DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (AP) – Latest on the Daytona 500 (all local times):
21:08
The Daytona 500 was resumed after a weather delay that lasted more than five hours and caused several drivers to run fast food off the track.
Kevin Harvick was in front when the race restarted cautiously, leaving 185 laps.
The NASCAR event was stopped after 15 laps due to lightning and then heavy rains. There were sixteen cars involved in a huge accident just one lap before stopping.
With radar showing a long delay, at least three drivers hit the road to get some grub.
Drivers Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick used the red flag to power, giving a new meaning to fast food. Drivers left the track and made quick trips across the street to pick up some grub.
Briscoe posted a picture on social media with him wearing the fire suit in the Panda Express car. Chastain posted a photo with him on the drive-thru at McDonald’s, a sponsor. Reddick sat in Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, also a sponsor, and ate some chicken pot pie.
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18:15
Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick gave a new meaning to fast food during a rain delay at Daytona International Speedway.
Drivers left the famous track during a long red flag during the Daytona 500 and made quick trips across the street to pick up some grub.
Briscoe’s wife, Marissa, posted on Twitter a photo of Chase wearing the fire suit in the car the Panda Express.
Ross Chastain followed suit shortly afterwards and posted a photo of him on the drive-thru at McDonald’s, a sponsor. He mentioned that this is “the delay of the rain in ’21”.
Reddick sat in Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, also a sponsor, and ate some chicken pot pie, saying “some much-needed comfortable food.”
The opening of the NASCAR season was stopped after 15 laps due to lightning and then heavy rains. The 2 1/2 mile route takes hours to dry. Sixteen cars, including the one driven by Reddick, were involved in a huge accident at 14 laps in the race.
The lightning in the area, a few minutes later, determined the officials to clean the motor sports stadium, to send the socially distant fans in a crowded space. The drivers got out of the cars and, once it rained, they let go.
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16:15
Pitbull’s Daytona 500 party ended long before the last call.
The rapper who sells platinum bought in Trackhouse Racing, which placed the driver Daniel Suarez on the field. Suarez drives the Chevrolet no. 99 and was among the drivers collected earlier in a pile of 16 cars. He was forced to leave after 13 laps completed.
“Lord. Worldwide,” he also ordered drivers to start their engines.
Pitbull says he is one of the newest owners of the NASCAR team.
“Now that there are no more laps, I’ll be pretty much at every race,” Pitbull said. “There is a greater call for this.”
Pitbull has joined the famous NBA Michael Jordan as the owners of stars entering NASCAR this year. The trackhouse was launched late last year by former driver Justin Marks and watched the Pitbull race in a suite.
“There is no hidden agenda. We are here to win, “said Pitbull.
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15:50
Big One hit 14 laps in the Daytona 500, triggered when Aric Almirola became the winner of the pole, Alex Bowman and began an accumulation of 16 cars.
A few minutes later, the race was stopped by lightning, and fans who were socially distanced in the stands had to seek shelter in the crowded hall. Heavy rains followed, closing the “Great American Race” for what will be a long delay.
Christopher Bell started the fight when he pushed Almirola too hard near the front of the field and forced the Stewart-Haas Racing driver to fly while trying to avoid slipping. Almirola turned right into Bowman. Their contact causes others to collide, sending them spinning and skidding through grass and mud. Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch were among those involved.
“We were just pushed too hard too early,” Almirola said. “It’s a long, long race. “Man, I was in a good position, I was sitting there, I was going in the first two, three and (Bell) just came in with a big run and hit me really hard in a bad place and he turned right and broke us. I picked up the race car and finished the Daytona 500 much too early, ”said Almirola.
Hendrick Motorsports had put Bowman and Byron first.
Newman was nearly killed in a horrific crash in the last lap of the Daytona 500 last year. Newman left safely on Sunday and even checked Busch while he was in the Chevy.
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15:25
Derrike Cope was eliminated after just three laps, an ignominious end for the 62-year-old driver who won the 1990 Daytona 500.
Cope made his first Daytona 500 start in 2004 and 15th overall. Cope seemed to have a cut tire on Chevrolet no. 15 that he drove for Rick Ware Racing.
Cope was forced to reach the garage in the third round, while fans and teams greeted the late Dale Earnhardt by raising three fingers in tribute to mark the 20th anniversary of his death. Cope overtook Earnhardt, who blew a tire a mile to win the 1990 Daytona 500.
Cope scored two victories in 428 Cup careers.
Rick Ware Racing also finished last in the Indianapolis 500 in 2020. James Davison completed just four laps in that race.
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15:10
Fans and crews greeted the late Dale Earnhardt by raising three fingers in round 3 during the Daytona 500, recognizing the 20th anniversary of his death, which came in the final round of the NASCAR event. Earnhardt led the famous no. 3 for Richard Childress Racing.
The death of the seven-time Cup Series champion has forced NASCAR to make significant safety improvements, changes that have saved many lives in the 20 years since. Ryan Newman survived a terrible accident in the last round in last year’s opening, leaving a hospital two days after everyone watching was afraid of the worst.
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At 14:00
Bubba Wallace’s car failed the inspection twice for the Daytona 500 and will have to start from behind the field.
The head of the car for 23XI Racing was expelled as punishment. Toyota no. 23 passed the inspection for the third time.
Wallace leads a new entry owned by the great NBA Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. He had been scheduled to start the “Great American Race” in the third row. Instead, Wallace will be one of the 10 pilots who have to descend behind the pack during the pace laps.
Nine other people have already lost their starting places due to changes after the 150-mile NASCAR double qualifying races on Thursday. Former Series Cup champion Brad Keselowski and first-place qualifier William Byron switched to spare cars due to wrecks. The same goes for Chase Briscoe, Kaz Grala, Anthony Alfredo, Cole Custer and Ross Chastain.
Martin Truex Jr.’s team had to change a radiator and an oil cooler. Erik Jones’ team changed an engine.
Alex Bowman is scheduled to drive the 40-car field to the green flag at 3:05 p.m. EST.
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