Controversy at the Daytona 500: William Byron Declared Winner Amid Last Lap Drama

In the 2024 Daytona 500, William Byron clinched victory on Monday by leading at the time of caution on the final lap.

Byron narrowly edged out teammate Alex Bowman in a tight race for the lead, while Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric spun behind them as the field approached the start-finish line for the white flag lap.

This marks Byron’s first Daytona 500 triumph, solidifying his status as one of the rising stars in the sport.

The race’s conclusion sparked controversy due to the timing of the incident and the subsequent caution. Should NASCAR have handled it differently?

Byron Declared Daytona 500 Winner Despite Last Lap Crash

NASCAR faced a tough call following the crash involving Chastain and Cindric during the Daytona 500. The incident occurred just before William Byron took the white flag, but the caution was signaled after he crossed the start-finish line.

According to NASCAR rules, the field is frozen at the moment of caution on the white flag lap.

Video footage from Alex Bowman’s in-car camera suggests that Byron and Bowman were nearby when the caution light came on. From the provided angles, Byron seems to have a slight lead just after crossing the start-finish line, but Bowman appears to be gaining ground.

NASCAR later confirmed Byron as the winner, sharing an aerial photo as evidence.

The lack of clear footage from the FOX telecast exacerbated the situation, leaving viewers uncertain about who was leading when the caution was issued. Despite having numerous cameras positioned around the track and inside race cars, including captivating shots during the 18-car crash with eight laps remaining, none provided a definitive view of the crucial moment.

While NASCAR’s photo confirmation was from an aerial perspective, it’s surprising that FOX, with its vast resources, couldn’t provide a better viewpoint than just an in-car shot and a slowed-down camera angle from the grandstands.

Nevertheless, NASCAR ultimately made the correct call. Byron was ahead when the caution was called, confirming him as the rightful winner.