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{{short description|Auto race held in Daytona, Florida, United States}}

{{About|the stock car race|the motorcycle race|Daytona 200|the song by Ghostface Killah|Daytona 500 (song)}}

The race serves as the final event of [[Speedweeks]] and is sometimes known as "The Great American Race" or the "[[Super Bowl]] of Stock Car Racing".<ref>{{cite web|title=A History of the Daytona 500|url=https://www.ticketcity.com/daytona-500-tickets/daytona-500-history.html|publisher=[[TicketCity]]|accessdate=November 24, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509221046/http://www.ticketcity.com/daytona-500-tickets/daytona-500-history.html|archivedate=May 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Crossman|first=Matt|title=Daytona 500 Magic Hour: Best 60 minutes in sports|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/nascar-illustrated/2015/2/nascar-illustrated-the-magic-hour-daytona-500.html|publisher=[[NASCAR]]|date=February 22, 2015|accessdate=November 24, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125091337/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/nascar-illustrated/2015/2/nascar-illustrated-the-magic-hour-daytona-500.html|archivedate=November 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Briggs|first=Josh|title=How Daytona Qualifying Works|url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-racing/nascar/nascar-basics/nascar-daytona-qualifying2.htm|publisher=[[HowStuffWorks]]|accessdate=November 24, 2015}}</ref> Since its inception, the race has been held in mid-to-late February. From [[1971 Daytona 500|1971]] to [[2011 Daytona 500|2011]], and again since [[2018 Daytona 500|2018]], the event has been as associated with [[Washington's Birthday|Presidents Day]] weekend, taking place on the Sunday before the third Monday in February. On eight occasions, the race has been run on [[Valentine's Day]] .

The winner of the Daytona 500 since 1997 is presented with the [[Harley J. Earl Trophy]] in Victory Lane, and the winning car is displayed in race-winning condition for one year at [[Daytona 500 Experience]], a museum and gallery adjacent to Daytona International Speedway.

==Origins==

Daytona International Speedway is {{convert|2.5|mi|km|0}} long and a 500-mile race<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.autoballa.com/2014/07/157289/rise-and-fall-nascar-indy | title=The Rise And Fall Of NASCAR At Indy | date=Jul 24, 2014 | accessdate=16 August 2014}}</ref> requires 200 laps to complete. However, the race is considered official after two stages (120 laps) have been completed (300 miles). The race has been shortened four times due to rain (in [[1965 Daytona 500|1965]], [[1966 Daytona 500|1966]], [[2003 Daytona 500|2003]], and [[2009 Daytona 500|2009]]) and once in response to the energy crisis of [[1974 Daytona 500|1974]]. Since the adaptation of the [[green–white–checker finish]] rule in 2004, the race has gone past 500 miles on eight occasions ([[2005 Daytona 500|2005]], [[2006 Daytona 500|2006]], [[2007 Daytona 500|2007]], [[2010 Daytona 500|2010]], [[2011 Daytona 500|2011]], [[2012 Daytona 500|2012]], [[2015 Daytona 500|2015]], and [[2019 Daytona 500|2019]]).

{{unreferenced section|date=February 2016}}

{{main article|Daytona 500 history}}

* '''[[1960 Daytona 500|1960]]''': [[Junior Johnson]] made use of the [[drafting (aerodynamics)|draft]], then a little-understood phenomenon, to win while running a slower, year-old car in a field of 68 cars, most in Daytona 500 history through the present day.

* '''[[1965 Daytona 500|1965]]''': The first rain-shortened Daytona 500 was the 1965 event. [[Fred Lorenzen]] was in the lead when the race was called on lap 133 of 200.<ref>Bob Zeller, ''Daytona 500: An Official History'' (Phoenix: David Bull Publishing, 2002): 48-52.</ref>

* '''[[1967 Daytona 500|1967]]''': [[Mario Andretti]] led 112 of the 200 laps including the last 33 to capture his first and only win in the Cup Series.

* '''[[1968 Daytona 500|1968]]''': For much of this race, both [[Cale Yarborough]] and [[LeeRoy Yarbrough]] traded the lead. With 5 laps to go, Cale made a successful slingshot pass on the third turn to take the lead from LeeRoy and never looked back as he won his first Daytona 500 by 1.3 seconds.

* '''[[1969 Daytona 500|1969]]''': Having learned from his unrelated surname-mate the previous year, LeeRoy Yarbrough would use the same sling-shot treatment out of turn 3 on [[Charlie Glotzbach]], to score the victory on the final lap.

* '''[[1971 Daytona 500|1971]]''': Richard Petty becomes the first three-time winner, including the [[1964 Daytona 500|1964]] and [[1966 Daytona 500|1966 races]]. Through 2015, only 5 drivers have won 3 or more Daytona 500s.

* '''[[1973 Daytona 500|1973]]''': Richard Petty becomes the first four-time winner, including the [[1964 Daytona 500|1964]], [[1966 Daytona 500|1966]] and [[1971 Daytona 500|1971 races]] . Through 2015, only Petty (7 total) and Cale Yarborough have won 4 Daytona 500s.

* '''[[1974 Daytona 500|1974]]''': During the start of the 1974 NASCAR season, many races had their distance cut ten percent in response to the [[1973 oil crisis]]. As a result, the 1974 Daytona 500 was shortened to 180 laps (450 miles), as symbolically, the race "started" on lap 21. Richard Petty became the first of only 3 drivers (through 2015) to win consecutive Daytona 500s, while also setting a mark of 5 total wins.<!--not clear as written if it's 5 or 7 that was unequalled; mention it at 7.-->

* '''[[1979 Daytona 500|1979]]''': The 1979 race was the first Daytona 500 to be broadcast live on national television,<ref name=nascar.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/2003/kyn/history/daytona/01/23/daytona_1979/ |title=1979: Petty winds up in 'fist' place |accessdate=June 9, 2007 |author=Mark Aumann |date=January 23, 2003 |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525061914/http://www.nascar.com/2003/kyn/history/daytona/01/23/daytona_1979/ |archivedate=May 25, 2011 }}</ref><ref name=amazon>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/1979-Daytona-500/dp/B000E4IED2 |title=1979 Daytona 500 |accessdate=June 9, 2007 |publisher=Amazon.com| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070716050023/http://www.amazon.com/1979-Daytona-500/dp/B000E4IED2| archivedate= 16 July 2007 | url-status= dead}}</ref> airing on [[CBS Sports|CBS]], whose audience was increased in much of the Eastern and Midwestern USA due to a blizzard. (The [[Indianapolis 500]] was only broadcast on tape delay that evening in this era; most races were broadcast only through the final quarter to half of the race, as was the procedure for ABC's Championship Auto Racing broadcasts; with the new CBS contract, the network and NASCAR agreed to a full live broadcast.) That telecast introduced in-car and low-level track-side cameras, which has now become standard in all sorts of automotive racing broadcasts. A final lap crash and subsequent fight between leaders Cale Yarborough and [[Donnie Allison]] (along with Donnie's brother [[Bobby Allison|Bobby]]) brought national (if unwelcome) publicity to NASCAR, with the added emphasis of a snowstorm that bogged down much of the northeastern part of the United States. Donnie Allison was leading the race on the final lap with Yarborough drafting him tightly. As Yarborough attempted a slingshot pass at the end of the backstretch, Allison attempted to block him. Yarborough refused to give ground and as he pulled alongside Allison, his left side tires left the pavement and went into the wet and muddy infield grass. Yarborough lost control of his car and contacted Allison's car halfway down the backstretch. As both drivers tried to regain control, their cars made contact several more times before finally locking together and crashing into the outside wall in turn three. After the cars settled in the grass, Donnie Allison and Yarborough began to argue. After they had talked it out, Bobby Allison, who was lapped at that point, pulled over, began defending his brother, and a fight broke out. Richard Petty, who was over half a lap behind at the time, went on to win; with the brawl in the infield, the television audience scarcely noticed. The story was the talk of the water cooler the next day, even making the front page of ''[[The New York Times]]'' Sports section.

* '''[[1980 Daytona 500|1980]]''': [[Buddy Baker]] won the fastest Daytona 500 in history, at 177.602&nbsp;mph (285.809&nbsp;km/h).

* '''[[1983 Daytona 500|1983]]''': Cale Yarborough was the first driver to run a qualifying lap over {{convert|200|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in his [[Chevrolet Monte Carlo]].

* '''[[1984 Daytona 500|1984]]''': Cale Yarborough completed a lap of {{convert|201.848|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, officially breaking the {{convert|200|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} barrier at Daytona. He joined Richard Petty as the only drivers to win the race in consecutive years and to win the race four times overall.

* '''[[1986 Daytona 500|1986]]''': The race that came down to a two-car duel between [[Dale Earnhardt]] and [[Geoff Bodine]]. With 3 laps to go, Earnhardt was forced to make a pit stop for a "splash 'n go". However, as Earnhardt left the pits, he burned a piston, allowing Bodine to cruise to victory.

* '''[[1987 Daytona 500|1987]]''': Winner Bill Elliott qualified for the pole position at an all-time Daytona record of 210.364&nbsp;mph (338.532&nbsp;km/h). Bill Elliott dominated much of the race, leading 104 of the 200 laps. During two different points in the race, he pulled away from the other leaders and was all by himself on the track, leading the first 35 laps, 29 in a row at another point, and the last three.

* '''[[1991 Daytona 500|1991]]''': Dale Earnhardt's Daytona 500 frustrations continued as [[Ernie Irvan]] passed Earnhardt with six laps to go to. Ultimately, Earnhardt spun with two laps remaining and collected [[Davey Allison]] and [[Kyle Petty]]. Irvan took the win as the race ended under the caution flag. The race was dominated by complex pit stop rules, implemented to improve safety in the pit area.

* '''[[1992 Daytona 500|1992]]''': Davey Allison dominated the second half en route to his lone Daytona 500 victory. He avoided a major wreck on lap 92 and went on to lead the final 102 laps.

* '''[[1994 Daytona 500|1994]]''': [[Sterling Marlin]] gambled on fuel, and was able to complete the final 59 laps without stopping, to win his first career Cup victory. During Speedweeks, two drivers died during separate practice accidents, Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr.

* '''[[1996 Daytona 500|1996]]''': Dale Jarrett won his second Daytona 500 in four years, again holding off Dale Earnhardt, who finished second for the third time in four years.

* '''[[1997 Daytona 500|1997]]''': Jeff Gordon became the youngest driver to win the Daytona 500.

* '''[[1999 Daytona 500|1999]]''': Jeff Gordon accomplished the feat of winning the pole and the race marking the first time since [[1987 Daytona 500|1987]] when [[Bill Elliott]] did this.

* '''[[2001 Daytona 500|2001]]''': Also known as '''"Black Sunday"''', or the "darkest day in NASCAR", as Dale Earnhardt [[Death of Dale Earnhardt|died in a crash]] on the final lap. Michael Waltrip and [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]] were running first and second on the final lap, while Earnhardt Sr. was third. In turn 4, Earnhardt lost control after making contact from Sterling Marlin, and crashed into the outside wall, taking [[Ken Schrader]] with him. Earnhardt suffered a fatal [[basilar skull fracture]]. Waltrip would win.<ref>{{cite web | title = Jayski's Silly Season Site&nbsp;— Race Info Page | url = http://www.jayski.com/next/2001/2001daytona500.htm | accessdate = 2008-02-20 | year = 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095714/http://www.jayski.com/next/2001/2001daytona500.htm | archive-date = 2007-09-29 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

* '''[[2005 Daytona 500|2005]]''': The start time was changed, allowing the race to finish under the lights at dusk. In the first use of the green-white-checker finish rule in the Daytona 500, Gordon held off Kurt Busch, and Earnhardt, Jr. to win his third Daytona 500. The race went 203 laps/507.5 miles.

* '''[[2007 Daytona 500|2007]]''': Running fifth with half a lap to go, [[Kevin Harvick]] picked up a push and surged to the front to nip [[Mark Martin]] by 0.02 seconds at the line. Most of the rest of the field crashed across the line as [[The Big One (NASCAR)|The Big One]] erupted behind them.

[[File:Trevor Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 winner.jpg|thumb|right|[[Trevor Bayne]], driving the No. 21 [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] for [[Wood Brothers Racing]], won the [[2011 Daytona 500]].]]

* '''[[2011 Daytona 500|2011]]''': Since this race marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt, the third lap was a "silent lap", meaning the TV and radio announcers were silent during the entire lap, and fans held up three fingers in reference to Earnhardt's car number. [[Trevor Bayne]], at 20 years and one day old, became the youngest Daytona 500 winner ever.

* '''[[2013 Daytona 500|2013]]''': There were a number of firsts. This was the first race with NASCAR's new redesigned Generation 6 body. Rookie [[Danica Patrick]] won the pole, becoming the first woman on pole in the Daytona 500. She also was the first woman to lead laps under green flag conditions in the race. [[Jimmie Johnson]] earned his second Daytona 500 victory.

[[File:Green flag at Daytona.JPG|thumb|right|The start of the [[2015 Daytona 500]]]]

* '''[[2015 Daytona 500|2015]]''': [[Jeff Gordon]] won the pole for the final time, There were two [[The Big One (NASCAR)|big wrecks]] during the race, one with 19 laps to go for [[Justin Allgaier]] and [[Ty Dillon]], brought out a red flag to ensue cleanup on the track, and one on lap 202 at a scheduled [[Green–white–checker finish]], [[Joey Logano]] won his first Daytona 500.

* '''[[2017 Daytona 500|2017]]''': [[Chase Elliott]] started the race from the pole for the second year in a row. Several big wrecks decimated the field but a long green run to the finish put everyone in fuel trouble. [[Kurt Busch]] won as Elliott, [[Martin Truex Jr.]], and [[Kyle Larson]] all ran out of fuel in the last four laps.

* '''[[2018 Daytona 500|2018]]''': 20 years after [[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]] earned his [[1998 Daytona 500|iconic victory]] at Daytona, [[Austin Dillon]] brought Richard Childress's #3 Chevrolet back to Victory Lane. Dillon, Childress's grandson who was photographed next to Earnhardt as a child after the earlier win, led only the final lap, bumping leader [[Aric Almirola]] out of the way, sending the latter's Ford into the wall. Also of note, rookie [[Darrell Wallace Jr.]] finished in the runner-up spot, barely edging out 2016 winner [[Denny Hamlin]], the highest finish for an African-American driver in the event's history. It was also the final NASCAR race for [[Danica Patrick]], who was collected in a multi-car wreck near the end of the second stage that also ended the days of [[Chase Elliott]], [[Brad Keselowski]], [[Kevin Harvick]], among others.

==Qualifying procedure==

==List of Daytona 500 winners==

{{main article|List of Daytona 500 winners}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"

|-

|align="center"|10

| [[Derrike Cope]]

| [[Chevrolet]]

|align="center"|200

|align="center"|137.44

| [[2019 Daytona 500|Report]]

|}

===Notes===

* '''1974:''' Race scheduled for 90% distance in response to the [[1973 oil crisis|energy crisis]]; scoring began on lap 21.

===Multiple winners (drivers)===

| 1968, 1977, 1983, 1984

|-

| [[Bobby Allison]]

| 1978, 1982, 1988

| 1997, 1999, 2005

|-

| [[Bill Elliott]]

| 1985, 1987

| [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]]

| 2004, 2014

|}

| 1963, 1968, 1972, 1976, 2011

|-

| [[Ranier-Lundy]]

| 1980, 1983, 1984

| [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.]]

| 2001, 2003, 2004

|-

! rowspan="6" | 2

| 1973, 1974, 2002, 2008

|-

| [[Mercury (automobile)|Mercury]]

| 1968, 1972, 1976

| 1981, 1982, 1988

|-

| [[Toyota]]

|}

===Consecutive victories===

* Two consecutive victories as a driver

** [[Cale Yarborough]] ([[1983 Daytona 500|1983]], [[1984 Daytona 500|1984]])

** [[Sterling Marlin]] ([[1994 Daytona 500|1994]], [[1995 Daytona 500|1995]])

* Two consecutive victories as an owner

** [[Richard Petty]] ([[1970 Daytona 500|1970]], [[1971 Daytona 500|1971]]), ([[1973 Daytona 500|1973]], [[1974 Daytona 500|1974]])

===Family winners===

* Petty

* Allison

** Father [[Bobby Allison|Bobby]] ([[1978 Daytona 500|1978]], [[1982 Daytona 500|1982]], [[1988 Daytona 500|1988]]) and son [[Davey Allison|Davey]] ([[1992 Daytona 500|1992]])

* [[1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1997]] - [[Jeff Gordon]] (Also won the [[1997 Coca-Cola 600|Coca-Cola 600]] and [[1997 Mountain Dew Southern 500|Southern 500]])

* 1959 – [[Lee Petty]]

* 1964, 1971, 1974, 1979 – [[Richard Petty]]

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = NASCAR Cup Series

| Previous_race = [[Bluegreen Vacations 500]]

| Next_race = [[Pennzoil 400 (Las Vegas)|Pennzoil 400]]

{{Daytona 500}}

{{Daytona 500 Winners}}

{{NASCAR}}

}}

[[id:Daytona International Speedway#Daytona 500]]