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February 12, 2025

25 Days of Daytona: Counting down to 2025 ‘Great American Race’


The Daytona 500 — the “Great American Race” — is more than just the NASCAR Cup Series season opener; it’s a showcase of motorsport history, drama and unforgettable moments.

As the 2025 race and the start of the NASCAR season approaches, we’re celebrating its legacy with a 25-day countdown, reliving the top moments that have defined this iconic event. From breathtaking photo finishes and trailblazers to stunning upsets and famed fisticuffs, these stories capture the essence of Daytona: where legends are made, dreams are realized and the thrill of competition reaches its peak.

Join us as we revisit the victories of legends like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, alongside the heartbreaks, comebacks and acts of sportsmanship that have etched this race into the annals of sports history. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to NASCAR, each day promises a star-studded reminder of why the Daytona 500 stands as a pinnacle of speed and determination.

Buckle up and get ready to celebrate the magic of Daytona!

MORE: 2025 Daytona Speedweek schedule | Full 2025 schedule | Daytona 500 gear


4. The First One

🗓️ Date: 2/22/1959 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: 1959 Daytona 500

📝 Notes: The 1959 Daytona 500 stands as a cornerstone of NASCAR lore, sparking an annual American tradition while simultaneously going down as one of the most controversial finishes in racing history.

When Lee Petty’s Oldsmobile and Johnny Beauchamp’s Ford Thunderbird crossed the finish line three-wide with lapped driver Joe Weatherly to conclude the inaugural Daytona 500, officials faced an unprecedented dilemma — in short, what was the conclusion?

Our current-day photo-finish technology, obviously, was far from existence, and Beauchamp was initially declared victor. A celebration in Victory Lane followed, with trophies, beauty queens and the whole gamut. But Petty’s vehement protests — bolstered by photographer T. Taylor Warren’s film showing his Oldsmobile two feet ahead at the line — triggered a 73-hour review to determine the rightful winner. NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., also leveraging Hearst newsreel footage, reversed the call on February 25 to cement Petty’s place as the race’s first champion and ignite debates that persist today.

This chaotic conclusion mirrored the race’s high stakes — the first “Great American Race” also marked the debut of Daytona International Speedway, a $3 million marvel replacing the beach course and designed to propel stock car racing into the modern era.

MORE: Complete Daytona 500 winner history, 1959-2024

Warren’s photograph became a relic of racing lore, displayed today in the NASCAR Hall of Fame alongside Petty’s trophy and helmet. The $53,050 purse, with Petty earning $19,050, underscored the event’s financial heft, while the caution-free race — a major rarity at the time — highlighted the track’s smooth design in its debut. Yet the outcome haunted Beauchamp, who never won a Cup race and faded into obscurity, his legacy overshadowed by Petty’s dynasty.

For NASCAR, the 1959 race was a masterstroke of reinvention. The speedway’s 31-degree banks and 2.5-mile tri-oval redefined speed, attracting more than 40,000 fans and establishing Daytona as the sport’s spiritual home. Petty’s victory launched his family into racing royalty, paving the way for his son Richard’s record seven Daytona 500 wins. Meanwhile, the photo-finish drama became a marketing boon, amplifying NASCAR’s national profile during a pivotal expansion era.

France’s gamble — building a “motorsports stadium” on Florida swampland — paid dividends, as both the race and track have only continued to gain in national prowess in the decades since. The speedway itself, now a $400 million renovated colossus, stands as a monument to France’s vision and a reminder of how far this race has come. | MORE: Photo finishes, a picture-perfect snapshot of NASCAR’s beauty

WATCH: The full story behind the 1959 Daytona 500 photo finish


5. The Closest One

🗓️ Date: 2/21/2016 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 2016 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: The 2016 Daytona 500 marked, literally from start to finish, a watershed moment for NASCAR, blending the sport’s most iconic race with a transformative venue overhaul and making history in the process. Denny Hamlin’s victory over Martin Truex Jr. by a razor-thin, 0.010-second margin — the closest finish in Daytona 500 history — captured the relentless drama of stock car racing on a proud and prosperous day for the superspeedway.

As the two future NASCAR Hall of Famers drag-raced to the checkered flag, their Toyotas nearly touching, this get-on-your-feet climax was amplified by its timing, as the first Daytona 500 held after the completion of the years-long, $400 million Daytona Rising renovation. The project was a reimagination of the speedway as a modern “motorsports stadium” and the largest undertaking the track had started since its opening in 1959. The collision of record-breaking action and cutting-edge infrastructure cemented the 2016 race as a defining chapter in NASCAR lore.

RELATED: Hamlin through the years

The Daytona Rising project revolutionized the fan experience, aligning the venue’s grandeur with its storied legacy. The renovation introduced a plethora of wider seats, tripled concession stands, doubled restrooms, and added five sleek entrances (“injectors”) with escalators and elevators to sprawling concourses. Social hubs dubbed “neighborhoods” and trackside luxury suites catered to both casual viewers and corporate guests, while upgraded Wi-Fi and fiber-optic connectivity ensured the speedway met 21st-century demands. It became everything a modern sports venue could be — and so much more.

These enhancements weren’t merely cosmetic, either; they prioritized comfort and accessibility, a strategic move as NASCAR sought to retain its core audience while attracting new fans. The 2016 race became a showcase for this vision, blending the sport’s gritty roots with polished modernity.

The race itself unfolded like a cinematic narrative, underscoring Daytona’s renewed status as a motorsports mecca. After a chaotic final lap, Hamlin executed a daring block on Kevin Harvick, surged past Joe Gibbs Racing teammate and past 500 winner Matt Kenseth and edged Truex in a literal photo finish. That the electrifying conclusion played out against the backdrop of the speedway’s gleaming new frontstretch grandstand was just the cherry on top of a finish that still gets talked about today.

MORE: Hamlin’s ’16 car evokes memories from his living room

Hamlin’s victory launched him into elite company, earning his first Daytona 500 crown in a career-defining performance; arguably checking the second-to-last remaining box in his illustrious career. | Hamlin wins 2016 Daytona 500 by a nose

WATCH: How Kenseth lost the 2016 Daytona 500 and gave us the closest 500 finish ever


6. The Photo Finish

🗓️ Date: 2/18/2007 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 2007 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: The 2007 Daytona 500 produced one of the most electrifying finishes in racing history, seeing Kevin Harvick edge Mark Martin by 0.020 seconds in a mad dash to the line while carnage erupted behind them. As the field roared through the final turn, Martin’s No. 01 Chevrolet led Harvick’s No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy by just under two car lengths, setting up a dramatic drag race to the checkered flag that resulted in one of the closest finishes in the race’s history and created an instant NASCAR classic.

The finish unfolded in spectacular fashion as Harvick used a push from Matt Kenseth to surge alongside the NASCAR Hall of Famer Martin — a part-time Cup Series entrant in 2007 — coming off Turn 4. As the leaders charged toward the finish line, contact between Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon triggered a massive crash that sent Clint Bowyer’s car sliding on its roof in a trail of sparks. NASCAR officials let the race continue as Harvick and Martin drag-raced to the line, with Harvick’s momentum carrying him to victory by mere inches while a furious fracas enveloped the field.

RELATED: Harvick through the years | Martin’s career in photos

The win carried special significance for both drivers — Harvick earned his first Daytona 500 victory while denying the 48-year-old Martin what would have been a storybook triumph in NASCAR’s biggest race for one of the sport’s most popular figures. Martin, who had come out of semi-retirement to drive for the underdog Ginn Racing team, showed remarkable grace in defeat.

This breathtaking conclusion perfectly embodied everything that makes the Daytona 500 special — side-by-side racing, last-lap drama and a finish so close you couldn’t tell who won at first. The image of Harvick and Martin drag-racing to the line while cars wrecked wildly behind them became one of NASCAR’s most iconic moments, proving why the “Great American Race” consistently delivers some of motorsports’ most unforgettable finishes and spectacular scenery. | Ten years later: Harvick recalls Daytona 500 victory

WATCH: From The Vault: Harvick’s last lap from the 2007 Daytona 500


7. The Father-Son Finish

🗓️ Date: 2/14/1988 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1988 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: The 1988 Daytona 500 marked a pivotal moment in NASCAR history as 50-year-old Bobby Allison held off his son Davey in the first-ever restrictor plate race at Daytona, creating the only father-son, one-two finish in the event’s storied history. The race represented a new era in NASCAR, with speeds reduced by approximately 16 mph after Ken Schrader’s pole-winning speed of 193.823 mph reflected the impact of the newly mandated restrictor plates.

Bobby Allison masterfully worked the draft throughout the 200-lap event, leading 70 laps and being the car to beat all afternoon. The veteran’s experience proved crucial in the closing stages as he took the lead for the final time with 18 laps remaining and maintained perfect position while his son Davey, who had led only Laps 162 and 163, waited in second place for an opportunity to strike. As they took the white flag, Bobby held a two-car-length advantage that would prove insurmountable despite Davey’s last-corner charge through Turns 3 and 4 as father and son battled for a “Great American Race” crown.

The victory carried profound significance beyond the typical celebration. At age 50, Bobby became the oldest driver to win the Daytona 500 — a record that has stood three-plus decades and no threat on the horizon — while also earning the distinction of being the first driver to win the race both with and without restrictor plates. The win would prove to be the 85th and final victory of Bobby’s illustrious career as a devastating crash at Pocono later that season took him out of the driver’s seat from that point and, unfortunately, the memories from the Daytona celebration along with it after sustaining a head injury.

RELATED: Bobby Allison, 1937-2024 | Bobby Allison through the years

This watershed moment represented both an ending and a beginning — the conclusion of NASCAR’s unrestricted era and the dawn of a new age of restricted racing designed to keep speeds under 200 mph. Victory Lane photos of Bobby pouring beer on his son’s head became especially poignant given the elder Allison’s subsequent memory loss — along with Davey’s own premature death a few years later — preserving forever the pure joy of NASCAR’s greatest father-son moment. | ‘What a thrill’: ’88 Daytona 500 remains heartfelt father-son moment

WATCH: Ken Squier calls Bobby Allison’s 1988 Daytona 500 win


8. The Miracle at Daytona

🗓️ Date: 2/24/1963 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1963 Daytona 500

📝 Notes: The 1963 Daytona 500 delivered one of motorsports’ greatest fairy tales when DeWayne “Tiny” Lund, a 6 feet 5, 270-pound journeyman driver, captured NASCAR’s biggest prize just days after a heroic rescue.

Ten days before the race, Lund was pulling through the Daytona tunnel when he spotted Marvin Panch’s experimental Ford Maserati upside down and ablaze after a violent crash. Without hesitation, Lund and several others lifted the burning wreckage so he could pull Panch to safety, earning him the Carnegie Medal for heroism — and the opportunity of a lifetime.

From his hospital bed, the injured Panch insisted the Wood Brothers give his ride to Lund, who had arrived at Speedweeks, as legend would have it, with just 17 cents in his pocket and no ride. The team agreed, putting Lund in its potent No. 21 Ford despite his being winless in 131 previous NASCAR starts. Crew chief Leonard Wood devised a brilliant strategy — they would attempt to run the entire 500 miles on one set of tires and one fewer pit stop than their competitors.

MORE: Wood Brothers’ most iconic victories

The plan seemed doomed when race day brought rain, but this actually worked in their favor. The first 10 laps were run under caution to dry the track, helping Lund’s fuel strategy. As the race unfolded, Lund masterfully drafted off faster cars to save fuel. In the closing laps, both Fred Lorenzen and Ned Jarrett passed Lund but had to pit for fuel, while Lund’s car sputtered across the finish line on fumes to secure an improbable victory.

This triumph represented far more than just another Daytona 500 — it was a testament to karma, strategy and human courage. Lund won four more Cup races in his career before his tragic death at Talladega in 1975, but nothing would match the magic of that February day when a selfless act of heroism led to one of NASCAR’s greatest Cinderella stories. The victory marked the Wood Brothers’ first Daytona 500 win and proved that sometimes the most incredible stories in sports are the ones that couldn’t be scripted.

Editor’s note: ‘Miracle at Daytona – The Tiny Lund Story’ aired in 2017.

WATCH: ‘Miracle at Daytona – The Tiny Lund Story’ promo


9. The Emotional One

🗓️ Date: 2/15/2004 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 2004 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: The 2004 Daytona 500 delivered one of NASCAR’s most emotionally charged moments when Dale Earnhardt Jr. captured his first victory in the “Great American Race,” just three years following both the death of his father in the same race and the September 11 tragedies, with President George W. Bush actually in attendance after serving as grand marshal. On the track that took his father – certainly on his mind as he rounded Turn 4 coming to the checkered flag – Junior masterfully piloted his No. 8 Chevrolet through the field all afternoon, showcasing the superspeedway prowess that had become an Earnhardt family trademark.

Notably, Junior’s win was also six years to the day of his father’s lone Daytona 500 win, after 20 years of trying.

The race reached its dramatic peak in the closing laps when Earnhardt Jr., displaying both patience and precision, found himself battling fellow Hall of Famer Tony Stewart for the lead. With the two strongest cars on track slicing and dicing, Junior timed his final move perfectly, executing a decisive side draft before breaking away from Stewart’s challenge. Once in front with 20 laps remaining, Earnhardt’s superior car performance with his No. 8 DEI Chevrolet ensured “Smoke” or anybody else could not mount a serious challenge to his position.

MORE: Was Junior’s 2004 Speedweeks the best ever? | Dale Jr.’s 500 history

The victory carried profound significance beyond the typical celebration. Unlike his emotional July 2001 win at the same track, which came just months after his father’s death, this triumph allowed Junior to experience pure, unbridled joy at Daytona on the sport’s grandest stage. As he crossed the finish line, Earnhardt Jr. was overcome not just with elation but with relief, finally able to celebrate a Daytona 500 victory without the shadow of tragedy.

This watershed moment allowed for a sense of healing for both the Earnhardt family and NASCAR Nation, and it was evident in Dale Jr. himself. 2004 proved to be his best season in a near-20-year Cup Series career, turning in six wins and a fifth-place standings finish. | Read more

WATCH: Relive Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2004 Daytona 500 victory


10. The Drafting One

🗓️ Date: 2/14/1960 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1960 Daytona 500

📝 Notes: The 1960 Daytona 500 revolutionized stock car racing when Junior Johnson, the “Last American Hero” and former moonshine runner from the hills of North Carolina, discovered and perfected the art of stock-car drafting to capture an unlikely victory – in the largest field (68 drivers) in Daytona history.

Driving an underpowered 1959 Chevrolet against the dominant Pontiac teams of drivers such as NASCAR Hall of Famers Cotton Owens and Fireball Roberts, Johnson realized he could tuck his car behind the faster machines, getting pulled along in their aerodynamic wake before slingshotting past them at crucial moments.

The race became a masterclass in Johnson’s innovative technique as he methodically worked his way through the field despite his ride’s “get-up-and-go” disadvantage. With a tangible horsepower deficit to the factory-backed Pontiacs, among others, his Chevrolet stayed competitive by utilizing the draft and proving that technique can sometimes outweigh pure drive. Johnson found that by positioning his car inches from another vehicle’s rear bumper, he could gain a noticeable speed increase on the straightaways, negating his power hole – while preserving his engine.

MORE: Junior Johnson through the years

As the laps wound down, Johnson’s strategy paid off when race leader Bobby Johns’ rear window popped out with nine laps remaining, forcing him to pit. Johnson inherited the lead and held off the remaining challengers to claim what would be his only Daytona 500 victory. His average speed of 124.740 mph was a new race record, achieved not through superior horsepower but through tactical innovation. It allowed the Hall of Famer to stretch his lead to a whopping 23 seconds by the time he took the checkered flag, too.

This watershed moment transformed NASCAR racing forever. Johnson’s discovery of drafting changed the fundamental approach to superspeedway racing, introducing a strategic element that remains crucial even in today’s modern racing. Johnson’s long-term impact on the sport has proven immeasurable, turning aerodynamic disadvantage into an advantage, illustrating one of the beauties of NASCAR that remains today – where innovation and cunning can triumph over raw power in a sport so reliant on physics and engineering.

The 1960 race stands as the moment NASCAR evolved from pure horsepower contests into the strategic, high-speed chess matches we know and love today, one of several major contributions an indelible NASCAR character left to the sport. | Junior Johnson: 1931-2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPggNa-hXqg

MORE: Yarborough, Johnson talk shop | Johnson’s full NASCAR Hall of Fame speech


11. The Even Younger One

🗓️ Date: 2/20/2011 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 2011 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: The 2011 Daytona 500 produced NASCAR’s most improbable victory when Trevor Bayne, just one day after his 20th birthday, shocked the motorsports world by winning the “Great American Race” in just his second Cup Series start.

Driving the iconic No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing, Bayne masterfully navigated through a record 74 lead changes and 16 cautions that eliminated many of NASCAR’s biggest stars, including a devastating 14-car wreck that collected several Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets.

Despite his inexperience, Bayne showed veteran poise during late-race chaos when David Ragan was black-flagged for changing lanes before the start/finish line on the first green-white-checkered attempt. Bayne inherited a spot on the front row and, despite having champions like Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart behind him, never flinched during the final two-lap shootout.

RELATED: Wood Brothers through the years

The magnitude of the upset was staggering — Bayne became the youngest Daytona 500 winner ever, breaking Jeff Gordon’s record by five years. The victory delivered Wood Brothers Racing its fifth Daytona 500 trophy and first since David Pearson’s triumph in 1976, earning the underdog team a stunning $1.46 million payday.

The win transcended typical racing story lines as the fresh-faced Tennessee native – who still admitted his favorite TV show was Nickelodeon’s “Rugrats” – captured America’s attention. Bayne admitted he didn’t even know the way to Victory Lane, creating an endearing moment that perfectly captured the pure joy of NASCAR’s newest and most improbable Daytona 500 champion.

The victory marked a fairytale beginning that would stand as Bayne’s only Cup Series win in a 187-race career, making it even more legendary as the day David truly slayed a field of Goliaths. | Read more

WATCH: Stunner! Relive Trevor Bayne’s upset for the ages


12. The Prodigal Son

🗓️ Date: 2/23/2014 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 2014 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: The 2014 Daytona 500 delivered one of NASCAR’s most significant modern moments when Dale Earnhardt Jr. captured his second victory in the “Great American Race” after a marathon day that included a record six-hour, 22-minute rain delay. Starting from the ninth position, Earnhardt masterfully piloted his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet through multiple crashes and challenging weather conditions, leading 54 laps en route to a dramatic victory that rejuvenated both his career and helped ignite NASCAR’s digital presence.

A battle for track position all evening eventually resulted in Earnhardt – always a superspeedway maven – working with teammate Jeff Gordon before perfectly blocking a last-gasp charge from Denny Hamlin to secure the emotional victory … and change social media forever.

RELATED: Dale Jr.’s Daytona 500 history | Earnhardt Jr. through the years

The win’s significance, a decade removed from his only other Daytona 500 victory and at a time when many were questioning if the ship had sailed on Earnhardt’s career, extended far beyond the race track.

All of a sudden, at 2:32 a.m. ET, the long-registered but until then dormant @DaleJr account on Twitter (now X) was finally fired up and utilized – and in spectacular fashion. Earnhardt’s first tweet, featuring the uber-popular driver cheesing hard while casually hanging out with the Harley J. Earl Trophy, launched a social media revolution in NASCAR and completely reinvigorated the North Carolina native’s engagement level with the sport. It was perfectly timed, as Earnhardt went on to turn in four victories that year – the most he’d had since 2004 — as he became a legitimate title contender once again.

Earnhardt then hastily received a crash course in Twitter from his PR team, marking the beginning of his transformation from an introverted driver who often shied away from revealing too much of his inner workings to arguably NASCAR’s most affable character over the past decade.

The victory represented more than just a second Daytona 500 trophy — it marked the complete resurrection of Dale Jr.’s career and popularity. After years of struggling to meet enormous expectations, Earnhardt’s triumphant performance, capped by his enthusiastic declaration, “We’re going to burn this thing down!” in Victory Lane, reignited his connection with fans and launched him into a new era of success both on and off the track, as we’ve seen with his broadcasting and podcast careers.

The win, combined with his embrace of social media, helped modernize NASCAR’s approach to fan engagement while cementing Earnhardt’s legacy as both a superspeedway master and the sport’s most influential personality. | MORE: How 2014 Daytona 500 took Dale Jr’s stardom to next level

WATCH: From the Vault: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2014 Daytona 500 win


13. The Upset

🗓️ Date: 2/19/1990 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1990 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: The 1990 Daytona 500 delivered motorsports’ ultimate instance of David versus Goliath when journeyman driver Derrike Cope shocked the racing world by defeating Dale Earnhardt in the final mile in arguably the greatest upset in the sport’s history. “The Intimidator” had thoroughly dominated the day in his menacing black No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, leading 155 of 200 laps and building a commanding half-lap lead that evaporated in the blink of an eye.

Adding to the day’s unique atmosphere were camera crews for Paramount Pictures’ upcoming film “Days of Thunder,” capturing live racing footage, with two additional cars painted to match movie characters Cole Trickle and Rowdy Burns out on the track at times as well.

The drama reached its crescendo when Earnhardt — riding a lengthy and notable Daytona 500 drought at this point — rounded Turn 3 on the final lap and started having a right rear tire go down. Cope, piloting his white and blue Purolator Chevrolet prepared by an underfunded Whitcomb Brothers Racing team, made a split-second decision to dive left and avoid the dwindling champion before charging ahead to an improbable victory. The moment was so unexpected that when Cope took the checkered flag ahead of Terry Labonte and Bill Elliott, he had to ask his crew where to find Victory Lane.

MORE: Cope career stats

The magnitude of the upset cannot be overstated.

Cope’s team operated on a shoestring budget compared to Earnhardt’s ride at RCR, and his career statistics entering the race included zero wins or top fives and only six top 10s in 71 starts. Earnhardt, meanwhile, was at this point a four-time Cup champion with 42 career wins.

This perfect storm of circumstances — the underdog victory, Hollywood’s presence and Earnhardt’s heartbreak — created what many consider as NASCAR’s biggest shocker. The 1990 Daytona 500 proved that in racing, no victory is certain until the checkered flag waves, while simultaneously delivering a Cinderella story that even Hollywood couldn’t script — but, with a front-row seat, probably got some ideas from. | MORE: Where are they now? Catch up with Cope

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FvWV9e3tRg


14. The “Dale and Dale Show”

🗓️ Date: 2/14/1993 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1993 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: The battle for the 1993 Daytona 500 win led to one of NASCAR’s most electrifying broadcasts when CBS commentator Ned Jarrett took off his analyst hat to become a father, calling his son and fellow future NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett to victory over Dale Earnhardt in a heart-pounding, last-lap duel. The dramatic finish, forever known as the “Dale and Dale Show,” saw the younger Jarrett pilot his Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet past Earnhardt’s intimidating black No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevy, marking both his first Daytona 500 victory and the first Cup Series win for former NFL coach Joe Gibbs’ fledgling team.Dale Jarrett celebrates at the 1993 Daytona 500.

As the checkered flag waved, Ned Jarrett’s voice cracked with emotion as he guided viewers through his son’s pursuit of glory: “Dale’s gonna make it! Dale Jarrett’s gonna win the Daytona 500!” The raw emotion in Ned’s voice, temporarily abandoning journalistic neutrality for fatherly pride, created one of the most memorable broadcasting moments in NASCAR history. His passionate call perfectly captured the human element that makes auto racing special.

(History rhymes, by the way.)

RELATED: Dale Jarrett’s top career moments

The victory was bittersweet for NASCAR fans at large as it came against the ultra-popular Earnhardt, still chasing his own elusive first Daytona 500 win and not too far removed from another heartbreaker in 1990. Jarrett’s perfectly timed move on the final lap, diving low through Turns 3 and 4 showcased both his racing acumen and the power of his Jimmy Makar-prepared race car. The win also validated Joe Gibbs’ decision to leave his successful NFL coaching career and venture into NASCAR, laying the foundation for what would become one of the sport’s most successful teams by winning NASCAR’s biggest race.

This watershed moment in NASCAR history combined multiple compelling storylines culminating in one frenzied finish — a father calling his son’s biggest victory, a new team’s breakthrough win and the continued frustration of the sport’s biggest star at Daytona. The “Dale and Dale Show” remains one of racing’s most replayed finishes, not just for the on-track action, but for Ned Jarrett’s unforgettable call that turned a great race into an iconic moment in sports broadcasting history. | NASCAR in 1993: Story lines, key moments

RELATED: First wins at Joe Gibbs Racing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4aJ8yBDmnA


15. The Record Setter

🗓️ Date: 2/15/1981 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1981 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: On a sun-drenched February afternoon in 1981, Richard Petty reminded the NASCAR fiefdom of his status as “The King” by capturing an unprecedented — and, to this day, unmatched — seventh Daytona 500 victory. Behind the wheel of his iconic STP Pontiac, Petty capitalized on a late-race miscalculation by Bobby Allison, who ran low on fuel and had to conserve in the closing laps, to claim what would become his final triumph in the “Great American Race.”

The victory was a masterclass in Petty’s trademark patience and racing intelligence. After qualifying eighth, he methodically worked his way through the field, avoiding the numerous accidents that eliminated several contenders. The race’s complexion changed dramatically when leader Buddy Baker, who had battled the leaders much of the day, suffered a mechanical issue at the front of the field with 38 laps remaining to set up an intense fuel-mileage battle between Petty and Allison.

RELATED: ‘The King’ through the years | All of Petty’s wins, one-by-one

As Allison’s car sputtered coming off Turn 2 with just three laps to go, Petty surged past to a thunderous roar from fans. The moment perfectly encapsulated Petty’s career-long ability to position himself to capitalize on others’ misfortune and be there when it counted. Crossing the finish line ahead of Bobby Allison’s slowed machine, Petty collected what would stand as the final jewel in his Daytona crown, a record of seven victories that still stands with no realistic threats on the horizon. | Shift: Petty’s first time at Daytona

MORE: Story behind Petty’s famously intricate autograph

WATCH: From The Vault: Petty wins the 1981 Daytona 500

16. The One with Super Mario

🗓️ Date: 2/26/1967 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1967 Daytona 500

📝 Notes: Open-wheel racing sensation Mario Andretti shocked the NASCAR world by capturing the 1967 Daytona 500 in dramatic fashion, sending shockwaves throughout the global racing community and adding to his legend.

Racing for the Ford-backed Holman-Moody team, the 26-year-old, Italian-born driver masterfully handled his blue No. 11 Fairlane, leading an impressive 112 of 200 laps despite starting from 12th.Mario Andretti waves to the crowd

The race featured an intense battle between Andretti and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion David Pearson, who swapped the lead several times over 100 laps in the middle portion of the race. When Pearson’s engine expired with 41 laps remaining, Andretti found himself dueling with teammate Fred Lorenzen in a controversial finish.

During the final pit stop, the Holman-Moody team deliberately held Andretti for several seconds to give Lorenzen an advantage, hoping their full-time NASCAR star would claim victory instead of the part-timer.

The tomfoolery only fueled Andretti’s determination.

After falling behind Lorenzen on Lap 164, it took the fired-up star just four laps to hunt down and re-pass his teammate. Andretti led the final 33 laps, becoming the first foreign-born driver to win NASCAR’s greatest race.

The victory stood as one of the most significant achievements of Andretti’s career to that point, aiding in firmly establishing himself as the motorsports icon he is today. Andretti’s mastery of NASCAR’s superspeedway spectacle — in just his seventh NASCAR start — demonstrated his exceptional versatility and cemented his legacy as one of racing’s most complete drivers.

The 1967 Daytona 500 victory was Andretti’s first and only NASCAR win, with just a handful more starts coming after it, making the moment even more legendary as the day “Super Mario” conquered stock car racing’s biggest stage.

It’s a remarkable triumph that remains one of the most significant crossover victories in motorsports history. | READ MORE

RELATED: Andretti congratulates Sanchez on Daytona win

WATCH: Witness history: Mario Andretti previews Daytona


17. “The Ickey Shuffle”

🗓️ Date: 2/19/1989 | Full race results
NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1989 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: After years of being one of NASCAR’s most polarizing figures, Darrell Waltrip’s quest for Daytona glory reached its pinnacle in 1989, and his Victory Lane moment endeared him to fans across the sport and laid the groundwork for victory celebrations for decades to come.

In his 17th attempt at the “Great American Race,” the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hall of Famer executed a brilliant fuel strategy, stretching his final tank an unprecedented 53 laps by putting on a fuel-saving clinic as top competitors Ken Schrader and Dale Earnhardt were forced to pit.

When Waltrip finally took the checkered flag to give Hendrick Motorsports its first Daytona 500 victory, raw emotion poured out in Victory Lane as “D-Dubya” grabbed CBS reporter Mike Joy and exclaimed, “I won the Daytona 500!”

But what followed would change NASCAR celebrations forever.

Inspired by Cincinnati Bengals fullback Ickey Woods’ famous touchdown dance that had swept the nation that NFL season, Waltrip spontaneously performed “The Ickey Shuffle” — stepping left, stepping right, before spiking his bright orange helmet into the ground. (Sound familiar?)

RELATED: Waltrip through the years

The celebration transformed NASCAR’s Victory Lane culture, marking the first time a driver had borrowed a celebration from another sport, and he certainly raised the bar on celebrations in general. Plus, what could have been seen as showboating was instead embraced as pure joy by a veteran driver who had finally achieved his dream, and DW was never viewed in the same light by fans. The moment helped change Waltrip’s image from controversial figure to beloved champion and eventually longtime popular TV booth broadcaster while connecting NASCAR to broader sports culture in a way few moments had before.

Decades later, fans still reference the “Ickey Waltrip Shuffle” as the moment NASCAR Victory Lane celebrations evolved from subdued to spectacular.

And in case you were wondering? He’s still got it.

MORE: Origin of ‘Boogity, boogity, boogity’ | Listen to the final ‘boogity’

WATCH: Darrell’s day: Remembering the 1989 Daytona 500


18. The Jet Dryer and The Tweet

🗓️ Date: 2/27/2012 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 2012 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: The 2012 Daytona 500 transcended traditional motorsports narratives, becoming a surreal blend of chaos and digital innovation over 36 unforgettable hours. Persistent rain postponed the race for the first time in its 54-year history, pushing the start to Monday night under the bright lights of Daytona International Speedway in prime time.

On Lap 160, the world witnessed disaster strike when Juan Pablo Montoya’s Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet suffered a suspension failure under caution, sending his car hurtling into a jet dryer – loaded with fuel. The collision triggered a massive explosion, engulfing Turn 3 in flames and forcing a red flag for more than two hours as safety crews battled the fire and worked to repair the track.

(Side note: Montoya was OK and even came back to make a Cup Series start last year.)

Amid the unprecedented delay, Brad Keselowski — still parked on the track, in his No. 2 Team Penske Dodge — used his iPhone to tweet a photo of the fiery scene from his car, gaining more than 135,000 followers in a handful of hours and showcasing the untapped potential of real-time fan engagement. Remarkably, he later won his first — and, to date, only — Cup Series championship that year.

NASCAR’s decision to embrace this digital moment marked a turning point in social media strategy at large and with the sanctioning body as fans around the world saw this viral moment and followed updates of the race through tweets and live coverage when perhaps they otherwise would not have. “Daytona 500” trended globally, drawing attention far beyond the typical motorsports audience.

RELATED: @keselowski’s best tweets of 2010s | 2012 champ through the years

When the race finally resumed after midnight ET, Matt Kenseth capitalized on the chaotic night, holding off Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle in a green-white-checkered finish to claim his second Daytona 500 victory. The checkered flag waved at 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, concluding a marathon event that captivated audiences with its blend of disaster and drama.

The ’12 Daytona 500 redefined NASCAR’s ability to adapt to modern challenges, both on and off the track. From Keselowski’s pioneering tweet to track workers cleaning up an unprecedented incident, the race proved that even amid chaos, NASCAR could deliver moments of innovation and unforgettable spectacle, making it one of the most significant Daytona 500s of the 21st century. | MORE: Race Rewind: 2012 Daytona 500

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkYxxh6C_jw


19. The One That Had Everything

🗓️ Date: 2/16/1992 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1992 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: The 1992 Daytona 500 captured a pivotal moment in NASCAR history, blending triumph, legacy and transition.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Davey Allison delivered a dominant performance in his No. 28 Texaco Havoline Ford, starting sixth and methodically taking control of the race in its second half. On Lap 92, a multicar crash eliminated top contenders Bill Elliott and Sterling Marlin, clearing the path for Allison to take command and shine the rest of the way. He led 95 of the final 100 laps, holding off fierce challenges from Morgan Shepherd and Geoff Bodine, showcasing both speed and tactical brilliance in his one and only victory in the “Great American Race.”

The win carried deep emotional weight, with Davey’s father and fellow Hall of Famer, Bobby Allison, still recovering from a career-ending crash in 1988, watching from the pit box. Their shared moment in Victory Lane became even more poignant after Davey’s untimely death just 17 months later, solidifying this race as a cornerstone of the Allison family legacy.

MORE: Davey Allison’s star still shines bright

Meanwhile, Richard Petty – as well as notable NASCAR moonlighter and racing icon A.J. Foyt – competed in his final Daytona 500, marking the end of a truly historic era. “The King” received a standing ovation from the packed grandstands, his farewell symbolizing NASCAR’s shift from its golden era to a more modern, competitive age. Conversely, it also marked the last Daytona 500 to not feature future three-time “Great American Race” winner Jeff Gordon … all the way until the 2016 running of the race, two and a half decades later.

The field also featured legends like Dale Earnhardt, still chasing his elusive Daytona 500 win, and Alan Kulwicki, who would later claim the 1992 championship before his own untimely death the following year. It was also the inaugural race for a future championship-winning organization in Joe Gibbs Racing, with Dale Jarrett taking the No. 18 Chevrolet (!) home in 36th.

This race represented a convergence of NASCAR’s past, present, and future. With Allison’s masterclass on the track and emotional Victory Lane moment, Petty’s farewell and the intense competition among the sport’s brightest stars, the ’92 Daytona 500 remains one of the most significant and emotional moments in NASCAR history.

RELATED: Allison through the years | Where ’19 Hall inductee ranks all-time

WATCH: From the Vault: Davey Allison wins 1992 Daytona 500


20. The Fastest One

🗓️ Date: 2/17/1980 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1980 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: Buddy Baker’s 1980 victory was a defining moment in NASCAR history, blending personal triumph with groundbreaking innovation. After 19 years of chasing victory in the “Great American Race,” Baker finally prevailed, piloting the iconic “Gray Ghost” No. 28 Oldsmobile to a record average speed of 177.602 mph – a benchmark for the fastest Daytona 500 ever, still unbroken more than four decades later.buddy baker at the 1950 datona 500

The Ranier Racing team’s revolutionary car, featuring wind tunnel-tested aerodynamics and a sleek, silver-and-black paint scheme (a favorite of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s), was so dominant that NASCAR required reflective decals to make it more visible on track after protests from competitors.

MORE: Buddy Baker through the years

Much of the car’s speed was credited to legendary crew chief Waddell Wilson, whose engine expertise and strategic brilliance turned the ride into an unbeatable force. Baker’s mastery on the track was evident as he led 143 of 200 laps, fending off challenges from Bobby Allison and Dale Earnhardt. The Baker/Wilson pair was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2020.

The win carried added weight, given a slew of near-misses for the “Gentle Giant” at Daytona, including a heartbreaking engine failure while leading in 1973. Beyond personal redemption, Baker’s triumph ushered in an era where aerodynamics became as crucial as horsepower, reshaping how race cars were designed for decades to come. | Read more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn1QrRiL_fo&t=6s


21. The Pole Heard Round the World

🗓️ Date: 2/24/2013 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 2013 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: Danica Patrick’s performance in the 2013 Daytona 500 was a landmark moment in NASCAR history. Securing the pole position with a lap speed of 196.434 mph in her No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, she became the first woman to achieve this feat and lead the field to green in the sport’s premier race. Her precise handling throughout the race on Daytona’s high banks demonstrated her skill and composure under immense pressure. She continued to prove throughout her career that she presented a formidable challenge on superspeedways.

RELATED: Tony Stewart talks about Danica’s legacy

Throughout the 200-lap race, Patrick remained a consistent presence in the top 10, running as high as third after relinquishing the lead following her opening laps at the front. She paced a total of five laps under green flag conditions, becoming one of the few drivers in history to lead in both the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500, a race in which she also had six top 10s in nine starts. Patrick set the record for the highest finish by a woman in the race’s history, ultimately finishing eighth in a remarkable achievement in her first full-time Cup Series season.

Patrick’s performance stood out on NASCAR’s grandest stage as she competed with stock car racing’s best – a whopping 10 current or future Cup champions were in the 43-car field – earning praise from race winner Jimmie Johnson, who captured his second Harley J. Earl Trophy that day en route to his sixth Cup Series title later that season.

MORE: Patrick through the years | Johnson through the years

Beyond the track, her achievement continued to break down gender barriers in motorsport, inspiring a new generation of drivers and fans. While her NASCAR career spanned until 2018, her historic run at Daytona remains one of the sport’s defining moments, solidifying her legacy as a trailblazer in stock car circles and the sport as a whole. | Read more

RELATED: Patrick leaves NASCAR at peace


22. The Pioneer

🗓️ Date: 2/20/1977 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1977 Daytona 500Janet Guthrie daytona graphic

📝 Notes: Janet Guthrie made history at the 1977 Daytona 500, blazing a trail as the first woman to compete in NASCAR’s premier event. Starting from the 39th position in her Chevrolet Monte Carlo, she faced immediate challenges when mechanical issues, including a damaged oil pump belt, forced her into early pit stops. Despite these setbacks, Guthrie steadily advanced through the field of competitors, demonstrating exceptional skill alongside racing legends like Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough to ultimately finish in a solid 12th place.

RELATED: Janet Guthrie through the years

Her performance effectively silenced critics and earned respect from fellow drivers who had initially doubted her abilities. The achievement resonated beyond the race track, occurring during a decade of significant progress for women’s rights and opening doors for future female drivers in NASCAR. Guthrie’s partnership with team owner Lynda Ferreri marked a unique moment in NASCAR as well, with both women breaking barriers in their respective roles.

The impact of her Daytona 500 run continues to influence motorsport today, serving as a milestone in racing history at large. | Guthrie pioneered the fast lane more

MORE: Guthrie reflects on legendary career | Janet, Cale and the Loch Ness Monster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=zvYaknHcIBU


23. The Young One

🗓️ Date: 2/16/1997 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 1997 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: A fresh-faced, 25-year-old Jeff Gordon captured his first Daytona 500 victory in 1997, becoming the youngest winner of the “Great American Race” at the time – a record he would hold for a decade and a half until Trevor Bayne’s victory in 2011. The win held even more significance as Gordon led teammates Terry Labonte and Ricky Craven across the finish line, marking the first time any team had achieved a 1-2-3 finish in Daytona 500 history.

Adding emotional weight to the achievement, the Hendrick Motorsports sweep came during a period when team owner Rick Hendrick was battling a life-threatening case of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

RELATED: ‘Refuse to Lose’ on ’97 Daytona 500 | Gordon through the years

“On one hand, we were concerned and had heavy hearts thinking about (Hendrick) and wishing he was there but at the same time, we were using it as motivation to get it done,” Gordon said. “I think that was across the board for all of us. For Ricky, Terry and myself it was, ‘Let’s go get this done for Rick.'”

The victory helped establish Hendrick as NASCAR’s dominant force, with Ken Willis of the Daytona Beach News-Journal at the time comparing them to “the Yankees of the Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig era,” marking a pivotal, emotional moment in the sport’s history.

MORE: Relive Gordon’s 1997 Clash win | See all of Gordon’s wins

WATCH: From The Vault: Gordon wins 1997 Daytona 500


24. The Next Generation

🗓️ Date: 2/20/2022 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 2022 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: Putting a thrilling bow on NASCAR’s bold leap into a new era, 23-year-old rookie Austin Cindric piloted the Next Gen racer — a Team Penske Ford Mustang, in this case — to its first victory in the 2022 Daytona 500, edging Bubba Wallace by a mere .036 seconds in NASCAR Overtime.

The win stands as one of the sport’s more shocking, with Cindric becoming the first full-time rookie to win NASCAR’s most prestigious race – and doing it on team owner Roger Penske’s 85th birthday, to boot.

Cindric’s victory served as the perfect debut for NASCAR’s Next Gen car, which features the most innovative technical changes to the sport in decades. The race delivered everything NASCAR hoped for with its new vehicle, featuring 35 lead changes among 13 drivers and 104 green flag passes for the lead — the fifth-most since the creation of Loop Data statistics in 2007.

RELATED: Cindric through the years | Next Gen timeline: From testing to triumph

For Cindric, who had lost the Xfinity Series championship just months earlier, redemption came in the form of stock car racing’s most coveted trophy — the Harley J. Earl.

Also, his Discount Tire Ford Mustang now holds the distinction as the first Next Gen vehicle displayed on Glory Road at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, marking both the dawn of a new era in NASCAR technology and the arrival of its next generation of racing talent. | Read more

MORE: No. 2 on young career: ‘Feel like I’ve had three rookie seasons’

WATCH: Cindric ‘excited’ and ‘thankful’ after first Daytona 500 win


25. The Iconic Return

🗓️ Date: Feb. 18, 2018 | Full race results
🎥 NASCAR Classics: Watch the 2018 Daytona 500 in full

📝 Notes: With an eye-popping 30-something wins at Daytona International Speedway across multiple NASCAR series and racing disciplines, Dale Earnhardt is synonymous with the famed, 2.5-mile superspeedway despite claiming just one Daytona 500 win in his legendary career. It had been nearly 20 years to the day, however, since the infamous No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet had found Victory Lane there in the Cup Series, save for a 1999 Duel win by “The Intimidator,” until Austin Dillon took the iconic entry across the finish line first in the 2018 “Great American Race.”

To give you even more tingles — Dillon, the grandson of team owner Richard Childress, actually celebrated with Earnhardt in Victory Lane for his win back in ’98 as a 7-year-old. And there was even another “lucky penny” riding in the No. 3 for this one like there was for Earnhardt’s, too.

RELATED: Dale Earnhardt’s 1998 win in photos | Untold Stories: ’98 Daytona 500

“This is so awesome to take the No. 3 car back to Victory Lane. This one is for Dale Earnhardt Sr. and all those (Dale) Sr. fans. I love you guys,” Dillon said after claiming the checkered flag. “We are going to keep kicking butt the rest of the year!” | Read more

MORE: Earnhardt’s win shaped Dillon brothers’ path | Dillon, crew ink up after 500

WATCH: Dillon emotional after taking home Daytona 500 title


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