Hamlin takes Daytona 500 in photo finish

Feb 28, 2016, 06:14

It was also Toyota's first victory in "The Great American Race", and came three months after Toyota celebrated its first Cup championship, won by Kyle Busch and Gibbs.

Denny Hamlin mounted a last-lap charge by taking the outside line on Daytona International Speedway's famed high banks Sunday, and nipped Martin Truex Jr.by 0.010 seconds to win the 58th annual DAYTONA 500. The vehicle company believes Hamlin's dramatic win helps Toyota build a stronger foundation for success on the track.

The first year, 2007, started out poorly but when Joe Gibbs Racing, the team owned by the three-times National Football League champion coach, switched over from General Motors, in 2008, the long slow ascent to the top began.

"I don't know where that came from, I don't know what happened, I can't even figure out what I did", Hamlin continued. "My teammates did an fantastic job all day working together, all the Toyotas".

That push was part of an incredible final two-and-a-half miles by Hamlin who pushed him to the front.

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As an elementary schooler, Hamlin had his eyes set on a hefty prize, understanding that a win in one of the sport's most famous races would pay well.

Piloting a vehicle he barely knew and winning the Daytona 500 yesterday would have been more improbable than Doug Williams - who only started two regular season games for Gibbs' 1987 Redskins - winning Super Bowl MVP.

Hamlin led 94 of the first 155 laps before giving up the lead to come to pit road for a green-flag stop with 45 to go. "I think the only thing I should have done different was (to have) been a little more aggressive coming to the line holding Denny up the racetrack". I looked up and actually where I was looking to the broadcast, the cars were coming at me, I thought we lost. If I do win the Daytona 500, I could win 1,000,000 dollars.

"Honestly, I thought off Turn 4 he was in the catbird seat", Hamlin said. "I didn't think either way, just said, 'Man that was really close.' I have a feeling I'll be seeing a picture of that (finish) for a long time". I feel like we did everything right today to put ourselves in position to win. That last split second when he pulled off my door, that was it. It gave him that couple inches to beat me to the line. The win was also the first in Cup for Hamlin's crew chief, Mike Wheeler, who took over the team in the off-season.

But by Lap 5, Earnhardt had surged into the lead. "It hurts a little bit, but there's a lot to be proud of, for sure".

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"It's hard to make those decisions. This is a huge accomplishment, this will live with you forever and enjoy the week.' That's definitely what I'm going to do".

Toyotas swept the podium as Truex was second, and Busch third. "Because you never know when you'll get this opportunity again'".

Sprint Cup rookie Chase Elliott, the youngest pole-sitter in Daytona 500 history, led the field to green with Matt Kenseth starting alongside Elliott on the front row.

"Caught me by surprise there", Earnhardt said. Edwards took evasive action to avoid Vickers' auto, and when he did, Edwards hit the wall, incurring front-end damage on his JGR Toyota.

Kenseth, who was hoping for his third Daytona 500 win, finished 14th.

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