Austin Dillon wins historic Daytona 500

by | Feb 19, 2018 | Regional/National

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Austin Dillon won the Daytona 500 on Sunday night in the No. 3 Chevrolet that Dale Earnhardt Sr. made famous.

Dillon was driving for Richard Childress Racing. Childress is Dillon’s grandfather.

Dillon got a push from Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr. on the final lap of overtime. Dillon spun leader Aric Almirola en route to the checkered flag.

Wallace, an African-American driving No. 43 for Richard Petty, was second, also in a Chevy.

Dillon’s victory came 20 years after Earnhardt Sr. won his only Daytona 500. It was the 60th running of “The Great American Race.” Sunday’s epic finish unfolded 17 years to the day after Earnhardt’s fatal crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

Denny Hamlin, winner of the 2016 Daytona 500, was third in a Toyota.

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