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 warning – Kurt Busch surrendered the top spot when he pitted for tires – and was declared the winner following heavy rain followed two lightning flaws. There were 33 laps remaining when the 160-lap race was halted.

Haley was 27th when chief Austin Dillon triggered a 17-car crash which took out almost half the area and most of the best contenders. He passed a range of wrecked cars and then several more that made pit stops.

The 20-year-old Haley will not lock in a spot in the playoffs, though. He is a full-time driver in the second-tier Xfinity Series and was making his third Cup Series beginning – for newcomer Spire Motorsports. The team’s No. 77 Chevrolet can secure a postseason bid, but only as long as it winds up in the top 30 in points.

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

The event, which was postponed a day because of rain, was plagued by inclement weather and full of unpredictable winners in recent years. It is moving to late August in 2020 – the regular-season finale – as part of NASCAR’s significant schedule shake-up.

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

Ryan Newman was fifth in a Ford.

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4:30 p.m.

Drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Hemric amused lovers during two lightning flaws by throwing a soccer throughout the trail and into the stands.

Wallace and Hemric every had a few errant throws and even got booed a bit.

But it certainly gave fans a reason to stay around for more than an hour with no racing.

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3:18 p.m.

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

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

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

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3 p.m.

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

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

Clint Bowyer was pushing Dillon to the front on the outside and made a tough move left to try and pass the pioneer. Dillon turned left in No. 3 Chevrolet, branded Bowyer and then began spinning and taking out competitors.

“I guess he didn’t need me to pass him,” Bowyer said.

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

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

Kurt Busch managed to get through the melee unscathed.

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