List of Daytona 500 winners
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{{For|a list of pole winners|List of Daytona 500 pole position winners}}
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File:Green flag at Daytona.JPG leads the field to the start of the 2015 Daytona 500.]]
The Daytona 500 is an annual American stock car race sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and held every February at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.{{cite encyclopedia|last=Tikkanen|first=Amy|title=Daytona 500|url=https://www.britannica.com/sports/Daytona-500|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=March 6, 2024|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326095352/https://www.britannica.com/sports/Daytona-500|url-status=live}}{{cite encyclopedia|last=F. Moore|first=Charles|title=Daytona 500|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/daytona-500|encyclopedia=St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture|date=February 23, 2024|access-date=March 9, 2024|via=Encyclopedia.com|archive-date=March 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309093101/https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/daytona-500|url-status=live}} It was first held in 1959 after NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. wanted to take the sanctioning body away from the Daytona Beach and Road Course and onto a permanent racing facility to allow NASCAR races to continue being held in Daytona Beach.{{Harvnb|O'Malley|2007|pp=8–9}}{{Harvnb|Falk|2002|pp=31–32}} The event is the premier and final race of the three-week Speedweeks series of races and has been the first points-paying round of the NASCAR Cup Series since 1982. It usually covers 200 laps over a total distance of {{convert|500|mi|km|abbr=on}}, but accidents and other incidents have meant that the race has been extended through the use of overtime rules on 13 occasions. Each winning driver is presented with a replica of the Harley J. Earl Trophy in Victory Lane,{{cite news|title=Who is Harley J. Earl and why is the Daytona 500 champion's trophy named after him?|url=https://eu.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/nascar/2021/02/14/who-harley-j-earl-and-why-daytona-500-trophy-named-after-him-nascar-daytona-international-speedway/4397208001/|work=The Daytona Beach News-Journal|date=February 14, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2024|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214183925/https://eu.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/nascar/2021/02/14/who-harley-j-earl-and-why-daytona-500-trophy-named-after-him-nascar-daytona-international-speedway/4397208001/|url-status=live}} an estimated $2.5 million in prize money,{{efn|Since the introduction of the Charter System in 2016, the Daytona 500 winner's share of the total prize money has not been published.{{cite news|last=Treacy|first=Dan|title=Daytona 500 purse, payout breakdown: How much prize money will the winner make in 2024?|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nascar/news/daytona-500-purse-payout-breakdown-prize-money-winner/eec22c9739f0f1a2c400dfdb|work=The Sporting News|date=February 19, 2024|access-date=August 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813125055/https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nascar/news/daytona-500-purse-payout-breakdown-prize-money-winner/eec22c9739f0f1a2c400dfdb|archive-date=August 13, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Spencer|first=Reid|title=2024 Daytona 500 purse tops $28 million, largest in history|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2024/02/14/2024-daytona-500-purse-tops-28-million-largest-in-history/|work=NASCAR.com|agency=NASCAR Wire Service|date=February 14, 2024|access-date=August 13, 2024|archive-date=February 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224210629/https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2024/02/14/2024-daytona-500-purse-tops-28-million-largest-in-history/|url-status=live}}}}{{cite news|last=J. Horrow|first=Ellen|title=Daytona 500 highlights: All the top moments from William Byron's win in NASCAR opener|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2024/02/19/daytona-500-2024-live-results-highlights/72642431007/|work=USA Today|date=February 19, 2024|access-date=August 13, 2024|archive-date=February 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220013615/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2024/02/19/daytona-500-2024-live-results-highlights/72642431007/|url-status=live}} a championship ring as well as a black leather jacket,{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2021 |title=Denny Hamlin Receives Traditional Gifts as 2020 Daytona 500 Champion |url=https://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/news-media/2021/02/12/denny-hamlin-receives-traditional-gifts-as-2020-daytona-500-champion/ |access-date=March 10, 2024 |publisher=Daytona International Speedway |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310141934/https://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/news-media/2021/02/12/denny-hamlin-receives-traditional-gifts-as-2020-daytona-500-champion/ |url-status=live }} and their car is put on display in race-winning condition in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America museum adjacent to the track for 12 months until the following year's Daytona 500.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=One Daytona 500 winner's tradition may be altered this season|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-winning-car-next-gen/7225686/|work=Motorsport.com|date=January 12, 2022|access-date=March 9, 2024|archive-date=March 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309103406/https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-winning-car-next-gen/7225686/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Eley|first=Jessica|title=Daytona 500 winning car on display at Motorsports Hall of Fame|url=https://www.fox35orlando.com/sports/daytona-500-winning-car-on-display-at-motorsports-hall-of-fame|work=WOFL|date=March 8, 2022|access-date=March 9, 2024|archive-date=March 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309103405/https://www.fox35orlando.com/sports/daytona-500-winning-car-on-display-at-motorsports-hall-of-fame|url-status=live}}
In the 67 editions of the Daytona 500 that have occurred as of the 2025 race, 43 different drivers have won.{{cite web|last=Newby|first=John|title=Daytona 500 winners: Full year-by-year list|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/every-daytona-500-winner-by-year|publisher=NBC Sports|date=February 19, 2024|access-date=August 13, 2024|archive-date=February 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224102943/https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/every-daytona-500-winner-by-year|url-status=live}} The winner of the first race was Lee Petty in 1959, and the most recent victor was William Byron in 2025. Richard Petty holds the record for the most victories with seven, with Cale Yarborough in second place with four wins. Five drivers have won the event twice in a row, but no one has won three or more consecutively. Trevor Bayne and Bobby Allison are the youngest and oldest Daytona 500 winners, winning at the ages of 20 years and 1 day in 2011 and 50 years, 2 months, and 11 days old in 1988, respectively.{{Cite web |title=Youngest winner of the Daytona 500 |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/youngest-winner-of-the-daytona-500 |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Guinness World Records |archive-date=May 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513054349/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/youngest-winner-of-the-daytona-500 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Camp |first=Ben |date=February 15, 2023 |title=Daytona 500: A rich, storied history on the Fun Coast |work=Faribault Daily News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.southernminn.com/faribault_daily_news/news/state/daytona-500-a-rich-storied-history-on-the-fun-coast/article_05004d0c-ad41-11ed-8d83-b313258fd73d.html |access-date=March 9, 2024 |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509155739/https://www.southernminn.com/faribault_daily_news/news/state/daytona-500-a-rich-storied-history-on-the-fun-coast/article_05004d0c-ad41-11ed-8d83-b313258fd73d.html |url-status=live }} Petty also holds the distinction of having the longest time between his first and last wins, 17 years between the 1964 and 1981 races.{{Cite news |date=January 30, 2019 |orig-date=February 19, 2005 |title=Daytona 500 facts & figures |work=Orlando Sentinel |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2005/02/19/daytona-500-facts-figures/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |archive-date=May 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510080815/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2005/02/19/daytona-500-facts-figures/ |url-status=live }} Buddy Baker and Junior Johnson set the record for the fastest and slowest race-winning average speeds of {{convert|177.602|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in 1980 and {{convert|124.740|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in 1960, respectively. Chevrolet have won the most races as a manufacturer with 27 since their first in 1960, followed by Ford in second with 17 victories. Hendrick Motorsports is the most successful race team with ten wins in total, followed by Petty Enterprises with nine wins.
By year
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:1.00em; line-height:1.5em;"
|+ Key ! scope="col"| Icon ! scope="col"| Tire manufacturer | |
align=center| {{Firestone}} | Firestone |
align=center| {{Goodyear}} | Goodyear |
align=center| {{Hoosier}} | Hoosier |
By driver
File:RichardPetty1985Pocono.jpg has won the race seven times, more than any other driver.]]
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:1.00em; line-height:1.5em;" |
scope="col" | Driver
! scope="col" | Wins ! scope="col" | Years |
---|
scope="row" |{{sortname|Richard|Petty}}
| align="center" rowspan="1" |7 |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Cale|Yarborough}}
| align="center" rowspan="1" |4 |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Bobby|Allison}}
| align="center" rowspan="4" |3 |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Dale|Jarrett}} |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Jeff|Gordon}} |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Denny|Hamlin}} |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Bill|Elliott}}
| align="center" rowspan="7" |2 |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Dale|Earnhardt Jr.}} |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Jimmie|Johnson}} |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Matt|Kenseth}} |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Sterling|Marlin}} |
scope="row" |{{sortname|Michael|Waltrip}} |
scope="row" |{{sortname|William|Byron |link=William Byron (racing driver)}} |
By team
By car make
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:1.00em; line-height:1.5em;" |
scope="col"| Make
! scope="col"| {{Abbr|Wins|Number of Daytona 500 victories}} ! scope="col"| Year(s) |
---|
scope="row"| Chevrolet
| align="center"| 27 | 1960, 1975, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1989–1991, 1993–1995, 1997–1999, 2001, 2003–2007, 2010, 2013–2014, 2018, 2023–2025 |
scope="row"| Ford
| align="center"| 17 | 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1978, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2009, 2011–2012, 2015, 2017, 2021–2022 |
scope="row"| Dodge
| align="center" rowspan="2"| 4 |
scope="row"| Plymouth |
scope="row"| Buick
| align="center" rowspan="5" | 3 |
scope="row"| Mercury |
scope="row"| Oldsmobile |
scope="row"| Pontiac |
scope="row"| Toyota |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book|last1=Tucker|first1=Tom|last2=Tiller|first2=Tim|title=Daytona: The Quest for Speed|url=https://archive.org/details/daytonaquestfors0000tuck|year=1994|publisher=The Daytona Beach News-Journal|location=Daytona Beach, Florida|isbn=978-0-9640050-9-9|via=Internet Archive|url-access=registration}}
- {{cite book|last=Falk|first=Duane|title=The Daytona 500: The Great American Race|url=https://archive.org/details/daytona500greata0000falk/|year=2002|publisher=MetroBooks|location=New York City, United States|isbn=1-58663-169-1|via=Internet Archive|url-access=registration}}
- {{cite book|last=O'Malley|first=J. J.|title=Daytona 500: 50 Years, The Great American Race, 2008|url=https://archive.org/details/daytona50050year0000omal/|year=2007|publisher=Publications International|location=Lincolnwood, Illinois|isbn=978-1-4127-1570-6|via=Internet Archive|url-access=registration}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/available-inventory/}}
{{Daytona 500}}
{{Daytona 500 Winners|Michael McDowell=}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daytona 500 winners}}
Category:Florida sports-related lists