Lee Petty was the first driver to win Daytona 500, Cup championship in same season
In 1959, Lee Petty set a trend that four other drivers have since followed — winning the Daytona 500 and the Cup championship in the same season. Following Lee Petty was son Richard Petty, who accomplished the feat four times (1964, 1971, 1974, 1979). Cale Yarborough broke through in 1977, Jeff Gordon got his double in 1997 and Jimmie Johnson has accomplished it twice, in 2006 and 2013.