Rain delays, crashes, and a dramatic final lap defined this year’s Daytona 500, creating one of the most chaotic finishes in recent history. However, not all fans were thrilled with the outcome. Adding to the day’s intrigue, Donald Trump attended the event.

After hours of weather-related stoppages and fierce on-track battles, the 2025 Daytona 500 came down to a final-lap shake-up that saw an unexpected driver emerge victorious.

The event kicked off with high energy as actor Anthony Mackie, known for his recent role as the new Captain America, signaled the start of the engines.

Once the green flag waved, the action was intense but short-lived. Just 11 laps in, a storm system moved in, forcing drivers to pit road. This marked the sixth time in 14 years that weather had delayed the Daytona 500.

High winds and heavy rain created a long stoppage, with track-drying efforts lasting hours. At 5:25 p.m. ET, cars returned to the track for nine caution laps before being sidelined again. At the time of the second delay, Ryan Blaney held the lead.

Racing resumed at 6:22 p.m. ET, and Joey Logano quickly surged ahead, battling for position alongside William Byron and Austin Cindric. Logano controlled much of the early race, leading through 65 laps and winning Stage 1.

However, his momentum stalled when Zane Smith spun out, bringing out the caution. A multi-car wreck on Lap 71 reshuffled the field, involving Ross Chastain, Helio Castroneves, Riley Herbst, Kyle Busch, Chase Briscoe, Justin Allgaier, John Hunter Nemechek, Cody Ware, Martin Truex Jr., and Jimmie Johnson.

Chastain, Truex, and Castroneves sustained race-ending damage, while others fought to recover. Logano’s strong run hit another snag when a piece of debris lodged in his car’s throttle body, forcing him to slow down.

After a quick pit stop, his team resolved the issue, and he fought his way back into contention. Stage 2 featured an intense duel between Cindric and Blaney.

Cindric looked poised to win the stage, but with a late push from Chase Elliott, Blaney made a final move to take the Stage 2 victory. The closing laps of the race were a back-and-forth battle among several contenders.

Bubba Wallace briefly took the lead before Blaney reclaimed it with 100 miles to go. Another caution flag flew on Lap 161 after debris from Smith’s car littered the track, leading to his exit from the race.

With 35 laps remaining, Cindric surged back to the front, determined to reclaim his lost momentum. He held firm for much of the final stretch, but a wreck involving Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. once again shook up the standings.

As the laps dwindled, Corey LaJoie found himself in the lead, with Denny Hamlin and Cole Custer closing in behind him. Just as the front-runners were setting up for a final push, Ryan Preece’s car flipped in a frightening wreck, leading to a red flag.

He managed to exit his car safely, while Christopher Bell also made contact with the wall during the incident. “Tough wreck. Better a car in the air than head-on into the wall,” one social media user shared.

Another commented, “Terrifying. Glad he’s OK!” while a third remarked, “That was the craziest wreck I’ve ever seen live in my entire life.”

Little did viewers know that the final lap would bring even more chaos. A crash near the front of the pack collected multiple drivers, including Hamlin, Custer, Briscoe, and Cindric.

The sudden shuffle opened the door for a late surge, and in the closing seconds, Byron, who had been running outside the top five, capitalized on the mayhem, sprinting to the finish line for a stunning Daytona 500 victory.

“BACK TO BACK, YOU’RE A 2X #DAYTONA500 CHAMPION @WilliamByron!” Daytona International Speedway shared from their official X account.

With his win, the champion added another historic moment to his résumé, proving once again that anything can happen at Daytona. However, many social media users were not pleased with the race and the outcome.

“The Daytona 500 is worse than the playoff system at determining a winner,” a social media user shared in part. Another commented on Reddit, “As a Canadian NASCAR fan, this is just disgusting to watch.”

“Byron is a great driver so this [sic] not against him, just feels like the majority of Daytona 500 wins are lucky these days. Hamlin puts on a clinic on that last lap and gets turned. Talent seems to be rewarded less and less at this track,” another person wrote on Reddit.

“Classic Byron domination,” one Reddit user complained in part. Another frustrated fan wrote, “God I hate Byron wins it always feels like I wasted 3 hours. [sic]” “What an absolute waste of a race,” another social media user shared.

“First time watching was nearly unwatchable. The amount of ads. Yikes. So glad F1 is ad-free,” a viewer commented. “Genuinely insane that a Bowman/Byron win is most likely a pure showcase of luck,” another Redditor remarked.

While some claimed that Daytona was the “WWE of Motorsport,” others directed their complaints at Byron, writing that he was “one of the most boring guys I’ve seen” and calling for him to be “disqualified like Parker!!!!!”

However, other users took to social media to congratulate him. “Congrats William, well deserved! America’s champion,” one person shared. Another remarked, “Congrats William.” A third user typed in part, “Did you see the Daytona 500? Wild race to the finish line! Congrats to the winner.”

President Trump Attended Daytona 500 but Departed Early

President Donald Trump, making his second Daytona 500 appearance, also addressed the drivers before leading them through ceremonial laps, calling it a unifying event that captures the American spirit.

“This is your favorite president. I’m a big fan. I am a really big fan of you people,” Trump said. “How you do this I don’t know, but I just want you to be safe. You’re talented people and you’re great people and great Americans. Have a good day, have a lot of fun and I’ll see you later,” the president added.

In a statement released while en route to Daytona Beach, he praised the race as a celebration of speed, competition, and patriotism.

“From the roar of the engines on the track to the echo of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ soaring through the stands, the Daytona 500 is a timeless tribute to the speed, strength, and unyielding spirit that make America great,” Trump said.

“That spirit is what will fuel America’s Golden Age, and if we harness it, the future is truly ours,” the president added. Trump traveled to the event aboard Air Force One, departing from Palm Beach International Airport shortly after noon.

His guests included his son, Eric Trump, grandson, Luke Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his wife, Kathryn Burgum.

Despite his enthusiasm for the event, Trump did not stay for the entire race. As weather delays interrupted the action, he opted to leave, explaining his departure by saying, “A little rain delay, but we’ll go home and watch it, I guess.”

By 5:25 p.m., after Trump had landed back in West Palm Beach, NASCAR officials called for drivers to return to their cars in an attempt to restart the race.

The 2025 Daytona 500 had everything — weather delays, intense racing, and a dramatic last-lap shake-up that determined the winner. While some fans celebrated the unpredictable finish, others were left frustrated by the series of wrecks that shaped the outcome.

Donald Trump’s brief appearance added another layer of spectacle to an already eventful day, but in the end, the focus remained on the chaos that unfolded on the track.