Ten Most Unwanted Daytona 500 Records Ever

Most Unwanted Daytona 500 Records Ever

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

10. Most Daytona 500 Starts Without a Win – Ken Schrader

Schrader made 29 starts in the Great American Race but never captured the Harley J. Earl Trophy. Despite running competitively in several events, Daytona victory lane always slipped away.

9. Most Laps Led Before First Win – Dale Earnhardt

Earnhardt led hundreds of laps in the Daytona 500 before finally winning in 1998. For nearly two decades, mechanical failures and late-race heartbreak denied him.

8. Shock Upset Winner – Derrike Cope (1990)

Cope inherited the win after a last-lap tire failure by the leader. It remains one of the most unexpected finishes in Daytona 500 history.

7. Most Cautions in a Daytona 500 – 2011 Race

The 2011 running featured 16 cautions and constant chaos. Survival mattered more than raw speed that night.

6. Youngest Polesitter to Miss Out – Chase Elliott

Elliott became the youngest Daytona 500 polesitter in 2016. However, he has yet to convert that early speed into a 500 victory.

5. Multiple Runner-Ups Before First Win – Dale Jarrett

Jarrett endured painful near-misses before breaking through in 1993. Those runner-up finishes made his eventual win even sweeter.

4. High DNF Total Despite Wins – Michael Waltrip

Waltrip won the Daytona 500 twice but also recorded numerous DNFs. Daytona gave him glory and disaster in equal measure.

3. Back-to-Back Winner Who Never Returned – Sterling Marlin

Marlin won the 500 in 1994 and 1995 consecutively. He never returned to Daytona victory lane again after that stretch.

2. Most Painful Photo Finish Loss – Mark Martin (2007)

Martin lost the 2007 Daytona 500 by just 0.02 seconds. It remains one of the closest and most heartbreaking finishes in race history.

1. Most Daytona 500 Starts Before First Win – Dale Earnhardt (20 starts)

Earnhardt needed 20 attempts before finally winning the Daytona 500. His 1998 triumph ended one of NASCAR’s longest and most painful droughts.