Photo courtesy of James Gilbert | Getty Images
The NASCAR Cup series’ regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway begun at 10:05 a.m. ET Sunday after inclement weather postponed the race by a day. TV coverage of the race is currently on CNBC with Peacock and the NBC Sports App providing streaming options.
The race that was initially set for a Saturday night start but weather has been a factor all weekend long and the Coke Zero Sugar 400 went back under a weather delay with 21 laps to go as a heavy downpour came over the track with racing still going on.
Just before the red flag, chaos unfolded as the lead pack lost traction, culminating in a 13-car pileup that collected most of the field.
BIG CRASH in Turns 1 and 2 and Daytona!@austindillon3 SOMEHOW avoids all the mayhem and comes out in the lead! #NASCAR
📺 : @CNBC and @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/aYYdF1hp6l
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 28, 2022
Surviving through the wreck was Austin Dillon, who went on to win the race.
Dillon is the 16th race winner this season and clinched the 15th spot in the postseason, eliminating Martin Truex Jr., who fell three points below the playoff cutline.
Blaney and Truex were both involved in incidents throughout the day. The driver of the No. 12 took more of the damage with a destroyed right-front of the car.
However, with a handful of drivers dropping out with destroyed race cars, Blaney was able to make up the gap to Truex in the standings to point his way into the playoffs.
