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 caution – Kurt Busch surrendered the top spot when he pitted for tires and was announced the winner after heavy rain followed two lightning delays. 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 almost half the field and most of the best 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 place in the playoffs, though. He is a fulltime motorist in the second-tier Xfinity Series and has been making his third Cup Series start – all for newcomer Spire Motorsports. The group’s No. 77 Chevrolet can procure a postseason bid, but only as long as it ends up in the top 30 in points.

However, 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 full of unpredictable winners in recent decades. It is moving to late August at 2020 – the regular-season finale – as part of NASCAR’s major schedule shake-up.

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

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 flaws by throwing a football across the track and in the stands.

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

But it surely gave fans a reason to stay around for more than an hour with no racing.

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3:18 p.m.

Lighting has stopped 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 driving for Kaulig Racing. This is his third Cup Series start.

Kurt Busch was leading the 400-mile race after a 17-car mess. But Busch ducked onto pit road for fuel under warning. That left Haley front, and as soon as 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 also the close of the race in sight, leader 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 them at the front of the field.

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

“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 maintain the guide,” Dillon said.” That’s what you get.”

Kurt Busch managed to get through the melee unscathed.

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