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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 17:  Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Daytona 500 2019 Results: Top Finishers and Reaction from Great American Race

David KenyonFeb 17, 2019

The Big One wreaked havoc on the 2019 Daytona 500, but Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing emerged as the winners of a crash-filled finish to the Great American Race on Sunday.

Hamlinwho dedicated the 2019 season to the memory of J.D. Gibbs, a co-founder of the teamcrossed the line in front of teammates Kyle Busch and Erik Jones.

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Hamlin reflected on his second career Daytona 500 win with appreciation for the entire Gibbs family.

But the victory certainly didn't come easily. Not only did Kyle Busch and Joey Logano push Hamlin to the finish, but the final 10 laps also included three major incidents.

The Big One came first.

On Lap 191, Paul Menard clipped Matt DiBenedetto's right rear and caused a 22-car pileup that led to a red flag.

DiBenedetto led a race-high 49 laps but watched his Daytona dreams disappear in the Big One. Still, the No. 95 driver chalked up the unfortunate collision to nothing more than racing.

Menard's team, Wood Brothers Racing, sent out an apologetic tweet for the driver's role in the crash.

Defending champion Austin Dillon was part of the wreck and eventually crossed the line in 16th. Other notables caught in the carnage included Ryan Newman (14th), Ryan Blaney (31st), Aric Almirola (32nd) and Martin Truex Jr. (35th).

Four laps later, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. unsuccessfully tried to split Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick. The drivers had been eyeing top-10 finishes but only Larson (seventh) managed one.

On the ensuing restart, Clint Bowyer tried to pass Michael McDowell but cut up too soon and turned directly into William Byron and Chase Elliott. The crash also involved Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski and Landon Cassill and sent the race to overtime.

Hamlin, Busch and Jones led Logano and McDowell to the checkered flag. Ty Dillon, Larson, Ryan Preece, Jimmie Johnson and Ross Chastain rounded out the top 10.

The wild 10-lap finish trailed a relatively tame 190.

An early crash removed Kurt Busch from contention. Then with 41 laps to go, Cody Ware hooked BJ McLeodtwo drivers five laps downwhile heading toward pit road and slammed into Tyler Reddick, Stenhouse and Johnson.

Seven laps later, a caution for debris reset the field. Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Jones were in front of Hendrick Motorsports drivers William Byron and Alex Bowman.

On the restart, though, Jones lost fuel pressure and cost the Hendrick teammates dearly. Bowman and Byron fell at least 10 spots apiece, and the drop effectively ensured the duo would be trapped in the Big One and other late crashes.

Kyle Busch and Blaney both picked up an additional 10 points by winning Stages 1 and 2, respectively.

The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series continues Sunday, Feb. 24, with the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

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