5:30 p.m.

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

Haley took the lead under warning – Kurt Busch surrendered the top spot when he pitted for tires and was declared the winner after heavy rain followed two lightning flaws. There were 33 laps remaining when the 160-lap race was halted.

Haley was 27th when leader Austin Dillon triggered a 17-car crash which took out almost half the area and most of the top contenders. He passed a range of wrecked cars and then several more that left pit stops.

The 20-year-old Haley will not lock at a spot in the playoffs, though. He’s a fulltime driver in the second-tier Xfinity Series and has been making his third Cup Series beginning – for newcomer Spire Motorsports. The group’s No. 77 Chevrolet can secure a postseason bid, but only as long as it ends up in the top 30 in points.

Nonetheless, it was a fitting end for the closing July race at NASCAR’s most famous track.

The event, which was postponed a day because of rain, was plagued with inclement weather and filled with unpredictable winners in recent years. It is moving to late August at 2020 – the regular-season finale – included in NASCAR’s significant schedule shake-up.

William Byron finished second, followed closely by seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and Ty Dillon. Manufacturer Chevrolet won for the second successive 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 entertained lovers during two lightning flaws by throwing a football across the trail and in the stands.

Wallace and Hemric every had a few errant throws and got booed a little.

However, it certainly gave fans a reason to stay around for more than 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 in 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. That 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 warning. That left Haley out front, and as soon as the red flag was pulled due to a nearby lightning strike, it left Busch in 18th. As automobiles were parked and covered on pit road.

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3 p.m.

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

“The Big One” happened on Lap 119 in Turn 1 and involved 17 cars – many of these at the front of the field.

Clint Bowyer was pushing Dillon into the front on the exterior and made a hard move left to attempt and pass the leader. Dillon turned left in No. 3 Chevrolet, tagged Bowyer and then started spinning and taking out competitors.

“I guess he didn’t want me to pass him,” Bowyer said.

All four Joe Gibbs Racing automobiles – 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 maintain the lead,” Dillon said.” That’s what you get.”

Kurt Busch was able to get through this melee unscathed.

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