Clean run gives Burton Daytona 500 win

Ward Burton stayed out of trouble in his Dodge to claim victory in the crash-filled Daytona 500 stock car race on Sunday. Elliott Sadler was second, 0.193 seconds behind in a Ford, with 1986 winner Geoffrey Bodine in third place 0.319 seconds off the pace in another Ford.

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"It was nerve wracking," said 41-year old Burton, who only led in the final five laps after the race at the Daytona International Speedway was stopped right after a restart on lap 195.

The red flag appeared when four-time NASCAR Winston Cup series champion Jeff Gordon, trying to hold off the Dodge of Sterling Marlin, who had led for 78 laps, spun into the grass in turn one.

Marlin handed victory to Burton when he got out of his car during the stoppage to attempt a repair that was not permitted under the red flag. He was sent to the end of the line of leaders for the final restart and that ended his challenge.

After recovering from 41st to finish second, Sadler said the weeks leading up to the race had been a struggle for his team. "It's been tough racing in this business so to finish second down here, unbelievable," he said.

Earlier Burton, who averaged 230.09 kph, was almost caught up in an accident with 51 laps to go in the 200-lap race. The close call came when Kevin Harvick was trying to hold off Gordon by trying a blocking move, but instead went up the track triggering an 18-car accident.

"When the number 29 (Harvick) spun out we almost got it," Burton said in Victory Lane while celebrating his fourth career win in the series, worth $1.383 million.

To say the race was chaotic would be an understatement as the full course caution flag was waved nine times. "Crazy race out there," Gordon said. "I should have given up when he (Marlin) got beside me and still had a battle and a shot to win this thing. I hated to see that last caution.

Behind Gordon a number of the back markers went spinning into the start-finish line infield. Explaining the importance of survival, the 52-year old Bodine said "that was experience...missing those wrecks".

Marlin, who won here in 1994 and 1995, said he thought getting out of a car for a repair was permitted. "I saw (Dale) Earnhardt do it at Richmond one time in '87," he said. "He got out and cleaned off his windshield, so I thought it OK. It was a little disappointing."

Although there were no serious injuries the 1543.6 kg tube framed stock cars made the 804-km race look more like a demolition derby than a high speed dance on the 31-degree banks of the 4.022-km Daytona International Speedway. Despite the accidents 14 of the 43 starters were still running on the leaders lap.