Daytona Beach, FL - A dramatic but illegal move at the very end of the Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 sees the same driver whose last-lap accident five years ago led to fan safety improvements at Daytona International Speedway take the checkered flag.
The #42 DC Solar Chevrolet driven by Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race last night at DIS after it appeared that Justin Haley's #24 FOE Chevrolet edged him out with an inside move.
Larson - who also won the first two stages of the Firecracker - admitted afterward that he was shocked by what happened.
“[Haley] had a massive run, then turned left and did all he could to win but just barely clipped the yellow line,” Larson said. “Honestly didn’t think I had a shot at winning. To win both stages and the race is awesome.”
Race officials ruled that Haley's vehicle dropped below the double-yellow line on the bottom of the racing surface while making his move, something that's prohibited under NASCAR rules. He finished in 18th place.
Elliott Sadler's #1 ARMOUR Chili Chevrolet came in second, just 0.005 seconds behind Larson.
Rain forced the cancellation of qualifying for the Firecracker, so starting positions were determined by the Xfinity Series’ car owner championship point standings.
Qualifying was briefly held for tonight's Coke Zero Sugar 400, with Chase Elliott winning his third career pole with an overall fast lap of 194.045 miles per hour inside the #9 Hooters Chevrolet. The 22-year-old is seeking his fourth career victory at DIS when the green flag drops at 7 o'clock.
