Denny Hamlin wins 1st Daytona 500 in thrilling photo finish

On Sunday, Denny Hamlin beat Martin Truex Jr. by .011 seconds to win his first Daytona 500, in the closest and one of the most exciting finishes ever at NASCAR's marquis race. "This was a team victory. My teammates did an amazing job all day working together, all the Toyotas," said Hamlin, 35, after the race. One of his teammates, Matt Kenseth, was ahead for much of the final lap, until Hamlin squeezed by him in a daring maneuver to go nose-to-nose with Truex:

"I don't know where that came from," Hamlin said. "I can't even figure out what I did. It just all came together, and I got a great push from Kevin Harvick. This wouldn't have happened without all the Toyotas sticking together. I'm so happy to get this victory for Joe Gibbs Racing." This was also the first Daytona 500 victory for Gibbs, the team owner, after 23 years of trying.

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