Story highlights Denny Hamlin wins Daytona 500

Race witnesses series of huge crashes

(CNN) Denny Hamlin negotiated multi-car pile-ups and the challenge of Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Erik Jones to win the Daytona 500 in overtime Sunday.

The victory is Hamlin's second at Daytona, NASCAR's blue riband event, in the last four years.

Hamlin took the lead with two laps to go, passing Busch, before a crash further back enforced a delay to allow for the track to be cleared.

That followed an earlier incident when Paul Menard clipped Matt DiBenedetto. A huge pile up ensued, with sparks flying and torn bodywork scattered all over the track.

Among those taken out in the carnage was defending Daytona champion Austin Dillon.

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