Those who stayed through more than two hours of red flags and waited as the Daytona 500 paused unpleasantly were treated to another breathtaking finish in the Historical American Race as they have been watching Jamie McMurray capturing the 52nd annual Daytona 500 victory. After his victory McMurray kneeled on the grass painted with the words "Daytona 500" and pounded his fists on it.
One year after the season-opening race ended under a rain caution, a pothole in Turn 2 caused two red-flag stops that delayed the race for more than two hours. Jamie McMurray survived a green-white-checkered finish and was able to hold off a hard charging Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win NASCAR’s most prestigious race and to introduce Chip Ganassi's Team in the elite of Nascar's Sprint Cup.
"It is unbelievable really. I can't explain it. It is a dream, I mean it really is. I certainly thank the fans that stuck around." McMurray quoted.
McMurray, whose previous win at Daytona came in the 2007 Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola, led only the final two laps of the race – the fewest amount of laps led by a Daytona 500 champion – but it was enough to capture the coveted Harley J. Earl trophy.
McMurray, who first came to Daytona as a kid to participate in kart racing, didn’t know if he would have a ride in 2010 until his former car owner Chip Ganassi gave him a call and put him in a car for the second time.
"Coming off of Turn 4, knowing…you’re going to be the Daytona 500 champion, I can’t explain it to you. It’s very emotional. I don’t know that I’ve cried like that. I kept trying to compose myself, but I couldn’t hold it back."
However, the great loser Dale Earnhardnt Jr. who moved from 10th position to 2nd in 2 only laps quoted "It was all a blur. I was just going wherever they weren’t. I really don’t enjoy being that aggressive, but if there was enough room for the radiator to fit, you just kind of held the gas down and prayed for the best."
The race, which was slowed by two red flags for track repair, was highlighted by a record 21 different leaders who exchanged the lead 52 times.
