William Byron Claims Back-to-Back Daytona 500 Victories
Daytona Beach, Florida, January 12, 2026 – William Byron delivered a masterful performance to win the 2025 Daytona 500 for the second year in a row, edging Tyler Reddick by just 0.113 seconds in a thrilling overtime finish. The Hendrick Motorsports driver overcame a chaotic final lap wreck that eliminated several contenders, including Denny Hamlin and Austin Cindric, to secure his third career victory at the iconic superspeedway.
Race Recap
The 67th running of the Daytona 500 began with Chase Briscoe on the pole after qualifying, but the race quickly turned into a high-stakes battle for position. Early cautions set the stage for intense pack racing, with drivers like Austin Cindric leading 59 laps and Ryan Blaney dominating Stage 2. However, the decisive moment came on the final lap of regulation when Cole Custer spun Denny Hamlin in Turn 3, triggering a massive wreck that forced overtime.
In the two-lap shootout, Byron navigated the debris expertly, using the draft from Reddick to pull ahead. The win marked Byron’s second straight Daytona 500 title, surpassing Denny Hamlin’s consecutive wins from 2019-2020. Jimmie Johnson finished third in his Legacy Motor Club Toyota, earning his best Daytona 500 result since 2013. The race featured 201 laps run, with an average speed of 129.159 mph, and saw numerous lead changes amid the restrictor-plate chaos.
Key Facts and Race Results
| Position | Driver | Team | Laps Led |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | 10 |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | 0 |
| 3 | Jimmie Johnson | Legacy Motor Club | 0 |
| 4 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing | 4 |
| 5 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | 0 |
| 6 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | 11 |
| 7 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | 23 |
| 8 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | 59 |
| 9 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | 0 |
| 10 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2025 Daytona 500?
William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports won the 2025 Daytona 500, his second consecutive victory in the Great American Race.
What was the margin of victory?
Byron won by 0.113 seconds over Tyler Reddick in overtime, marking one of the closest finishes in Daytona 500 history.
How many cautions were there?
The race had four cautions, including the final-lap wreck that sent it to overtime.