‘The Ace’ Austin Dillon Wins Daytona 500 NASCAR Race on Final Lap

The 2018 racing season got underway on Sunday the same way it has for decades. It was the 60th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The 500 mile race translates to a long afternoon. And Sunday's long afternoon got even longer as the race went into overtime.

Coming out on top at the finish was Austin Dillon. Dillon, driving the Richard Childress #3 Chevrolet, took over the lead on the final lap of the race. It marked the 20th anniversary of Childress winning the Daytona 500 with driver Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Dillon was in victory lane on that day at the age of 7 years old.

Yes, he has spent his whole life around the car owner's machinery as Richard Childress is his grandpa. Austin's mom, the daughter of Childress, gave her son the nickname "Ace" when he was a baby.

Twenty years ago, mom had to scold Austin for climbing on the trophy. This time around, it's his trophy.

This was the second year in a row that the Daytona 500 winner only led one lap in the race. This year's race was marred by three big crashes.

Darrell Wallace, Jr. came in second. Denny Hamlin, who won the race two years ago and was leading this time on the final restart finished third.

It was Joey Logano fourth and Chris Buescher coming in fifth. There were three Chevrolet's in the top five. See where your driver finished.

See Also: