McMurray, using a boost from former teammate Greg Biffle, powered into the lead on the second and final green-white-checkered attempt. But Earnhardt, who restarted the final sprint in 10th place, was slicing his way through the field.
He weaved in and out of traffic, shoving his Chevrolet into three-wide lines, eventually darting his way to McMurray’s bumper. It was vintage Earnhardt – he’s a 12-time Daytona winner spanning NASCAR’s top two series – and McMurray was terrified to see him growing in his rearview mirror.
“When I saw the 88 behind me, I thought, ‘Oh no.’ He had a good car and I just thought – Earnhardt and Daytona, they win all the time it just seems like,” McMurray said. “You never know what to expect.”
But with just two laps to make up so much ground, Earnhardt ran out of time and had to settle for second as McMurray sailed to his first career Daytona 500 victory.
McMurray, using a boost from former teammate Greg Biffle, powered into the lead on the second and final green-white-checkered attempt. But Earnhardt, who restarted the final sprint in 10th place, was slicing his way through the field.
He weaved in and out of traffic, shoving his Chevrolet into three-wide lines, eventually darting his way to McMurray’s bumper. It was vintage Earnhardt – he’s a 12-time Daytona winner spanning NASCAR’s top two series – and McMurray was terrified to see him growing in his rearview mirror.
“When I saw the 88 behind me, I thought, ‘Oh no.’ He had a good car and I just thought – Earnhardt and Daytona, they win all the time it just seems like,” McMurray said. “You never know what to expect.”
But with just two laps to make up so much ground, Earnhardt ran out of time and had to settle for second as McMurray sailed to his first career Daytona 500 victory.
McMurray, using a boost from former teammate Greg Biffle, powered into the lead on the second and final green-white-checkered attempt. But Earnhardt, who restarted the final sprint in 10th place, was slicing his way through the field.