Sports | car race Photo-Finish at Daytona 500 Denny Hamlin barely beats Martin Truex Jr. By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Feb 21, 2016 4:30 PM CST Copied Denny Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Denny Hamlin has won the Daytona 500, edging Martin Truex Jr. by inches at the finish line. It was the closest finish in the history of the event, the AP reports. Hamlin gave Toyota its first Daytona 500 victory and owner Joe Gibbs his first win in "The Great American Race" since 1993. Hamlin was running fourth on the final lap before making a strong move to the outside, nudging teammate Matt Kenseth and then powering by Truex. Hamlin became the first driver since Davey Allison in 1992 to win the Daytona 500 after leading at the halfway point. Read These Next The 8 Democrats who bucked party on shutdown have something in common. Porn studio is US' 'most prolific copyright plaintiff.' Hormone therapy for menopause was unfairly demonized, says the FDA. A veteran federal judge resigns to protest Trump. Get breaking news in your inbox. What you need to know, as soon as we know it. Sign up Report an error