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| Jamie McMurray celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010. |
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Jamie McMurray has won the Daytona 500, holding off a hard-charging Dale Earnhardt Jr. over a wild, two-lap sprint to the finish of NASCAR's version of the Super Bowl.
Sunday's race was stopped twice and delayed for more than two hours because of a pothole at Daytona International Speedway, and the setback nearly derailed the event - which ended more than six hours after the first green flag. NASCAR struggled to patch the hole, and drivers knew the pavement could tear at any time after the final repair.
It meant they had to race hard the final 80 miles, and did they ever.
Earnhardt drove from 10th to second over the final two laps, but was unable to chase down McMurray, who won his fourth career Sprint Cup race.
"When I saw the 88 behind me, I thought, 'Oh no.' He had a good car and I just thought - Earnhardt and Daytona, they win all the time it just seems like," said McMurray, who burst into tears while his team celebrated. "You never know what to expect."
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Jamie McMurray has won the Daytona 500, holding off a hard-charging Dale Earnhardt Jr. over a wild, two-lap sprint to the finish of NASCAR's version of the Super Bowl.
The race was stopped twice and delayed for more than two hours because of a pothole at Daytona International Speedway, and the setback nearly derailed the race. NASCAR struggled to patch the hole, and drivers knew the pavement could tear at any time after the final repair.
It meant they had to race hard the final 80 miles, and did they ever.
Earnhardt drove from 10th to second over the final two laps, but was unable to chase down McMurray, who won his fourth career Sprint Cup race.
