Who Won Daytona 500

The 63rd running of the Daytona 500 was won on Sunday, February 14th, 2021 by Michael McDowell driving the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang. McDowell crossed the finish line ahead of runner-up Chase Elliott to win a thrilling Daytona 500.

The race consisted of 200 laps around the two and a half-mile oval and saw McDowell take the lead on the 199th lap, nearly half a lap ahead of the competition. McDowell, who had started the race in 27th position, managed to avoid all of the wrecks and cautions that had marked the race before him and take the checkered flag.

In doing so, McDowell earned the top prize of $2 million, an amount that is sure to buoy his Finning team. He also earned a taste of redemption, as this marks his first win in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. McDowell is in his 13th year and had previously just three total top-five finishes.

Even though McDowell held the lead for much of the closing stretch, Elliott still managed to finish a close second. Elliott had already earned the 2020 Cup Series Championship, so he was able to stay in the running of the Daytona 500 until the end in a very successful way.

The final few laps of the race were marked with dramatic finishes, particularly when McDowell was locked in a battle with Ryan Preece and Kyle Busch. Busch and Preece were trading the lead multiple times, but, in the end, McDowell was able to surge ahead to take the win.

The Daytona 500 is one of the highlights of the NASCAR season and the 2021 edition certainly lived up to the hype. The win marked the culmination of a historic season for McDowell and his entire team.