Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney win stages as wrecks take out several contenders

Stage 1 results

Defending Daytona 500 champion Kurt Busch won Stage 1 in Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, but not before a major wreck unfolded at end of the stage. When the smoke cleared, Busch was on top for his first stage win since NASCAR went to the new format. Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top five.

Blaney and Stenhouse were among the cars trying to block when a nine-car wreck broke out at the end of the stage. Cars involved included the No. 24 of William Byron, the No. 20 of Erik Jones, the No. 13 of Ty Dillon, the No. 19 of Daniel Suarez, the No. 48 of Jimmie Johnson, the No. 17 of Stenhouse, the No. 12 of Blaney, the No. 78 of Truex and the No. 42 of Kyle Larson.

Johnson, Dillon and Suarez saw their races come to an end.

“There was some great racing throughout,” Johnson said. “But unfortunately, many thought it was the black and white checkered flag and not the green and white checkered flag. On Lap 59 to be throwing blocks like that just … a lot of wrecked race cars.”

Two more Joe Gibbs Racing drivers were involved in dramatic moments in Stage 1. First, Denny Hamlin missed his pit stall and incurred a one-lap penalty for pitting outside the box. The gas man was caught fueling the car before Hamlin completely backed up into his pit box. This stopped Hamlin on an early charge after he passed pole-sitter Bowman and led the first 10 laps.

Then, Kyle Busch was involved in an accident in Turn 3 on Lap 50 that also collected Jamie McMurray and DJ Kennington. Busch’s No. 18 Toyota sustained significant damage, and he had to come to pit road to get the back of the car worked on. Busch fell three laps down after the incident, which was caused by a cut tire.

Stage 2 results

Ryan Blaney won Stage 2 in a much calmer ending than what took place at the end of Stage 1. Paul Menard finished second, with Joey Logano, Aric Almirola and Michael McDowell completed an all-Ford top five.

However, Stage 2 wasn’t without its own dramatic moment.

A seven-car wreck on Lap 101 erupted with Chase Elliott’s No. 24 Chevrolet heading up the track in Turn 3. Danica Patrick’s No. 10 Chevrolet plowed into Elliott’s vehicle, with Kevin Harvick, David Ragan, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski and Kasey Kahne also becoming involved.

The wreck ended the day for Elliott, Harvick, Keselowski and Patrick, who was making her final start in the Monster Energy Series.