Daytona 500 witnesses closest ever finish in 58-year-history

Denny Hamlin won by just 0.010 seconds

Dennny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, races to the finish line alongside Martin Truex Jr (GETTY IMAGES)

The Daytona 500 witnessed the closest ever finish in the race's 58-year history on Sunday night when Denny Hamlin crossed the finish line just 0.010 seconds ahead of his closest competitor.

The 35-year-old, driving a Toyota, started the last lap of the 500-mile race in fourth but clawed his way back up to snatch the chequered flag from Martin Truex Jr.

Hamlin pulled out of line with a lap to go and first chased down team-mate Matt Kenseth. He staved off Kenseth's block, and wedged between him and Truex. Hamlin then stayed on the gas for a door-to-door dash to the finish line.

"You couldn't have written a better ending," Hamlin said, who won the 'Great American Race' for the first time at the 11th attempt.

He added: "I knew it was close, but I didn't know we had won."

Watch the finish below...

#Hamlin by inches #Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/4Q8AiUcizN

— Mattzel89 (@Mattzel89) February 21, 2016

Truex said: "I thought I could keep that foot or so. I lost it in the last second."

Reigning champion Kyle Busch finished in third.