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Daytona 500 surprise winners
By Zack Albert | Monday, February 15, 2021
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1961, Marvin Panch
The driver nicknamed 'Pancho' was an 11th-hour addition to master mechanic Smokey Yunick's team, which fielded cars for primary driver Fireball Roberts. The late-forming arrangement meant Panch was left with a year-old Pontiac that was less aerodynamic than its rivals. But when race-long dominator Roberts retired with engine failure, Panch capitalized, leading the last 13 laps of the caution-free event.
The driver nicknamed 'Pancho' was an 11th-hour addition to master mechanic Smokey Yunick's team, which fielded cars for primary driver Fireball Roberts. The late-forming arrangement meant Panch was left with a year-old Pontiac that was less aerodynamic than its rivals. But when race-long dominator Roberts retired with engine failure, Panch capitalized, leading the last 13 laps of the caution-free event.
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1963, Tiny Lund
The Iowa-born journeyman was a late substitute for Marvin Panch under amazing circumstances, having pulled Panch from a fiery sports car crash at Daytona just 10 days earlier. Pressed into service in the Wood Brothers' No. 21, Lund -- pictured here with car owner Glen Wood -- held off Hall of Famers Fred Lorenzen and Ned Jarrett to score his first premier series victory.
The Iowa-born journeyman was a late substitute for Marvin Panch under amazing circumstances, having pulled Panch from a fiery sports car crash at Daytona just 10 days earlier. Pressed into service in the Wood Brothers' No. 21, Lund -- pictured here with car owner Glen Wood -- held off Hall of Famers Fred Lorenzen and Ned Jarrett to score his first premier series victory.
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1967, Mario Andretti
Given Andretti's credentials as a world-class driver in all forms of motorsports, it's hard to classify him as a surprise. But in the NASCAR realm, Andretti was a relative outsider who made just 14 career starts in what is now the NASCAR Cup Series. Wheeling a fast Ford from the Holman-Moody shop, Andretti led 112 of 200 laps and went 1-2 with teammate Fred Lorenzen in The Great American Race.
Given Andretti's credentials as a world-class driver in all forms of motorsports, it's hard to classify him as a surprise. But in the NASCAR realm, Andretti was a relative outsider who made just 14 career starts in what is now the NASCAR Cup Series. Wheeling a fast Ford from the Holman-Moody shop, Andretti led 112 of 200 laps and went 1-2 with teammate Fred Lorenzen in The Great American Race.
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1970, Pete Hamilton
Another relative newcomer posted his first-ever premier series win in its biggest race, with Hamilton guiding a winged Petty Enterprises Plymouth to Victory Lane. Hamilton -- who hailed from Massachusetts in a time when NASCAR was largely a regional Southern sport -- posted his breakthrough triumph in just his 21st start.
Another relative newcomer posted his first-ever premier series win in its biggest race, with Hamilton guiding a winged Petty Enterprises Plymouth to Victory Lane. Hamilton -- who hailed from Massachusetts in a time when NASCAR was largely a regional Southern sport -- posted his breakthrough triumph in just his 21st start.
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1990, Derrike Cope
Cope led just five laps of the 1990 running, but it included the final circuit in a stunning plot twist. Dale Earnhardt's dominance (leading 155 of 200 laps) evaporated when he fell from the lead with a punctured tire just half a lap from the finish. Cope scooted past to notch his first victory in what's still considered one of the sport's biggest upsets.
Cope led just five laps of the 1990 running, but it included the final circuit in a stunning plot twist. Dale Earnhardt's dominance (leading 155 of 200 laps) evaporated when he fell from the lead with a punctured tire just half a lap from the finish. Cope scooted past to notch his first victory in what's still considered one of the sport's biggest upsets.
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2001, Michael Waltrip
Waltrip made his first start for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the 2001 opener, prevailing to end an 0-for-462 winless streak that spanned more than 15 years. Waltrip's initial joy quickly turned to anguish. The death of NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Sr. -- who took a chance on Waltrip by putting him in his No. 15 Chevrolet -- in a last-lap crash remains the lasting memory from that day.
Waltrip made his first start for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the 2001 opener, prevailing to end an 0-for-462 winless streak that spanned more than 15 years. Waltrip's initial joy quickly turned to anguish. The death of NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Sr. -- who took a chance on Waltrip by putting him in his No. 15 Chevrolet -- in a last-lap crash remains the lasting memory from that day.
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2011, Trevor Bayne
An unproven driver making just his second big-league start, Bayne stunned the field by surviving a pair of late-race restarts that pushed the race eight laps past its scheduled distance. Bayne illustrated the magnitude of the upset by telling his Wood Brothers crew over the radio, 'Are you kidding me? What?' before driving the No. 21 Ford to Victory Lane.
An unproven driver making just his second big-league start, Bayne stunned the field by surviving a pair of late-race restarts that pushed the race eight laps past its scheduled distance. Bayne illustrated the magnitude of the upset by telling his Wood Brothers crew over the radio, 'Are you kidding me? What?' before driving the No. 21 Ford to Victory Lane.
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2018, Austin Dillon
Twenty years to when Dale Earnhardt piloted the No. 3 to victory in the Daytona 500, a young man in Victory Lane did the same thing. After moving Aric Almirola in NASCAR Overtime, Austin Dillon led just one lap, but it was the one that mattered most as he went on to win The Great American Race. An iconic car number returning to Victory Lane in an iconic race. -- RJ Kraft
Twenty years to when Dale Earnhardt piloted the No. 3 to victory in the Daytona 500, a young man in Victory Lane did the same thing. After moving Aric Almirola in NASCAR Overtime, Austin Dillon led just one lap, but it was the one that mattered most as he went on to win The Great American Race. An iconic car number returning to Victory Lane in an iconic race. -- RJ Kraft
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2021, Michael McDowell
McDowell had yet to win a Cup race in 357 starts prior to the 2021 Daytona 500. That all changed on Feb. 14, when the driver of the Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Ford avoided a last-lap wreck and grabbed the checkered flag -- leading only the final lap to nab the victory.
McDowell had yet to win a Cup race in 357 starts prior to the 2021 Daytona 500. That all changed on Feb. 14, when the driver of the Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Ford avoided a last-lap wreck and grabbed the checkered flag -- leading only the final lap to nab the victory.
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