Michael McDowell Just Won the Daytona 500 After a huge early wreck and a rain delay, McDowell drives through a controversial crash, arguably of his own creation, for as big an upset as the Daytona 500 has ever seen. Chris GraythenGetty Images For the second time in four years, a driver partially to blame for a wreck among the leaders on the last lap has won the Daytona 500. It's also the second time in two years that the race ended with a massive wreck behind the leaders devolving into a fireball. It is a worrying trend. Nonetheless, this is NASCAR's modern form of pack racing.