Memorable moments from Daytona’s summer race

The season-opening Daytona 500 is the most prestigious race in NASCAR ... but Daytona International Speedway's summer race has played host to plenty of memorable moments throughout the sport's rich history, too. From emotional scenes to split-second finishes, here are some of our favorites.

1974: In a memorable and strategic finish, two of NASCAR's all-timers in David Pearson and Richard Petty battled with each other in the closing laps. Pearson's daring move to brake on the white-flag lap and let Petty lead -- so he could then catch his draft and pass him -- paid off, but caught the ire of 'The King.'

1984: Not only did this race mark the 200th and final win of Richard Petty's NASCAR Cup Series career, it happened in front of President Ronald Reagan, who was attending the race.

1985: One of NASCAR's biggest upsets came in 1985 when Greg Sacks took the lead from Bill Elliott on Lap 152 and never looked back. It was the longtime driver's only win in a career at NASCAR's top level that spanned 20 years.

1990: After the 'Big One' early on in the race thinned the field, Dale Earnhardt ran roughshod, leading 127 laps en route to a cherished Daytona win. The victory was his first at the World Center of Racing in NASCAR's premier series.

1994: Another of the race's great upsets, Jimmy Spencer tracked down Ernie Irvan on the final lap to pass the veteran for his only lead of the day, taking home his first career win in the process.

1997: For a quick moment, NASCAR fans got to see an Andretti battling an Earnhardt for the win at Daytona when Dale Earnhardt lined up behind John Andretti on a restart late in the race. Andretti, who led a race-high 113 laps, prevailed, with Senior finishing fourth.

2001: Tragedy struck the NASCAR world in early 2001 with the death of Dale Earnhardt. His son, Dale Jr., gave everyone something to smile about later that summer. Earnhardt Jr. won the very next race at the track that took his father's life in perhaps NASCAR's most poignant moment.

2007: In this thriller, Jamie McMurray and Kyle Busch traded the lead back and forth in the final five laps before McMurray emerged victorious for his second career win and first since his second career start in 2002. The pair took the checkered flag a mere inches apart for a 0.005-second margin of victory.

2010: A rain-delayed, wreck-filled race saw a 19-car pileup and flaming cars before Kevin Harvick pulled through for his second win at Daytona and first in the summer race at the track.

2011: Finding his way to the front amid a race-record 57 lead changes, David Ragan worked with RFK Racing teammate Matt Kenseth to secure his first career Cup Series win.

2013: How tough is Daytona? Well, the season sweep has only been accomplished five times, and it had last been done by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison in 1982 before Jimmie Johnson did it in 2013. Johnson led a dominating 94 laps in this one, and went on to win the championship that year.

2015: Following a lengthy rain delay, fans were treated to one of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s most memorable wins as the checkered flag dropped well after midnight. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led 96 laps and avoided a major last-lap crash involving 25 cars at the checkered flag, which occurred just shy of 3 a.m. ET Monday morning.

2017: Following his win at Talladega earlier that season -- his first career Cup Series victory -- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. fully established himself as a superspeedway ace by winning at Daytona in July. The former RFK Racing driver soaked in all of the Fourth of July glory, proclaiming, 'America, we are the champs!' after he climbed out of his car.

2018: Erik Jones had to go two overtimes to do it, but he comes away with his first-ever win in the Cup Series, outdueling Martin Truex Jr. on the final restart of the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

2019: Justin Haley pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Cup Series history as he scored his first career win with Spire Motorsports in NASCAR's premier series after leading under caution following a 19-car pileup on Lap 120. The race was called on Lap 127 as rain cut it short.

2020: A schedule change moved Daytona's summer race to the regular-season finale and the playoff drama delivered as William Byron scored his first career win to secure his spot, eliminating seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson.

2022: This version of the summer race saw a postponement, numerous big wrecks throughout the day and a weather delay for over three hours during the event. Through it all, Austin Dillon took advantage of the moment and held off a group of underdogs to win his way into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

2024: With his dad Jeff calling the race from the NASCAR on NBC booth, Harrison Burton shocked the world by holding off two-time champion Kyle Busch on the closing lap to secure his first career Cup Series win -- the 100th for historic Wood Brothers Racing -- along with an all-important playoff berth.