Austin Dillon put the No. 3 back in victory lane at Daytona International Speedway.

Dillon won in the car number made famous by Dale Earnhardt and won 17 years to the day that the Hall of the Fame driver was killed in a last-lap accident at NASCAR''s famed track.
 
Dillon also won in the 3 two decades after Earnhardt's lone victory in the Daytona 500.
 
"It was so awesome to take the 3 car back to victory lane,'' Dillon said. "This is for Dale Earnhardt Sr. and all those Senior fans.''
 
Dillon even replicated the slide Earnhardt did in 1998 and did a burnout in the shape of a 3 in the infield grass.
 
Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr., the first black driver in the Daytona 500 field since 1969, finished second in a 1-2 finish for Chevrolet and Childress' engine program.
 
Denny Hamlin, the 2016 winner, finished third in a Toyota.
 
Ryan Blaney, who led a race-high 118 laps, faded to seventh after giving the win away in regulation. He wrecked Kurt Busch, the defending race winner, trying to reclaim his lead and the contact damaged Blaney's Ford.

Tickets sell out for 3rd year

Stadium tickets were sold out to watch the 60th running of the Daytona 500, which is the third consecutive year the tickets have sold out.

But speedway representatives say for fans looking to catch the action, access to premium hospitality, infield admissions and the Fanzone were available.

“Nothing is better than eating in Daytona, don’t make any difference what it is,” said 84-year-old Larry Durocher.

Durocher has loved racing since he was a teen. His father got him hooked; even when he was in the army he couldn’t get enough.

“I’d get a five-page letter, he’d tell me everything that went on,” he said. “Who crashed, who won, everything.”

A lot has changed over 60 years at the speedway, including the $400 million makeover called Daytona Rising, which was completed two years ago.

“Well I think the 400 million dollar investment we’ve made into the property is the biggest change, you know creating new experiences for our fans. It’s an amazing sight and we’re really proud of it,” said Chip Wile, Daytona International Speedway President.

But NASCAR said while the drivers, cars and seats have changed, the track, traditions and history remain the same.

Durocher camps out in the infield and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Now, he brings his 14-year-old grandson with him during race weekends.

“I missed two 500s because I was in the hospital, other than that I haven’t missed a race,” he said. “As long as I can walk, I will be here.”

The Associated Press contributed this this story.