Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Ryan Blaney is a back-to-back winner after outlasting the Coke Zero Sugar 400 field at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday evening.
A caution-filled race went into overtime, and Blaney simply survived down the stretch as a horde of drivers crashed behind him with one lap remaining. The final caution ended the race, giving the 27-year-old the victory.
NASCAR @NASCAR
Take a look at the incident that brought out the caution on the final lap of the #CokeZeroSugar400. pic.twitter.com/zA7a6LVpKm
Blaney, who won the FireKeepers Casino 400 last Sunday, has now won seven times on the NASCAR Cup Series.
He also moved to a tie for second with Martin Truex Jr. in the playoff standings with the win. Kyle Larson is still in first, and Tyler Reddick grabbed the 16th and final available playoff spot after Saturday’s race.
NASCAR @NASCAR
Meet the 2021 #NASCARPlayoffs field! pic.twitter.com/hd30W3dxNa
Here’s a look at how it all went down from Daytona.
Stage 1
Three-wide racing permeated the entire field in Stage 1.
NASCAR @NASCAR
No room for error.
Three-wide racing throughout the pack ?.
?: NBC ?: https://t.co/r61CT6B6jq pic.twitter.com/CZI7KoFSrM
Another hairy moment occurred when Ross Chastain brushed against the fence, but he remained unscathed.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
MY GOODNESS.
Ross Chastain brushes the fence right in front of the field, but hangs on!#CokeZeroSugar400 x NBC pic.twitter.com/jm9zWyXbKs
Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell was not as lucky, as his motor blew up, ending his night early:
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
No repeat at @Daytona for @Mc_Driver.
Michael McDowell’s motor blows up. We’ll see the Daytona 500 winner next weekend at @TooToughToTame as he gets ready for the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/sz3JIduTLj
Ultimately, this stage belonged to Chase Elliott, who surged ahead of the field and also got rid of some trash along the way.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
SCIENCE IS FUN.
A little aerodynamics in action as Chase Elliott gets some trash removed from his grille. #CokeZeroSugar400 x #NASCAR x @Daytona pic.twitter.com/JGuyMyFqYv
NASCAR @NASCAR
Ol Clyde looked like he got launched out of a canon!@chaseelliott | @DAYTONA pic.twitter.com/L2D6gfug64
Credit to Kyle Busch for the incredible save, though.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
KYLE BUSCH.
WHAT. A. SAVE. #CokeZeroSugar400 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/IpDDyFj6it
NASCAR @NASCAR
No, the car nearly pointing in the wrong direction did NOT crash. pic.twitter.com/f6w0rYn0Zg
The victory marked Elliott’s third stage win of the 2021 season.
Stage 2
The back of the pack saw a crash as Aric Almirola and Alex Bowman both went spinning.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
Synchronized spinning.
Aric Almirola and Alex Bowman go for a ride at @Daytona. #CokeZeroSugar400 #NASCAR
TV: NBC pic.twitter.com/OqYiptMYGJ
There wasn’t too much action for the rest of the stage, which Joey Logano ended up winning:
NASCAR @NASCAR
Huge runs and big pushes.
That’s how you know the end of Stage 2 is near. pic.twitter.com/VdQYoiEcw9
Stage 3
A very eventful third stage took place. Of note, Logano, Elliott and Kevin Harvick each took the lead in the span of a single lap.
Three cars on the Rick Ware Racing team were involved in a single crash, with Garrett Smithley, Joey Gase and Cody Ware sustaining damage.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
“Rick Ware Racing just had a bad yellow.”
Three RWR cars involved in this one. Less than 20 laps remain in the final race of the regular season on NBC!
TV: NBC
Stream: https://t.co/wKDI0aNMYn
NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/DDAOPG1k9p
Bubba Wallace, who would have made the playoffs with a win, took the lead at one point:
NASCAR @NASCAR
A push makes the No. 23 light, but @BubbaWallace hangs on and takes the lead at @DAYTONA! pic.twitter.com/pAujqDtPmZ
However, all hell broke loose with a late crash that brought out a red flag. Truex Jr., William Byron and Tyler Reddick were notably involved.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
BIG CRASH. Tyler Reddick involved!
Huge implications for the #NASCARPlayoffs with less than 15 laps remaining!
TV: NBC
Stream: https://t.co/wKDI0aNMYn
NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/P39PGsZ04w
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
Take another look at what happened to Martin Truex Jr., Tyler Reddick, and more.#NASCAR x #CokeZeroSugar400 x NBC pic.twitter.com/W38tCq2zSk
Jeff Gluck of The Athletic gave some insight.
Somehow, Austin Dillon escaped the wreckage.
NASCAR @NASCAR
.@austindillon3‘s crash avoidance sliders are maxed out. ? pic.twitter.com/un42vqvCYJ
Reddick possessed the 16th and final playoff spot entering the night, and he held onto that as he was able to meet the minimum speed and get back on the track.
The aforementioned crash happened with under 13 laps left. Eventually, red turned to yellow and then green, leading to a frenetic finish.
First, Chris Buescher briefly took the lead:
NASCAR @NASCAR
.@Chris_Buescher TO THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/8PqXP3wCYO
However, Elliott soon took the lead right afterward.
NASCAR @NASCAR
.@Chris_Buescher gets shuffled out of the lead.@chaseelliott takes the point! pic.twitter.com/uNIffIE9Xl
Logano then slammed into the wall but somehow was able to avoid the other cars and make it to pit road:
NASCAR @NASCAR
NEAR DISASTER!@joeylogano keeps going and we stay green! pic.twitter.com/XlIKszIItJ
And then, all hell broke loose once again.
NASCAR @NASCAR
A huge wreck at the front of the field with only three laps remaining changes everything! pic.twitter.com/ObFtG6xYju
NASCAR @NASCAR
Take another look at the wreck that changed the complexion of the #CokeZeroSugar400. pic.twitter.com/103eiIaNRn
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
IT’S THE BIG ONE!
OVERTIME IS COMING UP ON NBC. #CokeZeroSugar400 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/l03vIcHpnU
Gluck gave more context into how this one went down and who was involved.
Davey Segal of Sirius XM Radio provided insight from Matt DiBenedetto’s team on the matter, especially in regards to Elliott’s role.
Davey Segal @DaveyCenter
? “He double moved. On him. Good job,” @mattdracing is told re: @chaseelliott‘s blocking of him.
“Yeah, that was his fault,” he adds.
When all was said and done, the field went into overtime. Kelly Crandall of RACER provided the lineup, which featured a whole host of drivers looking for a win to clinch that 16th playoff spot.
Kelly Crandall @KellyCrandall
Overtime lineup: Buescher, Blaney, LaJoie, Dillon, Harvick, Chastain, Larson, Suarez, Wallace, Kurt Busch, Newman, Haley, Bowman, Briscoe, Reddick #NASCAR
In the end, Blaney outlasted the field following the crash and earned back-to-back wins.
