William Byron fortuitously missed the ferocious wrecks down the stretch at the Daytona 500 that knocked out contenders racing for the checkered flag and left him with a repeat victory in sight. Still,

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — William Byron became the first back-to-back Daytona 500 winner in five years after sneaking by a huge crash on the final lap of the race. Byron was in seventh place with a half-lap to go, but all of the cars in front of him suddenly wrecked and Byron sailed through when the seas parted.

Driving the No. 24 car made famous by Jeff Gordon, now one of his bosses at Hendrick Motorsports, William Byron joined Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Sterling Marlin and Denny Hamlin as the only