The 2019 Daytona 500, the 61st running of the event, was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on February 17, 2019, Contested over 207 laps -- extended from 200 laps due to an overtime finish, on the asphalt superspeedway. After three multiple car crashes in the last 20 laps, only 19 of the 40 cars were running at the end of the race and only 14 completed every lap. It was the first race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, and also marked the debut of the Ford Mustang, which Ford brought in as a replacement for the Fusion. This race was the final career start for Casey Mears and 2010 winner Jamie McMurray. This Daytona 500 was the first not to feature in the starting lineup the Earnhardt name since 1978.
Daytona International Speedway is one of two superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the other being Talladega Superspeedway. The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is long. The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.
Entry list
Practice
First practice (February 9)
was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 45.937 seconds and a speed of.
Second practice (February 9)
was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 46.149 seconds and a speed of.
Qualifying
scored the pole for the race with a time of 46.319 and a speed of.
Qualifying results
Gander RV Duel
The Gander RV Duels are a pair of NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races held in conjunction with the Daytona 500 annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. They consist of two races 60 laps and 150 miles in length, which serve as heat races that set the lineup for the Daytona 500. Both races sets the lineup for positions 3–32. The first race sets the lineup for cars that qualified in odd–numbered positions on pole qualifying day. The second race sets the lineup for cars that qualified in even–numbered positions. Positions 33–36 are filled by the four drivers that posted the fastest lap in pole qualifying that didn't lock in a position in the Duel's. Positions 37–40 are set by the four cars highest in the 2018 owner's points that didn't lock in a position in the Duels and weren't among the cars that posted the four fastest timed laps in pole qualifying. For championship purposes, each Duel is a full Championship Stage, except there is no playoff point awarded. The top ten drivers receive championship points.
Duel 1
Duel 1 results
Duel 2
Duel 2 results
Starting lineup
Practice (post–Duels)
Third practice (February 15)
was the fastest in the third practice session with a time of 44.936 seconds and a speed of.
Fourth practice (February 15)
was the fastest in the fourth practice session with a time of 44.830 seconds and a speed of.
Final practice (February 16)
was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 47.012 seconds and a speed of.
Race
wide receiver Julian Edelman and Houston Texans linebacker J. J. Watt each had duties before the race. Watt, the race’s grand marshal, became the first NFL player to give “drivers, start your engines” in race history. Edelman was the race’s honorary starter – something several current and former NFL players have done in year’s past – as Edelman waved the green flag to signal the start of the 500. “I think these guys are absolutely insane,” Edelman, the MVP at Super Bowl LIII earlier that month, said before the race. “First and foremost, they’re going 200 miles an hour around for three hours straight and able to focus in extreme conditions.”
The race was broadcast on radio by the Motor Racing Network—who has covered the Daytona 500 since 1970—and simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. The booth crew was consisted of Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and 1989 Cup Series champion Rusty Wallace. Longtime turn announcer Dave Moody was the lead turn announcer. He called the Daytona 500 from atop the Sunoco tower outside the exit of turn 2 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2. Mike Bagley worked the backstretch for the Daytona 500 from a spotter's stand on the inside of the track & Kyle Rickey called the Daytona 500 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4 from the Sunoco tower outside the exit of turn 4. On pit road, MRN was manned by lead pit reporter and NASCAR Hall of FameExecutive Director Winston Kelley. He will be joined on pit road by Steve Post, Kim Coon, and Dillon Welch.
