WILLIAM BYRON WINS DAYTONA 500 UNDER CAUTION

USA TODAY Sports 

The perfect script played out for Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the 66th Daytona 500 on Monday.

Race leader William Byron finished a four-lap shootout under caution in a Presidents' Day Daytona 500 delayed a day because of rain, making him the winner of the Great American Race in Daytona Beach, Fla.

As the late-afternoon start turned into night at the historic Daytona International Speedway and with the white flag approaching, Ross Chastain made a move into the middle lane and wrecked with second-place Austin Cindric.

That gave Byron his first Daytona 500 win and 11th of his career in the series.

Byron's teammate Alex Bowman finished second, giving Hendrick Motorsports its ninth 500 win, tying the organization for first all-time with Petty Enterprises, and a 1-2 finish in its 40th anniversary season in NASCAR. Monday marked the 40th anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports' first Cup Series start, which came in the Daytona 500.

RYAN BLANEY EARNS 1ST CAREER NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIP AND GIVES ROGER PENSKE BACK-TO-BACK CUP TITLES

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Ryan Blaney only had to beat Kyle Larson and William Byron to win his first NASCAR championship.

He needlessly added Ross Chastain to his list, too, racing him pointlessly hard in an attempt to win the race Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. When he couldn't pass Chastain, Blaney angrily ran into the back of his car.

It was a side of Blaney his team and competitors know very well.

The public? Not so much.

The soft-spoken third generation racer from Ohio used a pugnacious second-place run at Phoenix to win the Cup title in a drive that showcased a fire that apparently blazes inside the typically mild-mannered Blaney.