The Latest: Cup Series race at Daytona begins a day late

5:30 p.m.

Justin Haley has won the rain-shortened Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, his first in NASCAR’s top level.

Haley took the lead under caution – Kurt Busch surrendered the top spot when he pitted for tires – and was declared the winner after heavy rain followed two lightning delays. You will find 33 laps remaining when the 160-lap race has been halted.

Haley was 27th when leader Austin Dillon triggered a 17-car crash that took out almost half the area and most of the best contenders. He passed a number of wrecked automobiles and then a few more that left pit stops.

The 20-year-old Haley won’t lock at a place in the playoffs, however. He’s a fulltime driver in the second-tier Xfinity Series and was making his third Cup Series beginning – for newcomer Spire Motorsports. The group’s No. 77 Chevrolet can secure a postseason bid, but only if it winds up in the top 30 in points.

However, it was a fitting end for the final July race at NASCAR’s most famous track.

The event, which was postponed a day due to rain, has been plagued with inclement weather and full of unpredictable winners in the past couple of decades. It is moving to late August at 2020 – the regular-season finale – as part of NASCAR’s major schedule shake-up.

William Byron finished second, followed by seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and Ty Dillon. Manufacturer Chevrolet won for the second successive week and took the top four places.

Ryan Newman was fifth in a Ford.

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4:30 p.m.

Drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Hemric amused fans during two lightning delays by throwing a football throughout the trail and into the stands.

Wallace and Hemric each had a couple of throws and even got booed a bit.

But it certainly gave fans a reason to stay around for more than an hour without any racing.

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3:18 p.m.

Lighting has halted the NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway with Justin Haley in the lead.

The 20-year-old Haley is a part time driver for newcomer Spire Motorsports. He finished second in Friday night’s second-tier Xfinity Series race while forcing for Kaulig Racing. That is his third Cup Series start.

Kurt Busch was leading the 400-mile race after a 17-car mess. However, Busch ducked onto pit road for fuel under warning. That left Haley front, and when the red flag was brought out due to a nearby lightning strike, it left Busch in 18th. As cars were parked and coated on pit road.

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3 p.m.

With dark clouds looming and the close of the race in sight, leader Austin Dillon wrecked almost half the field at Daytona International Speedway.

“The Big One” happened on Lap 119 in Turn 1 and included 17 cars – most of these at the front of the field.

Clint Bowyer was pushing Dillon to the front on the outside and made a hard move left to try and pass the pioneer. Dillon turned left in No. 3 Chevrolet, branded Bowyer and then started spinning and carrying out rivals.

“I guess he did not want me to pass him,” Bowyer said.

All four Joe Gibbs Racing cars – Deny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and defending race winner Erik Jones – were included. So were Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott.

“I was being aggressive and trying to keep the lead,” Dillon said.” That is exactly what you get.”

Kurt Busch was able to make it through the melee unscathed.

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