Martin Truex Jr., a Mayetta, N.J. native, led Monday night’s 2012 Daytona 500 for a total of eight laps before finishing in 12th position. Truex started 26th in the 43-car field.
Truex earned a $200,000 bonus for leading the race at the halfway point, a feature of the race aptly titled the ‘Midway Payday.’ Truex used a push from teammate Denny Hamlin to get the lead at the halfway point and earn the bonus.
Truex has one Sprint Cup victory in his career. His best finish at Daytona was a ninth-place effort in 2010.
Regan Smith of Cato, NY — which is in the western part of the state — finished 24th. Smith had qualified in the sixth position, but ended the race two laps behind. He was involved in a multi-car crash with just 13 laps to go in the race.
Smith did, however, manage to lead the race for two laps during the early stages of the race.