Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and his crew celebrate with the No. 47 Chevy Camaro after winning the 65th Daytona 500. NADIA ZOMORODIAN/NEWS-JOURNAL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wins longest Daytona 500 thanks to a timely push

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 2/19/23

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. etched his name in the record books Sunday, avoiding late-race chaos to win NASCAR's biggest event, the Daytona 500, in double overtime.

The 65th annual "Great American Race" ended under caution after a crash took out several cars on lap 212, and a video review confirmed Stenhouse's victory.

Afterward, Stenhouse credited a "fellow dirt racer" in third-place finisher Christopher Bell for a well-timed push at the end, revealing that his No. 47 Chevy was out of fuel.

"Bell gave me a good shot down the low short shoot into one, and man, we were out front when the caution came out," Stenhouse said. "We were out of fuel, so the fuel light was going crazy. But, man, I hope you all had fun. That was a heck of a race."

Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. talks with @JamieLittleTV. pic.twitter.com/hk56hTy7eH
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 20, 2023

With one lap remaining in the second overtime session and Kyle Larson's chain-reaction crash bringing out another caution, rules permitted NASCAR to name a winner.

Following the video review, NASCAR ruled that Stenhouse had a slim advantage over last year's winner, Joey Logano.

RT to congratulate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on his #DAYTONA500 win! pic.twitter.com/OstRwcdmFi
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 19, 2023

The race for the lead was so close between Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Joey Logano when Kyle Larson crashed on the last lap to end the #daytona500 under caution. pic.twitter.com/PiqYr9kJ3U
— Mark J. Rebilas (@rebilasphoto) February 20, 2023

Logano didn't take the result well, telling reporters he "hated coming in second" after losing out on the Daytona 500 crown by mere inches.

"What do you do? It's over now, just move on," Logano said. "It's frustrating. So close to winning this thing."

At 212 laps, Sunday's Daytona 500 was the longest in history. For the 35-year-old Stenhouse, Sunday's historic victory was his first since 2017, which also came at Daytona during the summer race.

Stenhouse snaps a 199-race winless streak, the fourth-longest span between Cup Series wins, per ESPN Stats and Info.

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