Jimmie Johnson win his second Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Sunday. Not only was the five-time Sprint Cup Series champion around, he and his Hendrick Motorsports team were celebrating in victory lane.
Johnson, 37, pulled away from Brad Keselowski on a final restart with six laps remaining, then staved off the late charges of runner-up Dale Earnhardt Jr. and third-place Mark Martin to win the 500 for the second time.
It was the 400th career Cup start for Johnson and his 61st victory in the series. It was also his second Daytona 500 victory, making him one of just 10 drivers to win the series-opening event on multiple occasions.
Keselowski, the defending series champion, was fourth and Ryan Newman fifth.
Danica Patrick became the first woman to lead a lap in the 500, taking the point at lap 90 of the 200-lap event. Patrick, competing full time in Cup for the first time, finished eighth.
Johnson, 37, pulled away from Brad Keselowski on a final restart with six laps remaining, then staved off the late charges of runner-up Dale Earnhardt Jr. and third-place Mark Martin to win the 500 for the second time.
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| Photos: Getty for NASCAR |
It was the 400th career Cup start for Johnson and his 61st victory in the series. It was also his second Daytona 500 victory, making him one of just 10 drivers to win the series-opening event on multiple occasions.
Keselowski, the defending series champion, was fourth and Ryan Newman fifth.
Danica Patrick became the first woman to lead a lap in the 500, taking the point at lap 90 of the 200-lap event. Patrick, competing full time in Cup for the first time, finished eighth.