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NASCAR: Winners and Losers from the 2018 Daytona 500

By Mike Knapp

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 60th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 60th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /
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Austin Dillon came away as the big winner in the 2018 Daytona 500, but what other NASCAR Drivers move on to Atlanta on a high note, and which don’t?

Sunday’s Daytona 500 was pretty typical as far as NASCAR restrictor plate races go. There was some great racing, a “Big One”, overtime, and a little post-race controversy sprinkled in too.

So who are the week’s winners and losers? Let’s find out.

Winners

Austin Dillon: The 27-year-old Dillon has just two career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup victories, but they are both as big as they come. Dillon adds a Daytona 500 win to his 2017 Coca-Cola 600 victory on his resume. While he only led one lap on the day, it was the one that counted, putting the iconic Richard Childress Racing #3 Chevrolet in Victory Lane 20 years after Dale Earnhardt won his first and only Daytona 500 and 17 years to the day after his tragic death.

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Darrell Wallace, Jr.: Wallace Jr. took over another iconic number this year, the #43 of Richard Petty Motorsports, and showed that the car is in good hands. His runner-up finish is his career-high Cup Series finish in five starts. He also endeared himself to fans with his emotional post-race press conference. Sunday was a huge day for him.

Ryan Blaney: There is no doubt that Blaney had the car to beat Sunday. His #12 Penske machine led a race-high 118 laps and took the stage 2 win. Unfortunately, in the crapshoot that is restrictor plate racing, the fastest car usually doesn’t win. Blaney’s car sustained enough damage in a lap 199 incident that he was unable to truly push to the front at the end. Still, his 7th place finish means he heads to Atlanta with the points lead.

Losers

The guys at the shop: Carnage is a big part of any Speedweeks, and this year was no exception. More than two dozen cars were damaged during the race, and eight drivers started in backup cars thanks to damage during the Can-Am Duels. That’s a lot of twisted sheet metal.

Aric Almirola: Heading down the backstretch on the final lap of the race, Almirola, driving his first race in Stewart-Haas Racing colors, was on the point and was looking to win his first Cup Series race since the 2014 Coke Zero 400. Heading into turn 3, he was tapped from behind by eventual race winner Austin Dillon and drove head-first into the wall, ending his day in 11th place.

There is no doubt that the incident sparked controversy. But since blocking and wrecking people aren’t against the rules, just race on.

Next: Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time

Danica Patrick: Patrick hoped for a better result in her final Cup Series race, but an incident on lap 102 ended her day in 35th place. Patrick’s seven-year run ends after 191 races, the 2013 Daytona 500 pole and seven top 10 finishes.

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