DENNY HAMLIN made a daring late-race pass, moving from fourth to first in the final two turns to beat Martin Truex Jr. to the checkered flag by 0.010 seconds to win the Daytona 500.

    It’s the closest finish in the 58-year history of the historic race.

    The four Joe Gibbs Racing cars, plus the affiliate car of Truex, were the class of the field throughout Sunday’s race. Hamlin led the most laps, but had ceded the lead to teammate Matt Kenseth, who led the field for 40-straight laps. Kenseth seemingly had it won, as no one could muster up enough speed to make a pass in the outside lane. He paced the field down the backstretch on the final lap. That’s when Hamlin made his move.

    After sitting in line as the laps ticked off, Hamlin moved to the outside in front of Kevin Harvick. Hamlin passed teammate Kyle Busch for third as the field entered Turn 3.

    As Kenseth went up to block, Hamlin darted to the middle. Kenseth’s car started to slide but he saved it, leaving Hamlin and Truex to battle for the win. Truex looked to have the advantage as the two headed to the tri-oval but Hamlin inched ahead at the finish line.

    “I felt like I had enough momentum to keep him behind me,” Truex explained. “I did all the way up until that last couple feet. He just shot out that last couple inches on me right before the line.

    “Wish I would have crowded him up the track a little bit more late down the frontstretch. He came out on the right end of it today.”

    As video of the finish played on a screen next to him, Truex added, “Just going to have to watch that on the highlight reel for the rest of my life. So it hurts a little.”

    It’s Toyota’s first Daytona 500 win and it comes on the heels of the manufacturer’s first Sprint Cup title. Busch won the 2015 championship. It’s also the first Daytona 500 for Joe Gibbs Racing since Dale Jarrett won in 1993.

    Before Hamlin’s incredible final mile, drivers leading the race weren’t especially vulnerable. His pass for the win was just the fourth pass for the lead that didn’t happen under yellow or as a product of green flag pit stops. (SD-Agencies)