Crown Jewel Win
Aetherwing Scores 1-2 in Kmart Cup Daytona 500
Flamingo won the Kmart Cup Series Season 1 Daytona 500 with teammate Will pushing him to the line, giving Aetherwing its first points-paying victory and a historic 1-2 finish.
A Landmark Daytona 500 Win
The 2025–26 Kmart Cup Series opened with Flamingo taking the #22 Apex Sim Racing Chevrolet to victory in the Daytona 500 on September 22, 2025.
The win became Aetherwing's first points-paying victory and delivered a crown-jewel result at the beginning of the season.
Flamingo and Will Break Away Together
Drafting partnerships shaped the closing laps. Flamingo and teammate Will in the #94 linked together after the final restart, using the two-car push to create separation from the rest of the field.
The coordination turned the race from a fight for one Aetherwing win into a chance to bring both cars home at the front.
The White Flag Protection
On the final lap, Will protected Flamingo's rear quarter while the pair worked through Turns 3 and 4 and defended against a late challenge from behind.
Flamingo reached the checkered flag first and Will finished second, completing the 1–2 sweep in one of the biggest races on the Kmart Cup schedule.
A Season-Opening Statement
The result gave Flamingo a first Daytona 500 victory, put Aetherwing's first crown jewel of the season into the record book, and followed Will's Budweiser Shootout victory one week earlier.
The original race report framed the back-to-back Daytona results as a major early-season momentum swing for the organization.
This story is preserved in the competitive and organizational context in which it was recorded. Later roster, branding, partnership, or alliance changes do not rewrite the historical event.