By alley - Feb 13, 2016, 11:31 PM ET

NASCAR: Hamlin wins Sprint Unlimited in 'overtime'

Denny Hamlin held off Joey Logano to win NASCAR's season-opening Sprint Unlimited non-championship race at Daytona.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Hamlin led home an attrition hit field under NASCAR's new "overtime" system to win the crash-strewn race – which serves as the curtain opener to the NASCAR season, ahead of next weekend's Daytona 500.

Hamlin was just one of eight cars to make it to the checkered flag, after three separate multi-car crashes sidelined most of the 25-car field. Brian Vickers – standing in for the injured Tony Stewart in the #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy – set off the first major incident on lap 23 of the planned 75, collecting Dale Earnhardt Jr., teammates Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch, as well as Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle and AJ Allmendinger, after a right-rear tire failure entering Turn 1.

The second major accident occurred with just three laps left to run, as contact between long-time frontrunners Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards also eliminated reigning Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch.

The race resumed for a final time under NASCAR's new overtime rules, only to ultimately end under caution after Matt Kenseth triggered a six-car crash on the second of the two overtime laps, handing Hamlin his first win of 2016.

Paul Menard was third, from Kyle Larson, Casey Mears, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Six-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson started from pole, but was forced out of the race with damage after a spin into the infield.

Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne was another driver who failed to finish, retiring late on following contact with Jamie McMurray.

McMurray, who started 24th of the 25 cars, made an early charge to run at the front of the pack, only to be taken out in the final multi-car crash.