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DAYTONA BEACH — The race is essentially a souped-up version of driver’s ed.

The Subway Firecracker 250 in the Xfinity Series on Saturday night was a chance for aspiring Sprint Cup competitors to learn their craft at 180 mph.

They one day hope to graduate to the big time on this training ground, thus the circuit’s slogan: Where Names Are Made.

Austin Dillon is trying to make a name for himself among the big boys of NASCAR after competing on the sport’s minor-league series since 2008.

Dillon dodged two major 12-car wrecks in the last 10 laps to win the 250 at the Daytona International Speedway.

“I won at Daytona! Are you kidding me!” Dillon screamed into his radio.

Dillon, 25, climbed out of his car and performed a belly flop in the infield.

Dillon ran in 36 Sprint Cup races last season, recording four top-10 finishes and earning $5.4 million. He has one top 10 finish this season and will start on the outside pole next to Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Sunday night’s Coke Zero 400.

Dillon is the grandson of longtime NASCAR car owner Richard Childress, 69, who teamed with Dale Earnhardt Sr. for six NASCAR championships.

“It’s cool anytime you win at Daytona. We’ve been here so many times with Dale [Earnhardt Sr.],” Childress said.

Dillon knows all the Earnhardt lore today. He said he had envisioned since he was a young kid about carrying on the legacy.

He drives the No. 33 in the Xfinity Series and the No. 3 in Sprint Cup. It was Earnhardt Sr. who made No. 3 iconic.

“So many family memories here,” Dillon said. “I got to go to a lot of victory lanes with [Richard Childress Racing]. I’m so happy for my grandfather. We stood here with Dale and he said I’d have a chance to make it. It’s my favorite win in my career.

“When you’re that young, you’re just proud to be a part of this organization.”

Dillon still had his doubts about living up to the pressure, but he returned from a hunting trip with Childress with a new attitude.

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Late in the race, leader Brian Scott appeared to trigger the second wreck involving 12 cars that forced a re-start.

A chain-reaction crash on the front stretch with 10 laps left collected 12 cars to bring out the red flag.

The wreck ended the night for defending Coke Zero 400 champ Aric Almirola, a former UCF mechanical engineering student.

Seven of the top 10 in the Xfinity points standings also were involved, including Darrell Wallace and Chris Buescher.

Young promising Mexican star Daniel Suarez started on the pole. But he was eliminated from contention and assessed a one-lap penalty after the accident when he passed the field to duck into pit row.

After the Coke Zero 400 qualifying was canceled because of rain, the Firecracker 250 was delayed by about an hour and 20 minutes.

As an omen for the finish, there wasn’t much clean racing early in the event.

Bobby Gerhart brought out the first caution after spinning out. Cale Conley then lost control and ended up skidding across the infield grass.

Jeremy Clements got into trouble on pit road. The way things were going, maybe it was a good thing his car is sponsored by RepairableVehicles.com.

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