Daytona 500
Encyclopedia
The Daytona 500 is a 500 miles (804.7 km)-long NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway
in Daytona Beach, Florida
. It is one of four restrictor plate
races on the Cup schedule.
The Daytona 500 is regarded as the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar, carrying by far the largest purse. Championship points awarded are equal to that of any other Sprint Cup race. It is also the series' first race of the year; this phenomenon is virtually unique in sports, which tend to have championships or other major events at the end of the season rather than the start. Since 1995, U.S. television ratings
for the Daytona 500 have been the highest for any auto race of the year, surpassing the traditional leader, the Indianapolis 500
which in turn greatly surpasses the Daytona 500 in in-track attendance and international viewing. The 2006 Daytona 500 attracted the sixth largest average live global TV audience of any sporting event that year with 20 million viewers.
The event serves as the final event of Speedweeks
and is sometimes referred to as "The Great American Race" or the "Super Bowl
of Stock Car Racing." It is held the second or third Sunday in February, and since 1971, has been loosely associated with both Valentine's Day
and the Presidents Day weekend. On February 20, 2011 it was announced that the 54th running of the race will be moved one week later to February 26, 2012.
The winner of the Daytona 500 is presented with the Harley J. Earl Trophy
in Victory Lane, and the winning car is displayed, in race-winning condition, for one year at Daytona 500 Experience, a museum and gallery adjacent to Daytona International Speedway.
The race is the direct successor of shorter races held on Daytona Beach
. This long square was partially on the sand and also on the highway near the beach. Earlier events featured 200 miles (321.9 km) races with stock cars. Eventually, a 500 miles (805 km) stock car race
was held at Daytona International Speedway
in 1959. It was the second 500-miler, following the Southern 500
, and has been held every year since. By 1961, it began to be referred to as the "Daytona 500", by which it is still commonly known.
Daytona International Speedway is 2.5 miles (4 km) long and a 500-mile race requires 200 laps to complete. However, the race is considered official after half its distance (100 laps or 250 miles (402.3 km)) have been completed. The race has been shortened four times due to rain (in 1965, 1966, 2003, and 2009) and once in response to the energy crisis of 1974. It has been extended five times (2005–2007 and 2010–2011) to allow for a green-white-checker finish
.
Prior to 2005, after the top two cars were set, the top 14 cars in the qualifying races advanced to the field, and then between six (1998–2003), eight (1995–97, 2004), or ten (until 1994) fastest cars which did not advance from the qualifying race were added, and, since 1976, between one and seven cars were added by previous year's points performance and or championship, except for 1985, when no such car was eligible for a provisional starting spot, the only time that happened in the Daytona 500 from when the provisional was added in 1976 through 2004.
and NBC
under the terms of a six-year, $2.48 billion NASCAR television contract. Starting in 2007, FOX became the exclusive home of the Daytona 500 under the terms of NASCAR's new television package.
A byproduct of both the track's 1998 lighting system and both the 2001 and 2007 television packages has been later start times. The race started at 12:15 pm (EST) from 1979 until 2000. The start time was moved to 2:30 pm (EST) for the convenience of west coast viewers. The 2005 race ended at sunset for the first time in its history, and the 2006 race ended well after sunset. The changing track conditions caused by the onset of darkness in the closing laps force the crew chiefs to predict the critical car setup adjustments needed for their final two pit stops. Since then, all races have ended after dark, with the 2007 race ending in prime time, at 7:07 pm (EST). However, in 2010, the race moved back to a 1:00 pm start time, which should have resulted in it ending in daylight; however, two red flags caused by track surface issues led to long delays that pushed the race to 7:34 PM EST, pushing the race into prime-time for the second time.
The television ratings for the Daytona 500 have surpassed those of the larger Indianapolis 500
(which has much larger physical attendance and international attendance) since 1995, even though the 1995 race was available in much fewer homes than the year before. Then-broadcaster CBS had lost well-established VHF
(channels 2–13) affiliates in major markets as a result of the Fox affiliate switches of 1994
. As an example, new affiliates WDJT in Milwaukee and WGNX
in Atlanta — both cities that are home to NASCAR races — and WWJ
in Detroit, close to Michigan International Speedway
, were on the UHF
band (channels 14–69), meaning that they had a significantly reduced broadcast area compared to former affiliates WITI, WAGA-TV
, and WJBK
, respectively. WDJT was not available in many Wisconsin markets by the time the Daytona 500 took place.
Mario Andretti
, born in Italy
, is the only driver to win the race not from the United States
.
† – Andretti
was born in a part of Italy
that is now in Croatia
, but became a naturalized American citizen.
‡ – Record for fastest Daytona 500 at 177.602 mph (285.8 km/h) set by Buddy Baker
in 1980.
1 – Originally started 39th, but had to go back to the 43rd position due to changing to a backup car after crashing in the qualifying races. A driver who crashes during the qualifying race and goes to a backup car, or after 2003, changes an engine between the first practice after the qualifying race and the Daytona 500, is relegated to the rear of the field.
The following races have been shortened:
The following races have been lengthened because of the green-white-checker finish
. Note that from July 25, 2004 until November 22, 2009, only one attempt was permitted in Sprint Cup Series racing. Starting February 11, 2010, a maximum of three attempts was permitted.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
in Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
. It is one of four restrictor plate
Restrictor plate
A restrictor plate or air restrictor is a device installed at the intake of an engine to limit its power. This kind of system is occasionally used in road vehicles for insurance purposes, but mainly in automobile racing, to limit top speed and thus increase safety, to provide equal level of...
races on the Cup schedule.
The Daytona 500 is regarded as the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar, carrying by far the largest purse. Championship points awarded are equal to that of any other Sprint Cup race. It is also the series' first race of the year; this phenomenon is virtually unique in sports, which tend to have championships or other major events at the end of the season rather than the start. Since 1995, U.S. television ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
for the Daytona 500 have been the highest for any auto race of the year, surpassing the traditional leader, the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
which in turn greatly surpasses the Daytona 500 in in-track attendance and international viewing. The 2006 Daytona 500 attracted the sixth largest average live global TV audience of any sporting event that year with 20 million viewers.
The event serves as the final event of Speedweeks
Speedweeks
Hershey's Milk & Milkshake Speedweeks is a name given to a three-week series of auto races held at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States of America in early February...
and is sometimes referred to as "The Great American Race" or the "Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
of Stock Car Racing." It is held the second or third Sunday in February, and since 1971, has been loosely associated with both Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
and the Presidents Day weekend. On February 20, 2011 it was announced that the 54th running of the race will be moved one week later to February 26, 2012.
The winner of the Daytona 500 is presented with the Harley J. Earl Trophy
Harley J. Earl Trophy
The Harley J. Earl Trophy is the trophy presented to the winner of the premier, and season-opening, event of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing , the Daytona 500. It is named after influential automobile designer Harley Earl, who served as the second commissioner of NASCAR...
in Victory Lane, and the winning car is displayed, in race-winning condition, for one year at Daytona 500 Experience, a museum and gallery adjacent to Daytona International Speedway.
Origins
Daytona Beach Road Course
Daytona Beach Road Course was a race track that was instrumental in the formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR. It originally became famous as the location where fifteen world land speed records were set...
. This long square was partially on the sand and also on the highway near the beach. Earlier events featured 200 miles (321.9 km) races with stock cars. Eventually, a 500 miles (805 km) stock car race
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
was held at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
in 1959. It was the second 500-miler, following the Southern 500
Southern 500
The Showtime Southern 500 is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA, and is the second such event at Darlington to bear the name. It began in 1957 as a race in the Convertible Division, known as the Rebel 300. In 1966, the race was...
, and has been held every year since. By 1961, it began to be referred to as the "Daytona 500", by which it is still commonly known.
Daytona International Speedway is 2.5 miles (4 km) long and a 500-mile race requires 200 laps to complete. However, the race is considered official after half its distance (100 laps or 250 miles (402.3 km)) have been completed. The race has been shortened four times due to rain (in 1965, 1966, 2003, and 2009) and once in response to the energy crisis of 1974. It has been extended five times (2005–2007 and 2010–2011) to allow for a green-white-checker finish
Green-white-checker finish
The green-white-checker finish is a rule implemented into many levels of automobile racing in the United States. When the race would otherwise end during a yellow-flag caution condition , this rule gives the field an attempt to finish the race under a green-flag, racing condition...
.
Qualifying procedure
The qualifying procedure is unique for the Daytona 500. Some teams must race their way into the Daytona 500 field. The first row is set by a timed round of qualifying, held one week before the race. (Prior to 2003, this was two rounds; prior to 2001, it was three.) The remainder of the field is set by two separate qualifying races (these were 100 miles (160.9 km) from 1959–1967; 125 miles (201.2 km) from 1969–2004; and 150 miles (241.4 km), with two-lap overtime if necessary, beginning in 2005 (These races were not held in 1968 because of rain). The top two drivers from the qualifying races that are not in the top 35 in owner points are given spots on the field, and the rest is set by the finishing order of the duels, with guaranteed spots to those in the top 35. The remaining spots, 40 to 43 are filled by top qualifying times of those not already in the field from the qualifying race. If there is a previous NASCAR Champion without a spot, he will get one of those four spots, otherwise, the fourth fastest car is added to the field.Prior to 2005, after the top two cars were set, the top 14 cars in the qualifying races advanced to the field, and then between six (1998–2003), eight (1995–97, 2004), or ten (until 1994) fastest cars which did not advance from the qualifying race were added, and, since 1976, between one and seven cars were added by previous year's points performance and or championship, except for 1985, when no such car was eligible for a provisional starting spot, the only time that happened in the Daytona 500 from when the provisional was added in 1976 through 2004.
Television
The Daytona 500 was the first 500 miles (804.7 km) auto race to be televised live flag-to-flag on network television when CBS aired it in 1979, continuing to air until 2000. From 2001 to 2006, the race alternated between FOXFox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
under the terms of a six-year, $2.48 billion NASCAR television contract. Starting in 2007, FOX became the exclusive home of the Daytona 500 under the terms of NASCAR's new television package.
A byproduct of both the track's 1998 lighting system and both the 2001 and 2007 television packages has been later start times. The race started at 12:15 pm (EST) from 1979 until 2000. The start time was moved to 2:30 pm (EST) for the convenience of west coast viewers. The 2005 race ended at sunset for the first time in its history, and the 2006 race ended well after sunset. The changing track conditions caused by the onset of darkness in the closing laps force the crew chiefs to predict the critical car setup adjustments needed for their final two pit stops. Since then, all races have ended after dark, with the 2007 race ending in prime time, at 7:07 pm (EST). However, in 2010, the race moved back to a 1:00 pm start time, which should have resulted in it ending in daylight; however, two red flags caused by track surface issues led to long delays that pushed the race to 7:34 PM EST, pushing the race into prime-time for the second time.
The television ratings for the Daytona 500 have surpassed those of the larger Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
(which has much larger physical attendance and international attendance) since 1995, even though the 1995 race was available in much fewer homes than the year before. Then-broadcaster CBS had lost well-established VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
(channels 2–13) affiliates in major markets as a result of the Fox affiliate switches of 1994
Fox affiliate switches of 1994
The United States television network affiliate switches of 1994 were a series of events resulting from a multi-million dollar deal between Fox Broadcasting Company, known commonly as Fox, and New World Communications, an owner of several VHF television stations affiliated with major networks,...
. As an example, new affiliates WDJT in Milwaukee and WGNX
WGCL-TV
WGCL-TV, virtual channel 46.1 is the CBS-affiliated television station serving the Atlanta, Georgia area. Its city of license is Atlanta, and the station is owned by Meredith Corporation, making it the largest-market CBS station not owned by the network...
in Atlanta — both cities that are home to NASCAR races — and WWJ
WWJ-TV
WWJ-TV, virtual channel 62 , is the CBS-owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan. It is co-owned with Detroit's CW station, WKBD-TV , and the two stations share a studio in Southfield, Michigan, a Detroit suburb....
in Detroit, close to Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
, were on the UHF
Ultra high frequency
Ultra-High Frequency designates the ITU Radio frequency range of electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz , also known as the decimetre band or decimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decimetres...
band (channels 14–69), meaning that they had a significantly reduced broadcast area compared to former affiliates WITI, WAGA-TV
WAGA-TV
WAGA-TV, virtual channel 5.1 is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Television Network and based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
, and WJBK
WJBK
WJBK is the Fox–owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan broadcasting on digital channel 7...
, respectively. WDJT was not available in many Wisconsin markets by the time the Daytona 500 took place.
List of Daytona 500 winners
For NASCAR Grand National winners at Daytona from 1949–1958, see Daytona Beach & Road Course.Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
, born in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, is the only driver to win the race not from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
| Year | Date | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Car # |
Start | Winner's Prize (USD United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ) |
Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laps | Miles (Km) | ||||||||||
| First Annual 500 Mile International Sweepstakes | |||||||||||
| 1959 1959 Daytona 500 The 1959 First Annual 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona was the second race of the 1959 NASCAR Grand National season. It was held on February 22, 1959, in front of 41,921 spectators... |
February 22 | Lee Petty Lee Petty Lee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:... |
Petty Enterprises Petty Enterprises Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from... |
Oldsmobile Oldsmobile Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory... |
42 | 15th | $19,050 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:41:22 | 135.521 |
| Second Annual 500 Mile International Sweepstakes | |||||||||||
| 1960 1960 Daytona 500 The 1960 Daytona 500 was won by Junior Johnson driving a 1959 Chevrolet. Johnson drove the number 27 to victory in just over four hours after starting in the 9th position. Johnson took the lead with nine laps remaining when Bobby Johns spun, and Johnson went on to win the race. The win was... |
February 24 | Junior Johnson Junior Johnson Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966... |
John Masoni John Masoni John Masoni is a former NASCAR Grand National Series car owner whose career lasted from 1960 to 1961.-Summary:His employees included Junior Johnson, Marvin Panch, Jim Paschal, and David Pearson... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
27 | 9th | $19,600 | 200 | 500 (805) | 4:00:30 | 124.740 |
| Daytona 500 | |||||||||||
| 1961 1961 Daytona 500 The 1961 Daytona 500 was won by Marvin Panch, who originally did not have a ride entering the 500, wasdriving a 1960 Pontiac on February 26, 1961. Panch drove the number 20 to victory in three hours and 20 minutes. The race was run in its entirety without a single caution flag. Panch took the... |
February 26 | Marvin Panch Marvin Panch Marvin Panch Marvin Panch Marvin Panch (born May 28, 1926, in Menomonie, Wisconsin, is a former NASCAR driver.-Early career:He started his racing career as a car owner in Oakland, California. One week, his driver did not show up, and he raced the car to a third place finish... |
Smokey Yunick Smokey Yunick Henry "Smokey" Yunick was an American mechanic and car designer associated with motorsports. Yunick was deeply involved in the early years of NASCAR, and he is probably most associated with that racing genre... |
Pontiac Pontiac Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the... |
20 | 4th | $21,050 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:20:32 | 149.601 |
| 1962 1962 Daytona 500 The 1962 Daytona 500 was a NASCAR race held at Daytona International Speedway in 1962. It was won by Fireball Roberts driving a 1962 Pontiac. Roberts drove his famous number 22 to victory in three hours and 10 minutes. The race was run in its entirety without a single caution flag. Roberts... |
February 18 | Fireball Roberts Fireball Roberts Edward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:... |
Jim Stephens Jim Stephens James Walter "Jim" Stephens was a former Major League Baseball catcher who played six seasons with the St. Louis Browns of the American League from to . A weak hitter, he had a career .220 batting average, and hit three home runs in his career, all in the 1909 season... |
Pontiac | 22 | Pole | $24,190 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:10:41 | 152.529 |
| 1963 1963 Daytona 500 The 1963 Daytona 500 was won by Tiny Lund driving a 1963 Ford. Lund drove his number 21 to victory in three hours and 17 minutes. There were 2 cautions flags which slowed the race for 10 laps. Lund filled in for an injured Marvin Panch, who suffered injuries after a crash in a Maserati was... |
February 24 | Tiny Lund Tiny Lund DeWayne Louis "Tiny" Lund was a NASCAR driver. He was ironically nicknamed "Tiny" due to his rather large and imposing size.-Background:... |
Wood Brothers Racing Wood Brothers Racing Wood Brothers Racing is an American auto racing team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series. The team was formed in 1950 by the sons of Walter and Ada Wood, thus the Wood Brothers... |
Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
21 | 12th | $24,550 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:17:56 | 151.566 |
| 1964 1964 Daytona 500 The 1964 Daytona 500 was a NASCAR race held at Daytona International Speedway in 1964. It was won by Richard Petty driving a 1964 Plymouth. Petty drove his number 43 to victory in three hours and 14 minutes. There were 2 caution flags which slowed the race for 10 laps.... |
February 23 | Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series... |
Petty Enterprises (2) | Plymouth Plymouth (automobile) Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:... |
43 | 2nd | $33,300 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:14:23 | 154.334 |
| 1965 1965 Daytona 500 The 1965 Daytona 500 was won by Fred Lorenzen driving a 1965 Ford on February 14, 1965. Lorenzen drove his number 28 to victory in 2 hours and 23 minutes after starting the race in the fourth position. There were 3 cautions flags which slowed the race for 43 laps. Lorenzen won the rain shortened... |
February 14 | Fred Lorenzen Fred Lorenzen Fred Lorenzen , nicknamed The Golden Boy, Fast Freddie, The Elmhurst Express and Flyin Freddy, is a former NASCAR driver active between 1958 and 1972. He won the 1965 Daytona 500. Lorenzen was born in Elmurst, Illinois.-Early career:Lorenzen first caught the car bug young, and had built his first... |
Holman-Moody | Ford | 28 | 4th | $27,100 | 133* | 332.5 (535) | 2:22:56 | 141.539 |
| 1966 1966 Daytona 500 The 1966 Daytona 500 was won by Richard Petty driving a 1966 Plymouth on February 27, 1966. Petty drove his number 43 to victory in just over three hours after starting the race on the pole. There were four caution flags which slowed the race for 22 laps. Petty came from two laps down to win the... |
February 27 | Richard Petty (2) | Petty Enterprises (3) | Plymouth | 43 | Pole | $28,150 | 198* | 495 (797) | 3:04:54 | 160.927 |
| 1967 1967 Daytona 500 The 1967 Daytona 500 was run on February 26, 1967. Mario Andretti, better known for his accomplishments in open-wheel and USAC competition won his first and only NASCAR Grand National event. He ran in a Holman-Moody Ford. Thirty years later in 1997, his nephew John Andretti would win his first... |
February 26 | Mario Andretti Mario Andretti Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR... |
Holman-Moody (2) | Ford | 11 | 12th | $48,900 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:24:11 | 146.926 |
| 1968 1968 Daytona 500 The 1968 Daytona 500 was won by Cale Yarborough driving a 1968 Mercury on February 25, 1968. Yarborough drove his number 21 to victory in just over 3 hours and 23 minutes after starting the race on the pole. There were 11 cautions flags which slowed the race for a total of 60 laps. Yarborough... |
February 25 | Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships... |
Wood Brothers Racing (2) | Mercury Mercury (automobile) Mercury was an automobile marque of the Ford Motor Company launched in 1938 by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to market entry-level luxury cars slotted between Ford-branded regular models and Lincoln-branded luxury vehicles, similar to General Motors' Buick brand, and Chrysler's namesake brand... |
21 | Pole | $47,250 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:23:44 | 143.251 |
| 1969 1969 Daytona 500 The 1969 Daytona 500 was the third race of the 1969 NASCAR Grand National season. It was the tenth official running and was run using its actual distance despite the fuel concerns at the time... |
February 23 | LeeRoy Yarbrough LeeRoy Yarbrough Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough was a NASCAR racer. His best season was 1969 when he won seven races, tallied 21 finishes in the top-ten and earned $193,211... |
Junior Johnson Junior Johnson Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966... |
Ford | 98 | 19th | $38,950 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:09:56 | 157.950 |
| 1970 1970 Daytona 500 The 1970 Daytona 500 was a stock car automobile race run on February 22nd, 1970. The race marked the start of NASCAR's modern era and it was the first race for the winged Plymouth Superbird. Pete Hamilton who was hired by Petty Enterprises shortly before the season won the race in the #40 Plymouth... |
February 22 | Pete Hamilton Pete Hamilton Pete Hamilton is a retired American NASCAR racer. He won four times in his career , three times driving for Petty Enterprises. His father was a Ph.D. from Harvard University.... |
Petty Enterprises (4) | Plymouth | 40 | 9th | $44,850 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:20:32 | 149.601 |
| 1971 1971 Daytona 500 The 1971 Daytona 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series event held on February 14, 1971 at the Daytona International Speedway spanning on a paved oval track. All of the racing action commenced during daytime hours and ended prior to dusk since there was no lighting available until at least the 1998... |
February 14 | Richard Petty (3) | Petty Enterprises (5) | Plymouth | 43 | 5th | $45,450 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:27:40 | 144.462 |
| 1972 1972 Daytona 500 The 1972 Daytona 500 was won by A.J. Foyt driving a 1971 Mercury on February 20, 1972.- Summary :Foyt drove his number 21 to victory in more than three hours after starting the race outside front-row position. There were three cautions flags which slowed the race for a total of 17 laps. Foyt... |
February 20 | A.J. Foyt | Wood Brothers Racing (3) | Mercury | 21 | 2nd | $44,600 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:05:42 | 161.550 |
| 1973 1973 Daytona 500 The 1973 Daytona 500 was won by Richard Petty after three hours, ten minutes, and fifty seconds of racing on February 18, 1973 at Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA. Four cautions were given out over a period of 28 laps. A crowd of over one hundred thousand people came to... |
February 18 | Richard Petty (4) | Petty Enterprises (6) | Dodge Dodge Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide.... |
43 | 7th | $36,100 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:10:50 | 157.205 |
| 1974 1974 Daytona 500 During the start of the 1974 NASCAR season, many races had their distance cut ten percent in response to the energy crisis of the year. As a result, the 1974 Daytona 500, won by Richard Petty , was shortened to 180 laps , as symbolically, the race "started" on Lap 21 and the race is often known as... |
February 17 | Richard Petty (5) | Petty Enterprises (7) | Dodge | 43 | 2nd | $39,650 | 180* | 450 (724) | 3:11:38 | 140.894 |
| 1975 1975 Daytona 500 The 1975 Daytona 500 was a crucial race in NASCAR Winston Cup Series history.-Summary:From the start, it appeared that David Pearson was on his way to his first Daytona 500 victory as he built a sizable lead on second place Benny Parsons late in the race... |
February 16 | Benny Parsons Benny Parsons Benjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT... |
L.G. DeWitt L.G. DeWitt L.G. DeWitt was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car owner from 1965 to 1980.-Career summary:His ownership career consists of employing the famous names in NASCAR history like John Sears, Henley Gray, Elmo Langley, LeeRoy Yarborough, Benny Parsons, and Joe Millikan... |
Chevrolet | 72 | 32nd | $43,905 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:15:15 | 153.649 |
| 1976 1976 Daytona 500 In the 1976 Daytona 500, Richard Petty was leading on the last lap when he was passed on the backstretch by David Pearson. Petty tried to turn under Pearson coming off the final corner, but didn't clear Pearson. The contact caused the drivers to spin in to the grass in the infield just short of the... |
February 15 | David Pearson | Wood Brothers Racing (4) | Mercury | 21 | 7th | $46,800 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:17:08 | 152.181 |
| 1977 1977 Daytona 500 The 1977 Daytona 500 was held on February 20, 1977 and the second race of the 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season. Cale Yarborough won his second victory of this event and would lead to his second straight title. Donnie Allison was the pole-sitter for the second time in this event. Janet Guthrie... |
February 20 | Cale Yarborough (2) | Junior Johnson (2) | Chevrolet | 11 | 4th | $63,700 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:15:48 | 153.218 |
| 1978 1978 Daytona 500 The 1978 Daytona 500 began with what looked like a runaway victory for Richard Petty who brought a brand new Dodge Magnum to the race.Starting in sixth place, Petty quickly took the lead and would lead 32 out of the first 60 laps, all of which were run under green flag conditions, resulting in the... |
February 19 | Bobby Allison Bobby Allison Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other.... |
Bud Moore Engineering Bud Moore Engineering Bud Moore Engineering was a championship-winning NASCAR team. It was owned and operated by mechanic Bud Moore and ran out of Spartanburg, South Carolina. While the team was a dominant force in the 60s and 80s, the final years were tumultuous due to lack of sponorship and uncompetitive race cars.-... |
Ford | 15 | 33rd | $56,300 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:07:49 | 159.730 |
| 1979 1979 Daytona 500 The 1979 Daytona 500 was the second race of the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup season. It was held on February 18, 1979. Critics consider the 1979 Daytona 500 to be the most important race in stock car history.... |
February 18 | Richard Petty (6) | Petty Enterprises (8) | Oldsmobile | 43 | 13th | $73,900 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:28:22 | 143.977 |
| 1980 1980 Daytona 500 Buddy Baker started the decade by winning the fastest Daytona 500 in history, at 177.602 mph , it was Baker's only 500 win and did so in his 18th start, the longest until Dale Earnhardt in 1998. The race was also marked by the death of Ricky Knotts who was killed on the 15th lap of the Gatorade... |
February 17 | Buddy Baker Buddy Baker Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr. , nicknamed "Leadfoot" or more famously Buddy, is a former American NASCAR racecar driver.-Early life:... |
Harry Rainer | Oldsmobile | 28 | Pole | $102,175 | 200 | 500 (805) | 2:48:55 | 177.602‡ |
| 1981 1981 Daytona 500 The 1981 event saw Richard Petty take an amazing gamble to win his 7th Daytona 500. With 24 laps to go, Petty came to the pits for his final scheduled pit stop, but instead of changing tires, only took on fuel. It worked well as Petty became the first driver to win the Daytona 500 in three... |
February 15 | Richard Petty (7) | Petty Enterprises (9) | Buick Buick Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make... |
43 | 8th | $90,575 | 200 | 500 (805) | 2:56:50 | 169.651 |
| 1982 1982 Daytona 500 The 1982 Daytona 500 was the first race of the 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup season. Bobby Allison would take the win in the #88 Gatorade Buick Regal. Allison holds the distinstion of leading the most laps in consecutive Daytona 500s in 1981 and 1982 and then win the next year.- Bumpergate :Allison's win... |
February 14 | Bobby Allison (2) | DiGard Motorsports DiGard Motorsports DiGard Motorsports was a championship-winning race team in NASCAR Winston Cup that had its most success in the late 1970s and early 1980s... |
Buick | 88 | 7th | $120,360 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:14:49 | 153.991 |
| 1983 1983 Daytona 500 In 1983, Cale Yarborough was the first driver to run a qualifying lap of more than at the 1983 Daytona 500 in his #28 Hardees Chevrolet Monte Carlo. However, on his second of two qualifying laps, Yarborough crashed and flipped his car in turn four. The car had to be withdrawn, and the lap did not... |
February 20 | Cale Yarborough (3) | Harry Ranier (2) | Pontiac | 28 | 8th | $119,600 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:12:20 | 155.979 |
| 1984 1984 Daytona 500 In 1984, Cale Yarborough completed a lap of , officially breaking the barrier at Daytona. He won the race for the second year in a row, and fourth time in his career, with the identical last-lap pass, this time victimizing Darrell Waltrip who would later go on to win the same race in... |
February 19 | Cale Yarborough (4) | Harry Ranier (3) | Chevrolet | 28 | Pole | $160,300 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:18:41 | 150.994 |
| 1985 1985 Daytona 500 The 1985 Daytona 500 was run on February 17, 1985 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole. The race restarted on the last lap after a Neil Bonnett spin out with less than four laps to go, Bonnett got out of his car and was credited for a 10th place finish... |
February 17 | Bill Elliott Bill Elliott William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup... |
Melling Racing Melling Racing Melling Racing was a NASCAR team that ran from 1982 to 2002. The team won the 1988 championship with driver Bill Elliott.-History:Owner Harry Melling first became involved in NASCAR when his company Melling Tool sponsored Benny Parsons in 1979. The team began in 1982 with driver Bill Elliott by... |
Ford | 9 | Pole | $185,500 | 200 | 500 (805) | 2:54:09 | 172.265 |
| 1986 1986 Daytona 500 The 28th annual Daytona 500 was held February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. The #9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.Top Ten Results# 5-Geoff Bodine*# 44-Terry Labonte # 11-Darrell Waltrip # 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr... |
February 16 | Geoffrey Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
Chevrolet | 5 | 2nd | $192,715 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:22:32 | 148.124 |
| 1987 1987 Daytona 500 The 29th annual Daytona 500 was held February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.Top Ten Results# 9-Bill Elliott# 35-Benny Parsons# 43-Richard Petty# 88-Buddy Baker# 3-Dale Earnhardt# 22-Bobby Allison# 90-Ken Schrader... |
February 15 | Bill Elliott (2) | Melling Racing (2) | Ford | 9 | Pole | $204,150 | 200 | 500 (805) | 2:50:12 | 176.263 |
| 1988 1988 Daytona 500 The 1988 Daytona 500 was held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole. The race is best remembered for Richard Petty's spectacular rollover crash in the tri-oval on lap 106, initiated when he was tagged from behind by Phil Barkdoll. Petty rolled over about eight... |
February 14 | Bobby Allison (3) | Stavola Brothers Racing Stavola Brothers Racing 8--98.194.31.156 16:33, 27 November 2011 Stavola Brothers Racing was a NASCAR racing team, owned by Bill and Mickey Stavola, and operating NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series teams from 1984 through 1998. The team won the 1988 Daytona 500 with Bobby Allison behind the wheel of the #12 Miller High... |
Buick | 12 | 3rd | $202,940 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:38:08 | 137.531 |
| 1989 1989 Daytona 500 The 31st annual Daytona 500 was held February 19 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole for the second time in a row.-General information:... |
February 19 | Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,... |
Hendrick Motorsports (2) | Chevrolet | 17 | 2nd | $184,900 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:22:04 | 148.466 |
| 1990 1990 Daytona 500 The 1990 Daytona 500 was run on February 18, 1990.-Race review:Ken Schrader won the pole with a speed of . In the Thursday Gatorade 125-mile qualifier, he crashed on the last lap and had to use a backup car on Sunday. He quickly passed several cars at the start. By the first caution flag, Schrader... |
February 18 | Derrike Cope Derrike Cope Derrike Cope is a NASCAR driver. He is best known for his win in the 1990 Daytona 500. He currently drives the #28 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson Racing in the Nationwide Series and the #75 Chevrolet/Dodge for his own team in the Sprint Cup Series.-Early years:Cope was born in San Diego, California... |
Bob Whitcomb | Chevrolet | 10 | 12th | $188,150 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:00:59 | 165.761 |
| Daytona 500 by STP | |||||||||||
| 1991 1991 Daytona 500 The 1991 Daytona 500 by STP was held February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Davey Allison won the pole. In the first Gatorade 125 on Thursday, Richard Petty edged Hut Stricklin for second place, placing The King 3rd on the grid.-Pre-race Notes:... |
February 17 | Ernie Irvan Ernie Irvan Virgil Earnest Irvan, more commonly known as Ernie Irvan is a former race driver in NASCAR. He is best remembered for his comeback after a serious head injury at Michigan International Speedway which earned him numerous awards and respect from his fellow drivers... |
Morgan-McClure Motorsports Morgan-McClure Motorsports Morgan-McClure Motorsports is an American auto racing team that competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time until 2007 and now occasionally attempts races. It has been in operation for 27 years, starting in 1982. The team is most notable for running the #4 from 1983 to 2009.-Starting... |
Chevrolet | 4 | 2nd | $233,000 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:22:30 | 148.148 |
| 1992 1992 Daytona 500 The 1992 Daytona 500 by STP was held February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. Sterling Marlin won the pole award for Junior Johnson in the #22 Maxwell House Ford. Richard Petty gave the command to start the engines from the cockpit of the famous #43 STP Pontiac in his final appearance in the... |
February 16 | Davey Allison Davey Allison David Carl "Davey" Allison was a NASCAR driver. He was best known for driving the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford for Robert Yates Racing in the Winston Cup Series. Born in Hollywood, Florida, he was the eldest of four children born to Bobby Allison and wife Judy... |
Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28 | 6th | $244,050 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:07:12 | 160.256 |
| 1993 1993 Daytona 500 The 1993 Daytona 500 by STP was held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Kyle Petty's Mello Yello-sponsored #42 won the pole, putting a Petty on the Daytona 500 pole for the first time since 1966, and only the second time ever. Kyle was also the first North Carolina driver to win the 500... |
February 14 | Dale Jarrett Dale Jarrett Dale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship... |
Joe Gibbs Racing Joe Gibbs Racing Joe Gibbs Racing is a group of NASCAR racing teams owned and operated by former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who first started racing on the NASCAR circuit in 1991, and J. D. Gibbs, his son... |
Chevrolet | 18 | 2nd | $238,200 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:13:35 | 154.972 |
| Daytona 500 | |||||||||||
| 1994 1994 Daytona 500 The 1994 Daytona 500 was held February 20 at Daytona International Speedway. ARCA graduate and Winston Cup rookie Loy Allen, Jr. in car #19 won the pole. Speedweeks 1994 was marked by tragedy when two drivers, Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr, were killed in separate practice accidents for this... |
February 20 | Sterling Marlin Sterling Marlin Sterling Marlin is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He is the son of late NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who sometimes races in the Nationwide Series.... |
Morgan-McClure Motorsports (2) | Chevrolet | 4 | 4th | $258,275 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:11:10 | 156.931 |
| 1995 1995 Daytona 500 The 1995 Daytona 500 was held February 19 at Daytona International Speedway. Dale Jarrett won his first career Winston Cup pole. This was Sterling Marlin's second Winston Cup win, both of which were in the Daytona 500... |
February 19 | Sterling Marlin (2) | Morgan-McClure Motorsports (3) | Chevrolet | 4 | 3rd | $300,460 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:31:42 | 141.710 |
| 1996 1996 Daytona 500 The 1996 Daytona 500 was run on February 18 on the Daytona International Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won his first Daytona 500 pole, leading many to believe he would finally win the race. Ernie Irvan returned to full-time competition alongside Earnhardt... |
February 18 | Dale Jarrett (2) | Robert Yates Racing (2) | Ford | 88 | 7th | $360,775 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:14:25 | 154.308 |
| 1997 1997 Daytona 500 The 1997 Daytona 500 was run on February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. The #31 of Mike Skinner won the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS.-Results:# 24-Jeff Gordon, Led 40 of 200 Laps# 5-Terry Labonte# 25-Ricky Craven... |
February 16 | Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the... |
Hendrick Motorsports (3) | Chevrolet | 24 | 6th | $377,410 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:22:18 | 148.295 |
| 1998 1998 Daytona 500 The 1998 Daytona 500 was run on February 15, 1998. It is memorable in that it marked Dale Earnhardt's only Daytona 500 victory after 19 previous attempts and many heartbreaking finishes. Not only was it Earnhardt's 20th 500 start, but also CBS's 20th consecutive live broadcast of the Daytona 500... |
February 15 | Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR... |
Richard Childress Racing Richard Childress Racing RCR Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Richard Childress Racing, is a NASCAR team based in Welcome, North Carolina, and is owned and operated by former driver Richard Childress... |
Chevrolet | 3 | 4th | $1,059,805 | 200 | 500 (805) | 2:53:42 | 172.712 |
| 1999 1999 Daytona 500 The 1999 Daytona 500 was held February 14, 1999 at Daytona International Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. In winning the race as well, he became the first Daytona 500 pole sitter to win the race since Bill Elliott in 1987. This race is known for Gordon's daring three-wide pass on Rusty Wallace... |
February 14 | Jeff Gordon (2) | Hendrick Motorsports (4) | Chevrolet | 24 | Pole | $1,172,246 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:05:42 | 161.551 |
| 2000 2000 Daytona 500 The 2000 Daytona 500 was held February 20 at Daytona International Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole. This was the last Daytona 500 to be televised by CBS, and thus the last 500 broadcast for Buddy Baker and Ned Jarrett. Due to failing to qualify, that ends Dave Marcis streak of making the... |
February 20 | Dale Jarrett (3) | Robert Yates Racing (3) | Ford | 88 | Pole | $1,277,975 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:12:43 | 155.669 |
| Dodge Daytona 500 | |||||||||||
| 2001 2001 Daytona 500 The 2001 Daytona 500, the 43rd running of the event, was held on February 18, 2001 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida over 200 laps on the 2.5 mile asphalt tri-oval. Bill Elliott won the pole. The race will be forever remembered for the final lap... |
February 18 | Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in... |
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. was a NASCAR-related organization located in Mooresville, North Carolina, United States working to continue the legacy of Dale Earnhardt. It was originally formed in 1980 by seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt who died in a crash on the closing lap of the 2001... |
Chevrolet | 15 | 19th | $1,331,185 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:05:26 | 161.783 |
| Daytona 500 | |||||||||||
| 2002 2002 Daytona 500 The 2002 Daytona 500 was held on February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. The race was won by Ward Burton. Rookie Jimmie Johnson won the pole, with fellow Daytona 500 rookie Kevin Harvick qualifying second, the first time the field would be led by two rookies... |
February 17 | Ward Burton Ward Burton John Edward Burton III is an American NASCAR auto racer, who has a total of five career Sprint Cup wins. He last drove the #4 State Water Heaters Chevrolet Impala SS for Morgan-McClure Motorsports in 2007. He is the older brother of fellow NASCAR driver Jeff Burton, against whom he first... |
Bill Davis Racing Bill Davis Racing Bill Davis Racing was a racing team that participated in all three of NASCAR's top divisions until 2009.The team had run Toyota-branded stock cars and trucks in both the Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series since 2007. Dodge, Ford, and Pontiac previously backed the team... |
Dodge | 22 | 19th | $1,389,017 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:29:50 | 130.810 |
| 2003 2003 Daytona 500 The 2003 Daytona 500 was held on February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. 2000 NASCAR Busch Series champion Jeff Green won his second career Winston Cup pole . The race ended after 109 laps when rain had begun pouring on the track. During the race, Ryan Newman had a wild accident in the... |
February 16 | Michael Waltrip (2) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (2) | Chevrolet | 15 | 4th | $1,419,406 | 109* | 272.5 (439) | 2:02:08 | 133.870 |
| 2004 2004 Daytona 500 The 2004 Daytona 500 was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. The race was the 46th running of the Daytona 500, and the first race in what is now referred as the Sprint Nextel era. The race was televised by NBC, with Allen Bestwick, 1975 winner... |
February 15 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. * NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."... |
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (3) | Chevrolet | 8 | 3rd | $1,495,070 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:11:53 | 156.341 |
| 2005 2005 Daytona 500 The 2005 Daytona 500 was held on February 20 at the Daytona International Speedway. The Grand Marshal was Matthew McConaughey. Dale Jarrett started on pole, but lost the first lap to Jimmie Johnson, and fell back down the field after a small bump from behind from Dale Earnhardt Jr.The first caution... |
February 20 | Jeff Gordon (3) | Hendrick Motorsports (5) | Chevrolet | 24 | 15th | $1,497,150 | 203* | 507.5 (817) | 3:45:16 | 135.173 |
| 2006 2006 Daytona 500 The 2006 Daytona 500 was the first race in the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. It took place on February 19, 2006 at Daytona International Speedway.-Qualifying and Gatorade Duels:... |
February 19 | Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.... |
Hendrick Motorsports (6) | Chevrolet | 48 | 9th | $1,505,120 | 203* | 507.5 (817) | 3:33:26 | 142.734 |
| Daytona 500 presented by Toyota | |||||||||||
| 2007 2007 Daytona 500 The 2007 Daytona 500 was the first race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, taking place on February 18, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Kevin Harvick won the race by .02 second over Mark Martin in the closest finish since the first race at Daytona... |
February 18 | Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala... |
Richard Childress Racing (2) | Chevrolet | 29 | 34th | $1,510,469 | 202* | 505 (813) | 3:22:55 | 149.333 |
| Daytona 500 | |||||||||||
| 2008 2008 Daytona 500 The 2008 Daytona 500 was the 50th annual running of "The Great American Race", the Daytona 500. The race took place on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race was the 50th to be run since the first in 1959, won by Lee Petty. To commemorate... |
February 17 | Ryan Newman Ryan Newman Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering... |
Penske Championship Racing | Dodge | 12 | 7th | $1,543,045 | 200 | 500 (805) | 3:16:30 | 152.672 |
| 2009 2009 Daytona 500 The 2009 Daytona 500, the fifty-first running of Daytona 500, was the first points-paying race to open the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The race was won by Matt Kenseth making a car numbered 17 winning the Daytona 500 for the first time in 20 years since Darrell Waltrip's win back in 1989 and the... |
February 15 | Matt Kenseth Matt Kenseth Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing... |
Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 17 | 39th1 | $1,536,388 | 152* | 380 (612) | 2:51:40 | 132.816 |
| 2010 2010 Daytona 500 The 2010 Daytona 500 was the 52nd running of "The Great American Race", and it kicked off the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season on February 14 at the 2.5 mile Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Fox telecast the race while radio coverage was handled by Sirius XM Radio... |
February 14 | Jamie McMurray Jamie McMurray James Christopher "Jamie" McMurray is a professional American race car driver. McMurray is best known for winning the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 as a substitute driver in his second Winston Cup start, and is one of three drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year... |
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is a NASCAR team based in Concord, North Carolina, United States, owned by Dale Earnhardt's widow Teresa Earnhardt, Chip Ganassi, and Felix Sabates. This team was formed when Dale Earnhardt, Inc... |
Chevrolet | 1 | 13th | $1,514,649 | 208* | 520 (837) | 3:47:16 | 137.284 |
| 2011 2011 Daytona 500 The 2011 Daytona 500, the 53rd running of the event, was held on February 20, 2011 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida over 200 laps on the 2.5 mile asphalt tri-oval. First race of the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season, it was won by the Wood Brothers... |
February 20 | Trevor Bayne Trevor Bayne Trevor Bayne is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series race car driver. He drives the No. 21 Motorcraft/QuickLane Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, and the No. 16 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series.Bayne began his racing... |
Wood Brothers Racing (5) | Ford | 21 | 32nd | $1,463,810 | 208* | 520 (837) | 3:59:24 | 130.326 |
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
was born in a part of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
that is now in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, but became a naturalized American citizen.
‡ – Record for fastest Daytona 500 at 177.602 mph (285.8 km/h) set by Buddy Baker
Buddy Baker
Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr. , nicknamed "Leadfoot" or more famously Buddy, is a former American NASCAR racecar driver.-Early life:...
in 1980.
1 – Originally started 39th, but had to go back to the 43rd position due to changing to a backup car after crashing in the qualifying races. A driver who crashes during the qualifying race and goes to a backup car, or after 2003, changes an engine between the first practice after the qualifying race and the Daytona 500, is relegated to the rear of the field.
The following races have been shortened:
- 1965: 332.5 miles (133 laps) because of rain.
- 1966: 495 miles (198 laps) because of rain.
- 1974: 450 miles (180 laps) Race scheduled for 90% distance in response to the energy crisis1973 oil crisisThe 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
; scoring began on lap 21. - 2003: 272.5 miles (109 laps) because of rain.
- 2009: 380 miles (152 laps) because of rain.
The following races have been lengthened because of the green-white-checker finish
Green-white-checker finish
The green-white-checker finish is a rule implemented into many levels of automobile racing in the United States. When the race would otherwise end during a yellow-flag caution condition , this rule gives the field an attempt to finish the race under a green-flag, racing condition...
. Note that from July 25, 2004 until November 22, 2009, only one attempt was permitted in Sprint Cup Series racing. Starting February 11, 2010, a maximum of three attempts was permitted.
- 2005 and 2006: 507.5 miles (203 laps)
- 2007: 505 miles (202 laps)
- 2010: 520 miles (208 laps) (two attempts — Lap 203 and Lap 207; This was the first time a NASCAR Sprint Cup race used the Green-white-checker format 2 times to finish a race.
- 2011: 520 miles (208 laps); two attempts
Race winner records
Multiple victories
- 7 victories
- Richard PettyRichard PettyRichard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
(1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981)
- Richard Petty
- 4 victories
- Cale YarboroughCale YarboroughWilliam Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
(1968, 1977, 1983, 1984)
- Cale Yarborough
- 3 victories
- Bobby AllisonBobby AllisonRobert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
(1978, 1982, 1988) - Dale JarrettDale JarrettDale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
(1993, 1996, 2000) - Jeff GordonJeff GordonJeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
(1997, 1999, 2005)
- Bobby Allison
- 2 victories
- Bill ElliottBill ElliottWilliam Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
(1985, 1987) - Sterling MarlinSterling MarlinSterling Marlin is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He is the son of late NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who sometimes races in the Nationwide Series....
(1994, 1995) - Michael WaltripMichael WaltripMichael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
(2001, 2003)
- Bill Elliott
Consecutive victories
- Two consecutive victories
- Richard PettyRichard PettyRichard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
(1973–1974) - Cale YarboroughCale YarboroughWilliam Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
(1983–1984) - Sterling MarlinSterling MarlinSterling Marlin is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He is the son of late NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who sometimes races in the Nationwide Series....
(1994–1995)
- Richard Petty
Winners from the pole position
- 1962 Fireball RobertsFireball RobertsEdward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:...
- 1966 Richard PettyRichard PettyRichard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
- 1968 Cale YarboroughCale YarboroughWilliam Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
- 1980 Buddy BakerBuddy BakerElzie Wylie Baker, Jr. , nicknamed "Leadfoot" or more famously Buddy, is a former American NASCAR racecar driver.-Early life:...
- 1984 Cale Yarborough
- 1985 Bill ElliottBill ElliottWilliam Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
- 1987 Bill Elliott
- 1999 Jeff GordonJeff GordonJeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
- 2000 Dale JarrettDale JarrettDale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
Family winners
- Petty
- Father LeeLee PettyLee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:...
(1959) and son RichardRichard PettyRichard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
(1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981)
- Father Lee
- Allison
- Father BobbyBobby AllisonRobert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
(1978, 1982, 1988) and son DaveyDavey AllisonDavid Carl "Davey" Allison was a NASCAR driver. He was best known for driving the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford for Robert Yates Racing in the Winston Cup Series. Born in Hollywood, Florida, he was the eldest of four children born to Bobby Allison and wife Judy...
(1992)- The 1988 race was the third 1st–2nd finish by a father and son in a NASCAR Cup Series race.
- Father Bobby
- Earnhardt
- Father DaleDale EarnhardtRalph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
(1998) and son Dale Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Jr.* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
(2004)
- Father Dale
- Waltrip
- Brothers DarrellDarrell WaltripDarrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
(1989) and MichaelMichael WaltripMichael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
(2001, 2003)
- Brothers Darrell
Winners as both driver and owner
- Lee PettyLee PettyLee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:...
- Owner/driver: 1959
- Junior JohnsonJunior JohnsonRobert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966...
- Driver: 1960
- Owner: 1969, 1977
- Richard PettyRichard PettyRichard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
- Owner/driver: 1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981
- Owner: 1970
- Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtRalph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
- Driver: 1998
- Owner: 2001
Won Daytona 500 and Budweiser Shootout in same year
- 1982 Bobby AllisonBobby AllisonRobert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
- 1987 Bill ElliottBill ElliottWilliam Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
- 1996 Dale JarrettDale JarrettDale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
- 1997 Jeff GordonJeff GordonJeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
- 2000 Dale JarrettDale JarrettDale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
Won Daytona 500 and Gatorade Duel in same year
- 1962 Fireball RobertsFireball RobertsEdward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:...
(also won Daytona 500 pole position) - 1977 Cale YarboroughCale YarboroughWilliam Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
- 1984 Cale Yarborough (also won Daytona 500 pole position)
- 1985 Bill ElliottBill ElliottWilliam Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
(also won Daytona 500 pole position) - 1988 Bobby AllisonBobby AllisonRobert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
- 1995 Sterling MarlinSterling MarlinSterling Marlin is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He is the son of late NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who sometimes races in the Nationwide Series....
- 1998 Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtRalph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
- 2004 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Drivers whose first NASCAR Cup Series win was the Daytona 500
- 1963 Tiny LundTiny LundDeWayne Louis "Tiny" Lund was a NASCAR driver. He was ironically nicknamed "Tiny" due to his rather large and imposing size.-Background:...
- 1967 Mario AndrettiMario AndrettiMario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
- 1970 Pete HamiltonPete HamiltonPete Hamilton is a retired American NASCAR racer. He won four times in his career , three times driving for Petty Enterprises. His father was a Ph.D. from Harvard University....
- 1990 Derrike CopeDerrike CopeDerrike Cope is a NASCAR driver. He is best known for his win in the 1990 Daytona 500. He currently drives the #28 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson Racing in the Nationwide Series and the #75 Chevrolet/Dodge for his own team in the Sprint Cup Series.-Early years:Cope was born in San Diego, California...
- 2001 Michael WaltripMichael WaltripMichael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
- 2011 Trevor BayneTrevor BayneTrevor Bayne is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series race car driver. He drives the No. 21 Motorcraft/QuickLane Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, and the No. 16 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series.Bayne began his racing...
Drivers who won in their first Daytona 500 attempt (excluding inaugural race in 1959)
- 2011 Trevor BayneTrevor BayneTrevor Bayne is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series race car driver. He drives the No. 21 Motorcraft/QuickLane Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, and the No. 16 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series.Bayne began his racing...
(First rookie to win the Daytona 500)