Drivers balked, some fearing a lack of preparation would result in a ton of consternation. But the Cup Series' debut race on the 14-turn, 3.61-mile layout turned out better than anyone expected.
Chase Elliott ended up in victory lane, winning his third consecutive road-course race for Hendrick Motorsports. Elliott held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. to notch his second win of the season and eighth in the last three years.
The event was moved from Watkins Glen in upstate New York to Daytona because of state health restrictions; NASCAR could not meet New York's quarantine requirements for out-of-state visitors.