There were points in Sunday’s Daytona 500 where it almost seemed impossible to see any car not from Roger Penske’s three-car stable win the “Great American Race.”
Despite the inherent chaos that comes with every race at Daytona, Penske’s three entries — Austin Cindric, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney — were clearly three of the fastest cars in Daytona Beach.
Logano led 43 laps and won Stage 1 but was the cause of a lap 71 restart stack-up that started when his No. 22 encountered a mechanical problem. After fixing the issue, Logano stormed back into the mix, only to be involved in a crash with 15 laps to go.
All Logano received for a stellar effort was a 35th-place finish and a trip to the infield care center.
“The No. 47 had an indecisive moment, and that’s what gets you in trouble at times,” Logano told Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass regarding the crash with 15 laps to go. “I went to the second lane, I felt like I had to get in front of the 47 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) there. “I had to get to the second car in my row to have a chance to win the race. I saw my opportunity to get in front of a Ford with Noah (Gragson). Just seemed like I was there, we had a late block, I lifted … the check-up was so big that all the cars behind you at that point are shoving you into it.”
Blaney was also involved in the crash with 15 laps to go but was able to bring home a seventh-place finish to begin his 2025 season.
Blaney led 23 laps and was linked up with Cindric for the majority of the race. On the final lap of Stage 2, Blaney got around Cindric to earn the stage win.
Cindric had just been cleared by Denny Hamlin with half a lap to go when the “Big One” occurred, slowing down Cindric and only netting him an eighth-place finish on a day where he led more laps (59) than any other driver.
The 2022 Daytona 500 winner and winner of Duel 1 on Thursday drove one of the best races of his career on Sunday but was unable to become the fastest driver in history to earn two Daytona 500 victories.
Roger Penske’s Fords were the fastest vehicles in Florida on Sunday, but the Harley J. Earl Trophy eluded “The Captain” on Sunday in a way few trophies ever do.
