Jeff Gordon wrecks on last lap of final Daytona 500, finishes 33rd

Jeff Gordon (24) leads the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race after completing 101 of 200 laps at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (The Associated Press)

Jeff Gordon, back, hugs team owner Rick Hendrick, front, by his car before the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay) (The Associated Press)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon wrecked on the last lap of his final Daytona 500.

Austin Dillon turned Gordon in the middle of a huge pack vying for position in the closing two miles at Daytona International Speedway.

Gordon spun, banged into other cars and then eventually sputtered across the finish line in 33rd place.

It wasn't what Gordon had hoped, but it proved what he said heading into the race: that the risk of racing at superspeedways isn't worth the reward.

Gordon started on the pole for the "Great American Race" and showed plenty of speed early, leading 77 of the first 100 laps. He was at the front of the field at the midway point, a bad omen for everyone at Daytona.

The last halfway leader to end up in victory lane was Davey Allison in 1982.