List of Daytona 500 winners

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3-time race winner Jeff Gordon leads the field to the green flag of the 2015 Daytona 500.

This is a list of Daytona 500 winners. The Daytona 500 is a 500-mile-long (805 km) NASCAR Cup Series motor 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 first Daytona 500 was held in 1959, coinciding with the opening of the speedway, and since 1982, it has been the season-opening race of the Cup series.[1]

The Daytona 500 is regarded as the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar, carrying by far the largest purse.[2] Championship points awarded are equal to that of any other NASCAR 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.[3]

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". All 62 Daytona 500s since the first race in 1959 have been held in February. From 1971–2011, it was associated with Presidents Day weekend, taking place on the Sunday before the third Monday in February. For 2012, the race was pushed back a week, to the last Sunday of February. Because of inclement weather conditions on February 26, the day the 2012 Daytona 500 was supposed to be held, the race was postponed until the evening of Monday, February 27,[4] and it was not until the 2013 Daytona 500, which was held on February 24 of that year, that the race took place on the last Sunday of February for the first time.[5]

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. Michael McDowell is the race's incumbent champion after winning it in 2021.

List of winners[]

Winners of the Daytona 500
Year Date Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Report
Laps Miles (Km)
1959 February 22 15th 42 Lee Petty Petty Enterprises Oldsmobile 200 500 (804.672) 3:41:22 135.521 Report
1960 February 24 9th 27 Junior Johnson John Masoni Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 4:00:30 124.74 Report
1961 February 26 4th 20 Marvin Panch Smokey Yunick Pontiac 200 500 (804.672) 3:20:32 149.601 Report
1962 February 18 Pole 22 Fireball Roberts Jim Stephens Pontiac 200 500 (804.672) 3:10:41 152.529 Report
1963 February 24 12th 21 Tiny Lund Wood Brothers Racing Ford 200 500 (804.672) 3:17:56 151.566 Report
1964 February 23 2nd 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises (2) Plymouth 200 500 (804.672) 3:14:23 154.334 Report
1965 February 14 4th 28 Fred Lorenzen Holman-Moody Ford 133* 332.5 (535.106) 2:22:56 141.539 Report
1966 February 27 Pole 43 Richard Petty (2) Petty Enterprises (3) Plymouth 198* 495 (796.625) 3:04:54 160.927 Report
1967 February 26 12th 11 Mario Andretti Holman-Moody (2) Ford 200 500 (804.672) 3:24:11 146.926 Report
1968 February 25 Pole 21 Cale Yarborough Wood Brothers Racing (2) Mercury 200 500 (804.672) 3:23:44 143.251 Report
1969 February 23 19th 98 LeeRoy Yarbrough Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 200 500 (804.672) 3:09:56 157.95 Report
1970 February 22 9th 40 Pete Hamilton Petty Enterprises (4) Plymouth 200 500 (804.672) 3:20:32 149.601 Report
1971 February 14 5th 43 Richard Petty (3) Petty Enterprises (5) Plymouth 200 500 (804.672) 3:27:40 144.462 Report
1972 February 20 2nd 21 A. J. Foyt Wood Brothers Racing (3) Mercury 200 500 (804.672) 3:05:42 161.55 Report
1973 February 18 7th 43 Richard Petty (4) Petty Enterprises (6) Dodge 200 500 (804.672) 3:10:50 157.205 Report
1974 February 17 2nd 43 Richard Petty (5) Petty Enterprises (7) Dodge 180* 450 (724.205) 3:11:38 140.894 Report
1975 February 16 32nd 72 Benny Parsons L.G. DeWitt Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:15:15 153.649 Report
1976 February 15 7th 21 David Pearson Wood Brothers Racing (4) Mercury 200 500 (804.672) 3:17:08 152.181 Report
1977 February 20 4th 11 Cale Yarborough (2) Junior Johnson & Associates (2) Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:15:48 153.218 Report
1978 February 19 33rd 15 Bobby Allison Bud Moore Engineering Ford 200 500 (804.672) 3:07:49 159.73 Report
1979 February 18 13th 43 Richard Petty (6) Petty Enterprises (8) Oldsmobile 200 500 (804.672) 3:28:22 143.977 Report
1980 February 17 Pole 28 Buddy Baker Ranier-Lundy Oldsmobile 200 500 (804.672) 2:48:55 177.602‡ Report
1981 February 15 8th 43 Richard Petty (7) Petty Enterprises (9) Buick 200 500 (804.672) 2:56:50 169.651 Report
1982 February 14 7th 88 Bobby Allison (2) DiGard Motorsports Buick 200 500 (804.672) 3:14:49 153.991 Report
1983 February 20 8th 28 Cale Yarborough (3) Ranier-Lundy (2) Pontiac 200 500 (804.672) 3:12:20 155.979 Report
1984 February 19 Pole 28 Cale Yarborough (4) Ranier-Lundy (3) Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:18:41 150.994 Report
1985 February 17 Pole 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 200 500 (804.672) 2:54:09 172.265 Report
1986 February 16 2nd 5 Geoffrey Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:22:32 148.124 Report
1987 February 15 Pole 9 Bill Elliott (2) Melling Racing (2) Ford 200 500 (804.672) 2:50:12 176.263 Report
1988 February 14 3rd 12 Bobby Allison (3) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 200 500 (804.672) 3:38:08 137.531 Report
1989 February 19 2nd 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports (2) Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:22:04 148.466 Report
1990 February 18 12th 10 Derrike Cope Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:00:59 165.761 Report
1991 February 17 2nd 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:22:30 148.148 Report
1992 February 16 6th 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 200 500 (804.672) 3:07:12 160.256 Report
1993 February 14 2nd 18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:13:35 154.972 Report
1994 February 20 4th 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan-McClure Motorsports (2) Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:11:10 156.931 Report
1995 February 19 3rd 4 Sterling Marlin (2) Morgan-McClure Motorsports (3) Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:31:42 141.71 Report
1996 February 18 7th 88 Dale Jarrett (2) Robert Yates Racing (2) Ford 200 500 (804.672) 3:14:25 154.308 Report
1997 February 16 6th 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports (3) Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:22:18 148.295 Report
1998 February 15 4th 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 2:53:42 172.712 Report
1999 February 14 Pole 24 Jeff Gordon (2) Hendrick Motorsports (4) Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:05:42 161.551 Report
2000 February 20 Pole 88 Dale Jarrett (3) Robert Yates Racing (3) Ford 200 500 (804.672) 3:12:43 155.669 Report
2001 February 18 19th 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:05:26 161.783 Report
2002 February 17 19th 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 200 500 (804.672) 3:29:50 130.81 Report
2003 February 16 4th 15 Michael Waltrip (2) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (2) Chevrolet 109* 272.5 (438.546) 2:02:08 133.87 Report
2004 February 15 3rd 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (3) Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:11:53 156.341 Report
2005 February 20 15th 24 Jeff Gordon (3) Hendrick Motorsports (5) Chevrolet 203* 507.5 (816.742) 3:45:16 135.173 Report
2006 February 19 9th 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports (6) Chevrolet 203* 507.5 (816.742) 3:33:26 142.667 Report
2007 February 18 34th 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing (2) Chevrolet 202* 505 (812.719) 3:22:55 149.333 Report
2008 February 17 7th 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing Dodge 200 500 (804.672) 3:16:30 152.672 Report
2009 February 15 39th1 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 152* 380 (611.551) 2:51:40 132.816 Report
2010 February 14 13th 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 208* 520 (836.859) 3:47:16 137.284 Report
2011 February 20 32nd 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing (5) Ford 208* 520 (836.859) 3:59:24 130.326 Report
2012 February 27–28* 4th 17 Matt Kenseth (2) Roush Fenway Racing (2) Ford 202* 505 (812.719) 3:36:02 140.256 Report
2013 February 24 9th 48 Jimmie Johnson (2) Hendrick Motorsports (7) Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:08:23 159.25 Report
2014 February 23 9th 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2) Hendrick Motorsports (8) Chevrolet 200 500 (804.672) 3:26:29 145.29 Report
2015 February 22 5th 22 Joey Logano Team Penske (2) Ford 203* 507.5 (816.742) 3:08:02 161.939 Report
2016 February 21 11th 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing (2) Toyota 200 500 (804.672) 3:10:25 157.549 Report
2017 February 26 8th 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 200 500 (804.672) 3:29:31 143.187 Report
2018 February 18 14th 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing (3) Chevrolet 207* 517.5 (832.836) 3:26:15 150.545 Report
2019 February 17 10th 11 Denny Hamlin (2) Joe Gibbs Racing (3) Toyota 207* 517.5 (832.836) 3:45:55 137.440 Report
2020 February 16-17* 39th2 11 Denny Hamlin (3) Joe Gibbs Racing (4) Toyota 209* 522.5 (840.882) 3:42:10 141.11 Report
2021 February 14 17th 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 200 500 (804.672) 3:28:05 Report

† – Andretti was born in a part of Italy that is now in Croatia, but became a naturalized American citizen. He remains the only foreign-born driver to win the race.
‡ – Record for fastest Daytona 500 at 177.602 mph (285.823 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.
2 – Originally started 21st, but had to go back to the 39th position due to failing multiple inspections.

The following races were 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 1973 oil crisis; 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 were lengthened because of the green–white–checker finish. Note that from 2004 through 2009, only one attempt was permitted in NASCAR Cup Series racing. From 2010 to 2016, a maximum of three attempts were permitted. Since 2017, an unlimited number of attempts are permitted

  • 2005: 507.5 miles (203 laps)
  • 2006: 507.5 miles (203 laps)
  • 2007: 505 miles (202 laps)
  • 2010: 520 miles (208 laps) (two attempts — Lap 203 & Lap 207; This was the first time a NASCAR Cup Series race used the green-white-checker format 2 times to finish a race)
  • 2011: 520 miles (208 laps) two attempts  — Lap 203 & Lap 207
  • 2012: 505 miles (202 laps) one attempt
  • 2015: 507.5 miles (203 laps) one attempt
  • 2018: 517.5 miles (207 laps) one attempt
  • 2019: 517.5 miles (207 laps) one attempt
  • 2020: 522.5 miles (209 laps) two attempts  — Lap 204 & Lap 208

Two races have been rescheduled from their original dates:

  • 2012: Rescheduled from February 26 to February 27 at noon and later rescheduled to start at 7 p.m. because of rain. (This marks the first time the Daytona 500 was moved to Monday, and the first night-time Daytona 500 race.)[4]
  • 2020: Rescheduled from February 16 to February 17 at 4 p.m. because of rain.

The 2017 Daytona 500 was first time the "stage format" was used in the Daytona 500; it was set up in three stages similar to the all star race (but without the requirement to pit), where drivers are given an chance to pit if they wish to do so. Kyle Busch won the first stage earning him ten points in the new points format, Kevin Harvick won the second stage and Kurt Busch won the final stage in a dramatic last lap pass (passing Kyle Larson who ran out of gas) to win the race.

Multiple winners (drivers)[]

Multiple winning drivers of the Daytona 500[6]
No. Driver Years Won
7 Richard Petty 1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981
4 Cale Yarborough 1968, 1977, 1983, 1984
3 Bobby Allison 1978, 1982, 1988
Dale Jarrett 1993, 1996, 2000
Jeff Gordon 1997, 1999, 2005
Denny Hamlin 2016, 2019, 2020
2 Bill Elliott 1985, 1987
Sterling Marlin 1994, 1995
Michael Waltrip 2001, 2003
Matt Kenseth 2009, 2012
Jimmie Johnson 2006, 2013
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2004, 2014

Multiple winners (teams)[]

Multiple winning teams of the Daytona 500[7]
No. Team Years Won
9 Petty Enterprises 1959, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981
8 Hendrick Motorsports 1986, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014
5 Wood Brothers Racing 1963, 1968, 1972, 1976, 2011
4 Joe Gibbs Racing 1993, 2016, 2019, 2020
3 Ranier-Lundy 1980, 1983, 1984
Morgan-McClure Motorsports 1991, 1994, 1995
Robert Yates Racing 1992, 1996, 2000
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 2001, 2003, 2004
Richard Childress Racing 1998, 2007, 2018
2 Holman-Moody 1965, 1967
Junior Johnson & Associates 1969, 1977
Melling Racing 1985, 1987
Roush Fenway Racing 2009, 2012
Team Penske 2008, 2015

Manufacturer wins[]

Daytona 500 victories by car manufacturer[8]
No. Manufacturer Years Won
23 Chevrolet 1960, 1975, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018
16 Ford 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1978, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2021
4 Plymouth 1964, 1966, 1970, 1971
Dodge 1973, 1974, 2002, 2008
3 Mercury 1968, 1972, 1976
Oldsmobile 1959, 1979, 1980
Pontiac 1961, 1962, 1983
Buick 1981, 1982, 1988
Toyota 2016, 2019, 2020

References[]

  1. ^ Chad Culver (2014). Dover International Speedway: The Monster Mile. 53: Arcadia Publishing. p. 127. ISBN 1467121371.CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ "Culture, Class, Distinction"Bennett, Tony. Culture, Class, Distinction. Routledge (2009) Disaggregating cultural capital. English translation ISBN 0-415-42242-6 (hardcover).
  3. ^ "World's most watched TV sports events: 2006 Rank & Trends report". Initiative. 2007-01-19. Archived from the original on 2007-02-08. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  4. ^ a b Blount, Terry (2012-02-28). "Bizarre moments dominate Daytona 500 weekend". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  5. ^ "Last 10 Daytona 500 Winners". daytona500info.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  6. ^ "Winners of the Daytona 500". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Bernstein, Dan (February 18, 2020). "Daytona 500 winners: List of past champions, most wins in NASCAR history". Sporting News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  8. ^ "Daytona International Speedway Race Winners: NASCAR Cup Series". Motor Racing Network. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
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