Daytona 500: Denny Hamlin denies Martin Truex Jr in closest finish

Hamlin dominated the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup opener, leading 95 of the 200 laps, but had to leave it late to take his first ever victory in the 500 after being shuffled down the order at the final set of stops.

Going into the final lap Hamlin was just fourth, but went high into Turn 4 and then ducked back inside as race-leading team-mate Matt Kenseth got loose.

Hamlin, with a push from Kevin Harvick, then beat Truex across the line by just 0.010 seconds to win - ending Joe Gibbs Racing's 23-year 500 drought and securing Toyota's first victory in the historic race.

"This is a team victory," said Hamlin. "My team-mates did an amazing job working together.

"I don't know where that came from, I don't know what happened, I don't even know what I did.

"This wouldn't have been possible without the Toyotas sticking together all race long."

Truex, who started from the back of the pack after a technical problem in qualifying and a Duel crash, had to settle for second, with 2015 Cup champion Kyle Busch third, as Toyota locked out the top three position.

Kenseth led 40 laps, but crossed the line 14th after his final lap slide.

"They don't get much more crushing than that," he said.

"I saw Denny had the line and I thought he was going round me if I didn't block him.

"We're here to try to win the Daytona 500 and we came up short."

Kevin Harvick was fourth from Carl Edwards' battle-worn Toyota, Joey Logano - the best of the Penske Fords - and Kyle Larson.

Regan Smith, Austin Dillon and Kurt Busch rounded out the top 10.

Six-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson led 18 laps but ultimately came home 16th after a penalty for a pitlane infringement dropped him down the order as he was forced into a drive-through under green flags.

Pre-race favourite Dale Earnhardt Jr led briefly early on and was running in the top five when he spun out with just 30 laps left to run.

Polesitter Chase Elliott's race unravelled early on after a spin across the grass left him with a badly damaged car.

The 20-year-old returned to the track with a patched up front-end, finishing 40 laps down.

Matt DiBenedetto and Chris Buescher were both eliminated in a heavy crash at Turn 4.

Greg Biffle ran strongly in the top 10 before a right-rear tyre failure dropped him down the order.

Biffle returned to the track, only to be tipped into a spin by Danica Patrick as the pair battled for the inside line late in the race.

RESULTS - 200 LAPS:

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

DRIVERS PROVISIONALLY SEALED IN THE CHASE: Denny Hamlin