Column: Daytona 500 was action-packed opener NASCAR needed
Multiple cars crash during a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Topper)

Multiple cars crash during a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Topper)

Feb. 17, 2019 08:44 PM EST
Erik Jones (20), William Byron (24), Brad Keselowski (2), and Brendan Gaughan (62) crash during a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

Erik Jones (20), William Byron (24), Brad Keselowski (2), and Brendan Gaughan (62) crash during a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

Feb. 17, 2019 08:45 PM EST
Chase Elliott (9), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (17), Brad Keselowski (2), Kyle Larson (42), Ty Dillon (13) and Alex Bowman (88) wreck in Turn 3 during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Chase Elliott (9), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (17), Brad Keselowski (2), Kyle Larson (42), Ty Dillon (13) and Alex Bowman (88) wreck in Turn 3 during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Feb. 17, 2019 08:35 PM EST
Multiple cars crash in turn 3 during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Multiple cars crash in turn 3 during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Feb. 17, 2019 08:53 PM EST
Denny Hamlin celebrates with the Championship trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Denny Hamlin celebrates with the Championship trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Feb. 17, 2019 08:24 PM EST
Multiple cars crash during a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Topper)

Multiple cars crash during a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Topper)

Feb. 17, 2019 08:43 PM EST