Drivers expect the unexpected when it comes to racing at Daytona.
They know that racing in tight swarms at high speeds, inches off one another’s bumpers, can lead to crashes that pull in bunches of cars instead of just a few. They know those crashes can come late in the race. That leading entering the final lap doesn't mean one is on the verge of a win.
Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 showed that once more. The race was marred by one major crash, but drivers made it past the midway point before that happened. While it was a major 22-car wreck, it wasn't one of many such crashes in the race, as drivers managed the racing and traffic well.