Ryan Newman Wins Daytona 500

Miscue by leader Tony Stewart on final lap gives Penske team its first 500 win
By Mike Buss,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 17, 2008 7:06 PM CST
Ryan Newman Wins Daytona 500
NASCAR driver Ryan Newman's crew celebrates after winning the 50th running of the Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)   (Associated Press)

It appeared that Joe Gibbs Racing was going to take today's Daytona 500; the question was whether it would be Tony Stewart or his teammate Kyle Busch. That changed after a last-lap decision by Stewart to go low on the track, blocking Busch and freeing Ryan Newman to zoom past on the high side and win the Daytona 500, reports AP.

It was the first Daytona win in 23 tries for Roger Penske's race team. Kurt Busch, Newman's teammate who also blew past Stewart on the last lap and finished second, said "We did something very special for the Captain tonight," referring to Penske. Meanwhile, the 500 still eludes Stewart, who said, "It's probably one of the most disappointing moments in my racing career." (More Daytona 500 stories.)

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