5:30 p.m.

Justin Haley has won the rain-shortened Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, his first in NASCAR’s top level.

Haley took the lead under warning – Kurt Busch surrendered the top spot when he pitted for tires – and was announced the winner following heavy rain followed two lightning flaws. You will find 33 laps left when the 160-lap race has been halted.

Haley was 27th when chief Austin Dillon triggered a 17-car crash which took out nearly half the field and the majority of the top contenders. He passed a range of wrecked cars and then a few more that left pit stops.

The 20-year-old Haley won’t lock in a spot in the playoffs, however. He’s a fulltime motorist at the second-tier Xfinity Series and was making his third Cup Series start – for newcomer Spire Motorsports. The group’s No. 77 Chevrolet could secure a postseason bid, but only as long as it winds up in the top 30 in points.

However, it was a fitting ending for the final July race in NASCAR’s most famous track.

The event, which was postponed a day due to rain, has been plagued by inclement weather and full of unpredictable winners in the past couple of years. It is moving to late August at 2020 – the regular-season finale – included in NASCAR’s major schedule shake-up.

William Byron finished second, followed by seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and Ty Dillon. Manufacturer Chevrolet won for the second consecutive week and took the top four spots.

Ryan Newman was fifth in a Ford.

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4:30 p.m.

Drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Hemric amused fans during two lightning delays by throwing a football throughout the track and in the stands.

Wallace and Hemric each had a few errant throws and even got booed a bit.

However, it certainly gave fans a reason to stay around for at least an hour without any racing.

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3:18 p.m.

Lighting has halted the NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway with Justin Haley at the lead.

The 20-year-old Haley is a part-time motorist for newcomer Spire Motorsports. He finished second in Friday night’s second-tier Xfinity Series race whilst forcing for Kaulig Racing. This is his third Cup Series start.

Kurt Busch was leading the 400-mile race after a 17-car wreck. However, Busch ducked onto pit road for fuel under caution. That left Haley front, and when the red flag was brought out due to a nearby lightning strike, it left Busch in 18th. As cars were parked and coated on pit road.

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3 p.m.

With dark clouds looming and the end of the race in sight, pioneer Austin Dillon wrecked almost half the area at Daytona International Speedway.

“The Big One” happened on Lap 119 in Turn 1 and involved 17 cars – most of them at the front of the area.

Clint Bowyer was pushing Dillon into front on the outside and made a tough move left to attempt to pass the leader. Dillon turned left in No. 3 Chevrolet, branded Bowyer and then began spinning and carrying out rivals.

“I guess he did not need me to pass him,” Bowyer said.

All four Joe Gibbs Racing cars – Deny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and defending race winner Erik Jones – were included. So were Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott.

“I was being aggressive and trying to keep the guide,” Dillon said.” That’s exactly what you get.”

Kurt Busch was able to make it through the melee unscathed.

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