The Latest: Cup Series race at Daytona begins a day late

5:30 p.m.

Justin Haley has won the rain-shortened Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, his first in NASCAR’s top level.

Haley took the lead under warning – Kurt Busch surrendered the top spot when he pitted for new tires – and was declared the winner following heavy rain followed two lightning flaws. There were 33 laps left when the 160-lap race has been halted.

Haley was 27th when leader Austin Dillon triggered a 17-car crash that took out nearly half the field and most of the top contenders. He passed a number of wrecked cars and then several more that left pit stops.

The 20-year-old Haley won’t lock in a place in the playoffs, though. He’s a fulltime motorist in the second-tier Xfinity Series and has been making his third Cup Series beginning – all for newcomer Spire Motorsports. The group’s No. 77 Chevrolet can secure a postseason bid, but only as long as it winds up in the top 30 in points.

Nonetheless, it was a fitting ending for the final July race in NASCAR’s most famous track.

The event, which was postponed a day because of rain, was plagued by inclement weather and filled with unpredictable winners in the past couple of years. It is moving to late August at 2020 – the regular-season finale – as part of NASCAR’s major schedule shake-up.

William Byron finished second, followed closely by seven-time Cup winner Jimmie Johnson and Ty Dillon. Manufacturer Chevrolet won for the second consecutive week and took the top four spots.

Ryan Newman was fifth in a Ford.

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4:30 p.m.

Drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Hemric amused fans during two lightning delays by throwing a football throughout the trail and in the stands.

Wallace and Hemric each had a few errant throws and got booed a bit.

But it certainly gave fans a reason to stick around for more than an hour with no racing.

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3:18 p.m.

Lighting has stopped the NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway with Justin Haley at the lead.

The 20-year-old Haley is a part-time driver for newcomer Spire Motorsports. He finished second in Friday night’s second-tier Xfinity Series race whilst forcing for Kaulig Racing. This is his third Cup Series start.

Kurt Busch was leading the 400-mile race after a 17-car wreck. But Busch ducked onto pit road for fuel under warning. That left Haley out front, and when the red flag was brought out because of a nearby lightning strike, it left Busch in 18th. As cars were parked and covered on pit road.

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3 p.m.

With dark clouds looming and also the close of the race in sight, leader Austin Dillon wrecked almost half the area at Daytona International Speedway.

“The Big One” occurred on Lap 119 in Turn 1 and involved 17 cars – many of them at the front of the field.

Clint Bowyer was pushing Dillon to front on the exterior and made a tough move left to attempt to pass the pioneer. Dillon turned left in No. 3 Chevrolet, branded Bowyer and then started spinning and carrying out competitors.

“I guess he didn’t need me to pass him,” Bowyer said.

All four Joe Gibbs Racing automobiles – Deny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and defending race winner Erik Jones – were included. So were Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott.

“I was being aggressive and trying to maintain the lead,” Dillon said.” That’s exactly what you get.”

Kurt Busch was able to make it through this melee unscathed.