Jamie McMurray has won a bizarre Daytona 500 race, twice red flagged for track repairs. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. staged a remarkable run to the front to claim the second position, and Greg Biffle finished third.
The race was halted on lap 122 so that repairs to the track surface could be made between turns one and two. After a delay of one hour and forty two mintues, the race was restarted, only to be red flagged again on lap 161. A second patch was made (causing another 45 minute delay) and the race was resumed.
Crashes in the final laps tested NASCAR’s new “green, white, checker” rule designed to promote green flag finishes. McMurray used the second restart to his advantage, taking his first win for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.