Top 25 Daytona 500 Wins Ever
25. 1959 – Lee Petty Wins the First Daytona 500
Petty beat Johnny Beauchamp in a photo finish that took days to decide, marking the start of history.
24. 1960 – Junior Johnson’s Drafting Lesson
Johnson mastered the draft, shocking the field and proving how vital the tactic would become.
23. 1967 – Mario Andretti’s Only NASCAR Win
The IndyCar legend shocked the stock car world, winning in a Holman-Moody Ford.
22. 1985 – Bill Elliott’s Speedweek Sweep
Elliott dominated, winning the pole, the qualifying race, and the 500 in record-setting fashion.
21. 1996 – Dale Jarrett Doubles Up
Jarrett claimed his second 500, cementing himself as a Daytona specialist.
20. 2003 – Michael Waltrip’s Rain-Shortened Win
Waltrip won his second 500 after rain halted the race at halfway.
19. 1989 – Darrell Waltrip’s “I Did It!”
After 17 years of trying, DW finally won the 500, then did his famous “Ickey Shuffle” in victory lane.
18. 1997 – Jeff Gordon’s First 500
A young Gordon held off teammates Terry Labonte and Ricky Craven for Hendrick’s sweep.
16. 1988 – Bobby Allison’s Father-Son Moment
Bobby held off son Davey for a family 1-2 finish in a legendary Daytona moment.
15. 2014 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wins Again
Junior ended a decade-long drought with a fan-favorite victory in a rain-delayed 500.
14. 2001 – Michael Waltrip’s Bittersweet Win
His first career win came as Dale Earnhardt lost his life in the last-lap crash.
13. 2017 – Kurt Busch Finally Breaks Through
After years of heartbreak, Busch passed Kyle Larson on the last lap to grab his first Daytona 500.
12. 1990 – Derrike Cope’s Stunning Upset
Cope capitalized on Dale Earnhardt’s blown tire in the final corner to win as a huge underdog.
11. 1993 – Dale Jarrett vs. Earnhardt
“Dale and Dale Show” ended with Jarrett slipping past Earnhardt in the final laps, with his father Ned calling it in the booth.
10. 1976 – Pearson vs. Petty Crash Finish
David Pearson limped his wrecked car across the line to beat Richard Petty in one of the wildest finishes ever.
9. 2019 – Denny Hamlin for J.D. Gibbs
An emotional win dedicated to the late J.D. Gibbs, Hamlin led a 1-2-3 Joe Gibbs Racing finish.
8. 2011 – Trevor Bayne’s Miracle Win
On his second career start, the 20-year-old stunned the sport, delivering the Wood Brothers’ first win in decades.
7. 1979 – Richard Petty & The Fight
The first live flag-to-flag broadcast ended with Petty winning, while Cale Yarborough and the Allison brothers brawled in the infield.
6. 2021 – Michael McDowell’s Shocking Upset
McDowell avoided a fiery last-lap crash to score his first career Cup win on NASCAR’s biggest stage.
5. 1998 – Dale Earnhardt Finally Wins
After 20 tries, “The Intimidator” finally got his 500, and the entire pit road lined up to shake his hand.
4. 2007 – Kevin Harvick Steals It Late
Harvick beat Mark Martin by 0.02 seconds in a photo finish, with a huge crash erupting behind them.
3. 2016 – Denny Hamlin by Inches
The closest finish in Daytona 500 history (0.010 seconds), Hamlin nipped Martin Truex Jr. at the line.
2. 2020 – Denny Hamlin’s Third Triumph
Hamlin edged Ryan Blaney by 0.014 seconds, but the race is remembered for Ryan Newman’s terrifying last-lap crash.
1. 2024 – William Byron’s Surprise Victory
Byron scored Hendrick’s first 500 win since 2014, outlasting chaos in a wild overtime finish.
