What began as an exciting one-off opportunity of a lifetime, turned into a quick exit in the Daytona 500 for Helio Castroneves.

The four-time Indianapolis 500 winner was involved in a crash on lap 71, which was caused by a stack-up on the outside lane when leader Joey Logano endured a throttle body problem.

The issue saw Logano dramatically slow while shifting through gears on a restart. A chain reaction occurred behind the No. 22 Team Penske Ford as drivers bounced into the back of each other before Ross Chastain spun and slammed into the left-rear side of Castroneves No. 91 Chevrolet.

Other drivers involved included Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Riley Herbst, Jimmie Johnson, Chase Briscoe, John Hunter Nemechek, Ty Dillon, Cole Custer and Cody Ware.

Castroneves car sustained too much damage to continue as he was towed to the garage.

Truex, Chastain and Castroneves were the only drivers who were unable to continue.

It was an unfortunate end to the 49-year-olds first start in the Great American Race as he showed plenty of adaptation throughout the first stage.

I tried stopping it and Martin Truex Jr. came really hard and hit me, but I dont think that was the issue, Castroneves said. I think the issue was that I guess someone on the bottom hit me from the side and it broke the axle. Disappointed, of course.

I was learning so much. Its incredible when you have more laps in it and how you understand the air flow and what the guys are doing, like saving fuel. There were some sketchy moments, but what a shame. I wish I was still out there because theres still more to understand and more to learn.

Castroneves Daytona Speedweeks action was tumultuous:

• Crashed in his Duel
• Endured multiple accidents during his ARCA Menards Series debut
• Managed to finish fifth in ARCA event
• Wrecked during cooldown lap of ARCA race after A.J. Moyer ran into the back of Castroneves car

While Castroneves was disappointed with the outcome, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to compete.

I was starting to get a little more comfortable with the whole process, but it is what it is, Castroneves said.

I just have to thank NASCAR, as well, to be able to put together this type of a show. Now lets go for the Indianapolis 500!

Hell pilot a Meyer Shank Racing Honda for the Indianapolis 500 in May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Despite narrowly making the 41-car field in the Great American Race, JR Motorsports and Justin Allgaier enjoyed a successful NASCAR Cup Series debut.

Aboard the No. 40 JRM Chevrolet, Allgaier survived a last-lap melee in the Daytona 500 to finish ninth, the teams first top-10 finish in its first start.

I think we checked all the boxes, Allgaier said. Really proud of JR Motorsports and everybody on this team. We hit all the markers. We had DVP. We had pit stops. We had craziness in picking lines. A lot of uncertainty on my part, just knowing the guys you are around. But all-in-all, it was a solid night.

It was a long road for Allgaier and the No. 40 team as they were unable to lock into the Daytona 500 during qualifying on Wednesday night. With only one additional open spot available in his Duel the following day, Allgaier was able to race his way in.

While the 500-mile event wasnt a smooth race from start to finish for Allgaier, who endured a pit road penalty and was caught up in a wreck in the latter part of the race, he was able to miss the chaos and solidify a stout finish.

Missing the crash there at the end was cool, Allgaier said. I assumed the caution was out and I didnt know we were racing back to the line. That was cool to race back to the line and get a top 10.

Just want to thank everybody at Travellers Whiskey, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelly Earnhardt Miller, and everybody that let me be a part of this. Thank you to everybody at Team Chevy and the Hendrick Engine Shop.

This is a big moment for JR Motorsports, and we are excited about what the future holds for our company.

With co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. on-site for every milestone moment of the teams foray into the Cup Series, the successful finish was one for the memory bank for Allgaier.

Its unknown what may lie ahead for JRM in the Cup Series. However, its run on Sunday night may be an inclination to compete in more events in the near future.

This is the best part about racing, man, Earnhardt began. The moments of getting the car to the track and unloading it. Going through the processes of putting it out there and racing it. Whether youre driving it or owning it or whatever.

When its all over with, when your hearts in it, you wanna make sure it gets back to the house in one piece so, this is a good experience.

Im enjoying it. Hope to get to do it again. I think we hit it out of the park in terms of our activation with Traveller (Whisky). I Think JR Motorsports did what they always do and thats engagement and marketing better than anybody in the sport or as good as anybody, Earnhardt continued.

Well see if that is exciting for them, if they wanna continue doing this or do it again sometime this year. Or somebody else calls us on Monday that has some other ideas.

Were always ready. Have been for years. So, well see.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports won his second-straight Daytona 500 as cars crashed on the backstretch, including the leader at that time, Denny Hamlin.

NASCAR officials did not throw the caution flag on the final lap until after Byron took the checkered flag in a wild finish.

Byrons No. 24 Chevrolet defeated Tyler Reddicks No. 45 Toyota and Jimmie Johnson finished third in the No. 84 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club.

The 67th Daytona 500 was another wild and memorable day and in the end, team owner Rick Hendrick won the Daytona 500 for the 10th time, breaking a tie with Petty Enterprises.

Byron was ninth with one lap to go, drove through the chaos of the last lap crash and won his second straight Daytona 500.

Obviously some good fortune but just trusted my instincts on the last lap there, Byron explained. I felt like they were getting squirrelly on the bottom, and I was honestly going to go third lane regardless because I was probably sixth coming down the back.

Just fortunate that it worked out in our favor and really proud of this team. Worked super hard all week and had an amazing car. Just had a really hard time with the fuel saving and kind of staying towards the front.

Crazy. I cant honestly believe that. But were here. So proud of it.

Byron is the first drive to win back-to-back Daytona 500s since Denny Hamlin in 2019 and 2020.

Its obviously really special, the winning driver said. Its an amazing race, and obviously a lot of crazy racing out there tonight and just a lot of pushing and shoving.

Im just really proud of our team. I cant stress that enough. Im just super thankful for this group and everything that they do in the off-season to get prepared. We plan on trying to win a lot of races this year, so were not going to stop here.

Were going to continue to push forward and try to get to Phoenix.

Byron joins back-to-back winners Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84), Sterling Marlin (1994-94) and Hamlin.

Reddick drove a smart race and was able to avoid the mayhem.

With that restart with 15 to go, we kind of checked up in the middle and ended up further back than we wanted to be, Reddick said. We didnt really want to, we ducked out of it hoping for the caution. We got it. But we were still lined up 16th there on the green-white-checkered. When they started to spin on the dogleg, I kind of jumped out of line thinking that was going to be it, and we just kept going.

I knew that me and the 24 had a good run and they were throwing big blocks, and when they started spinning on the inside and I had a run on the 24, I thought, man, if I can just make it through on the 11 and not scrub my speed, I would have had at least an opportunity to do something, Reddick continued.

All in all, I never really finished a race here unless it was 40 laps down, so Ill take second. We wanted to get a good start to the year, and we scored a lot of points today. So Im really happy with everyones effort on this 45 Nasty Beast Toyota Camry.

And seven-time Jimmie Johnson proved hes still got it with a third-place finish in the Daytona 500 in the No. 84 Carvana Toyota. He drove from 15th on the final restart to a third-place finish.

This feels incredible. I have emotions that I didnt expect to have, Johnson said. Ive never been in this position as an owner, and its really opened up a different set of emotions. And the pride that I have in this result and the pride that I have in this company, now that were trying to achieve and the journey were on, I am so satisfied, so happy right now.

Excited that we have two cars in the top five, Johnson continued, referring to his finish and teammate John Hunter Nemecheks fifth-place. I hope Shaq is watching. Thank you, buddy. We got your car in the top three.

A big thanks to Carvana and their continued support, Mobil 1, AdventHealth, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree. Its been an interesting couple of years and to have our cars come out and be this strong, this Toyota was rocketship fast. Im just smiling inside and out.

Polesitter Chase Briscoe finished fourth in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

I lined up eighth and the seas just parted my way, Briscoe said. I was going to push Denny Hamlin to the win, but when I hit him, I was able to keep going.

John Hunter Nemechek finished fifth in the No. 42 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club.

I dont really know what happened on the back straightaway there, all I know there was smoke, and Jimmie Johnson blew my doors off, Nemechek said. Jimmie finished third and I finished fifth so a solid day for Legacy Motor Club.

As It Happened 

It was a day that began with the arrival of President Donald J. Trump and concluded with Hendrick Motorsports winning its 10th Daytona 500.

In between was red flag that lasted for 3 hours, 9 minutes, 59 second for rain, another red flag for rain for 20 minutes, 29 seconds before green flag racing finally resumed under the lights at Daytona Intl Speedway.

Eleven laps were completed before the first red flag and the next nine laps were run under yellow before a brief rainstorm brought out the second yellow flag.

After four more laps of caution, green flag racing resumed on Lap 23.

A cold front that moved into the Daytona Beach, Florida area dropped the ambient temperature more than 20 degrees, but the cooler temperatures created some hot racing on the track.

Logano, Stenhouse Collide

The key moment of the race came when Team Penskes Joey Logano tried muscle his way to the front. 2023 winner, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., refused to give Logano any room and blocked Loganos Ford. Logano bounced around and hit the back of Stenhouse, whose car ran into Loganos teammate, Ryan Blaney.

That triggered a massive crash on the backstretch with 15 laps to go.

Loganos car was badly damaged and one of the best cars in the race was out.

I tried to get my nose in there, he didnt want to give up the position, and thats what happened, Logano explained.

Kyle Busch was also involved in the crash, and it was another trip to Daytona without a win for one of NASCARs greatest drivers.

Looks like the fastest car got in a hurry to get in a wreck, Busch said of Logano. Team Penske had the fastest cars all race and he had time to get there, and you have to know how wide your car is to know what hole it will fit in, and he obviously doesnt know that.

Corey LaJoie took the lead just before the caution ahead of Cindric. John Hunter Nemechek was third and Denny Hamlin was fourth.

More importantly, Cindric did not have a Team Penske driver or a Ford driver to protect him from an onslaught of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers.

LaJoie was the leader when the green flag waved with nine laps to go before he was quickly dispatched by Cindric and Hamlin and JGR teammate Christopher Bell.

Hamlin passed Cindric for the lead with six laps to go with Bells Toyota alongside Cindrics Ford.

The Big One 

What followed was a major crashing involving Bell and Ryan Preece, who for the second time in his career went flipping down the backstretch in Turn 3.

Bells Toyota shot into the backstretch wall and ricocheted in front of Preeces RFK Ford, sending it tumbling with three laps to go. Preeces car nearly landed on Erik Jones Toyota as Preeces Ford tumbled.

Ten cars were involved in the late-race crash and the third red flag of the race ensured the contest would go into overtime.

Preeces teammate Brad Keselowskis Ford also had damage and Daniel Suarezs Chevrolet was damaged.

I dont know if its the diffuser or what that makes these cars like a sheet of plywood on a windy day, Preece said. When the car went airborne, all I could think of was my daughter.

Its frustrating when you end your day like this.

Overtime

The green flag waved to start overtime and Hamlin was ahead of Cindric. The Team Penske driver edged ahead of Hamlin, who had no help on the bottom.

After the field took the white flag, the race was decided with calamity on the backstretch involving Hamlin.

I thought we were in a great spot with 10 laps to go, Hamlin said. I measured up the 2 (Cindric) and we got away from the pack. I chose not to block the 41 (Cole Custer) and I was pushing the 2 (Cindric) as low as I could. He steered left and tried to crowd it.

All of us were going for it, but in those situations, we have to get off Turn 4. But none of us made it.

Cindric loved the opportunity to dominate the race, but said it was a shame at the end.

Im just thankful for fast race cars and very frustrated with the result, Cindric said.

Stage One

Logano won the first stage when he crossed the finish line up under caution on Lap 65. With two laps to go in the first stage, a multi-car crash in Turn 2 that was triggered when Loganos No. 22 Ford lost power, stacking up the cars behind him.

The accordion effect created a traffic jam and further back in Loganos lane, Denny Hamlin, Zane Smith and Josh Berry all made contact and crashed into the wall.

Loganos Ford finished ahead of Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Christopher Bell, Daniel Suarez, Alex Bowman, Tyler Reddick, Erik Jones and William Byron.

Stage Two

Team Penskes Ryan Blaney won Stage Two when he nosed ahead of teammate Cindric at the green-and-white checkered flag. Blaneys Ford Mustang was pushed across the line by the No. 9 Chevrolet driven by Chase Elliott.

It was Blaneys fourth Daytona 500 Stage win.

Prior to that, however, the first lap of the stage took out some accomplished racing names in another big crash in Turn 2. Trackhouse Racing driver Ross Chastain was involved in the crash and took our four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, his Trackhouse teammate in the PROJECT91 entry the Wendys Chevrolet. Both drivers were out of the race.

Another driver who was involved in that crash that was out was 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex, Jr. He retired from full-time action last season.

Its always disappointing when you dont finish no matter what situation especially in a race like this when its probably our only shot this year, Truex said. Thanks to Bass Pro, TRICON and everybody that helped us put this together. It was fun while it lasted, but unfortunately, we were just wrong place, wrong time there.

Truex tried to explain how the crash happened.

Im not sure a big stack up and by the time they got to me, it was really aggressive I guess you would call it. Just no time to react and knocked the nose off of the thing. Just unfortunate for all of our guys. We had a fun week down here, making the race. Thank you to Bass Pro, TRICON Garage, Toyota, TRD everybody that helped us put this together. We were hoping to have a lot more fun than that. We were just biding our time, and just in a bad place on the restart there.

Chastain gave his side of the situation and said some bad decisions by himself on the track put him in a precarious position in the back of the field.

If I would have made some better moves in our No. 1 Busch Light Chevy like 30 laps earlier, I wouldnt have been back there in the first place, Chastain explained. I thought the middle and the top would be a little more dominant and that I could save more fuel in that run and stay upfront.

Slowly over the whole first stage, I worked my way from third all the way to basically the back of the field. I just made some bad decisions there and that put us back there with the accordion coming back.

I didnt see the hit coming to the right-rear, and then of course, I take out my teammate (Helio Castroneves) on my way to the wall. I hate that for Helio and the No. 91 Chevy team. Our Busch Light Chevy drove good. We made some progress on handling here this weekend. Im excited for the future and well move onto Atlanta (Motor Speedway).

As for Castroneves, the four-time Indy 500 winners first Daytona 500 was over after 70 laps.

I tried stopping it and Martin Truex Jr. came really hard and hit me, but I dont think that was the issue, Castroneves said. I think the issue was that I guess someone on the bottom hit me from the side and it broke the axle.

Disappointed, of course. I was learning so much. Its incredible when you have more laps in it and how you understand the air flow and what the guys are doing, like saving fuel. There were some sketchy moments, but what a shame. I wish I was still out there because theres still more to understand and more to learn. I was starting to get a little more comfortable with the whole process, but it is what it is.

I just have to thank NASCAR, as well, to be able to put together this type of a show.

Now lets go for the Indianapolis 500.

Castroneves enjoyed the experience, although he left without experiencing success.

Its such a different show, Castroneves said, comparing it to the Indianapolis 500. This has an incredible feeling and incredible energy. Both events are incredible. Thats why I decided to do this, and thats why I want to do the Indianapolis 500, as well.

After dominating Stage One, Loganos fast Ford encountered a loss of power that put him one lap down. Team Penske changed the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) on the dash, but that did not correct the issue.

That put Logano one lap down and he lost contact with the rest of the field.

His No. 22 was about to get lapped again before another yellow flag for debris on Lap 83 saved Logano, who was driving the first car one lap down. He got his lap back with the Lucky Dog rule.

Back on the lead lap, he brought the car back to pit lane and Team Penske changed the throttle body.

They discovered a pieced of debris had been sucked through the front grille and the vacuum stuffed it into the throttle body.

Logano was able to drive up to fifth place by Lap 124.

The second stage ended on Lap 130 with a side-by-side battle between Team Penskes Cindric and Blaney, with Blaney getting the edge at the flag.

Elliott was third at the end of the stage followed by Elliott, Bowman, Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, Jones, Logano, Buba Wallace and Kyle Busch.

The final stage would determine the winner of the 67th Daytona 500.

MUNICH, Germany The TGI Lamborghini Team by GRT is taking on the challenge of DTM 2025 with an exciting line-up.

The two Lamborghini factory drivers Luca Engstler (Kempten) and Jordan Pepper from South Africa are attacking for the team from Austria with two Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2s.

Since entering the DTM in 2022, Gottfried Grassers team has won three races and finished on the podium eight times. In the upcoming season, the team supported by Lamborghini Squadra Corse wants to record further successes.
Engstler is going into his third DTM year with a lot of self-confidence. The 24-year-old rounded off last season with victories at the opening round in Oschersleben and the finale in Hockenheim and recently made the jump to the Lamborghini factory squad.

Im really looking forward to starting another DTM season. To also become a factory driver for such a great brand as Lamborghini makes me incredibly proud and happy. I hope, of course, that we can build on last years victories, says Engstler, whose trademark is vehicle wrapping in the colors of his partner Liqui Moly.
With Pepper, the TGI Lamborghini Team by GRT has gained a real insider tip for its DTM campaign. The Johannesburg native has previously worked for Bentley and Lamborghini around the world, celebrating titles and individual victories in North America and Australia. Pepper made his DTM debut last year at the Sachsenring.

Its a dream come true for me, says the 28-year-old about his DTM cockpit. Last year I was able to get a little taste of it during my guest start and from that moment on I knew that I would pull out all the stops to become a regular driver in the DTM. Now Im very motivated and can hardly wait for the start of the season in Oschersleben.
Team boss Gottfried Grasser is optimistic:

I am immensely pleased that we are starting our fourth year in the DTM. It is the first time that we are competing in the full DTM season with two Lamborghini factory drivers. With our strong overall package, I definitely expect us to regularly finish in the top five and of course more. I think every DTM participant wakes up in the morning and wants to be champion. But we are initially concentrating on the first six races, we want to collect good and consistent points there and then we will see what happens.

The direction of the series also plays an important role for the TGI Lamborghini Team by GRT. With the DTM, we can offer our partners a platform that is constantly evolving and growing. In addition, with the introduction of the innovative, renewable fuel, the DTM is becoming a flagship for the future and is thus showing a much-needed alternative for the automotive industry, says Grasser.