 500 winner Jeff Gordon‘s final Daytona 500. Gordon, who will be retiring from full-time racing at the end of this season, led a race-high 87 laps on the day. Unfortunately for him, his day ended badly after slipping in the pack and then being caught up in the final wreck. He would have to settle for a 33rd place finish.

Still, Gordon was all smiles after the race when talking with reporters. “I obviously enjoyed the first half more than the second half,” he said, “[but] this is an amazing week and an amazing day. I’m just in this different place that is so foreign yet so incredible, just soaking it all in.”

Meanwhile, Logano continues to rack up an impressive resume early on in his career. He was in NASCAR’s championship round last season and could’ve won the Sprint Cup Series title had it not been for a costly final pit stop. The Daytona 500 victory might be a sign of his momentum from last season carrying on to this year. Logano has also virtually locked himself into this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff, as a race victory all but guarantees a spot in the 16 driver showdown.

The victory was also legendary owner Roger Penske’s second win at the “Great American Race.” He also has won 15 Indianapolis 500’s as an owner.