Gearheads call it " The large American Race " and " The Super Bowl of NASCAR . " Unlike most of its less - stately brethren , it has refuse shill its name to a bodied sugar pop . It will never be christened " The ACME Weed - Whacker 500 " or " The Yoo - hoo 500 . "
No , it ’s the Daytona 500 – gallant , unique , and particular . Always has been . Always will be .
This is the biggest , baddest blood line car race on the planet . Daytona International Speedway ? located in cheery Daytona Beach , Florida – is a 2.5 - mile asphalt Augusta . It ’s Lambeau Field at 200 mph , Wrigley Field sideways on two wheels . Daytona is dwelling house to 500 nautical mile of fable , lore , white knuckles , and goose bumps .
We ’ve strain through five tenner of thrills and spills and pinpoint the top 10 Daytona 500s of all time . Our list features daredevils with names like " Fireball , " " The King , " and " The Intimidator . " And first - name - only heroes like Mario and A.J.
slash in , because it ’s die to be a wild drive .
10: The 1962 Daytona 500
Winner : Glen " Fireball " Roberts
Margin of victory:27 seconds
Why it ’s No . 10:“Fireball " Roberts – who gain his nickname not for his skill as a racer but rather for the flame fastballs he threw as a high school baseball musician – was among the original hotshot of NASCAR .
eff for his solar flare on the track , Roberts was a frequent winner in the fifties and former 1960s – except , ironically , when he raced in his hometown of Daytona Beach , Florida . In 1955 , he finished first on the Daytona beach course but was disqualified because of a mechanical technicality . In 1961 , he was running away with the Daytona 500 , but his twenty-four hours end short when his motorcar ’s engine blew .
In the 1962 Daytona 500 , however , he would n’t be denied . After dining on his favorite pre - race meal , a bologna sandwich , Fireball strapped himself into his railway car and stray onto the lead for some vengeance .
The race came down to a spirited two - car struggle between Fireball and a young upstart named Richard Petty . at last , Roberts pulled off and come through by 27 seconds . Petty would go on to win a record 200 NASCAR backwash ; Roberts , meanwhile , died tragically in 1964 after a gruesome crash in the World 600 in Charlotte , North Carolina .
On February 18 , 1962 , however , fourth dimension stood still . It was the day Roberts vanquish a legend - in - the - making and last leave a lasting mark on his hometown .
9: The 1967 Daytona 500
victor : Mario Andretti
Margin of victory : under caution
Why it ’s No . 9 : Andretti ’s victory in the 1967 Daytona 500 brought serious attention to a sport that badly needed it . At the time , NASCAR was merely a provincial happening , its good ol' boy fan base located in the Southeast . The national limelight shined on Indy railroad car – streamlined , open - steering wheel bullets that were the paradigm of cool . And no Indy car driver was more cool or illustrious than the 27 - year - old - Andretti , who had won the series backing in 1965 and 1966 .
In the winter of 1967 , Andretti decided to head to Daytona , the land of bulky , grumble store cars . Would Andretti measure up – literally ? He was so short that his Hush Puppies would n’t reach the gas pedal . ( No kidding – he raced in Hush Puppies . )
Car owner Smokey Yunick compensate for Andretti ’s , er , shortcomings by build up a longer gas pedal . And once the 1967 Daytona 500 started , Andretti stood tall , just as he had race Indy cars . He philander the treadle to the floor board and kept it there for 500 geographical mile . Andretti dominate the airfield , conduct 112 of the 200 laps .
But the biggest winner that day was NASCAR . In Victory Lane , a giddy Andretti proclaimed : " You do n’t featherbed a elevator car at Daytona like you do [ in Indy machine ] at Indy [ Indianapolis Motor Speedway ] . It ’s flat out . "
8: The 1972 Daytona 500
succeeder : A.J. Foyt
gross profit of victory:1 circle - plus
Why it ’s No . 8 : Foyt ’s victory in the 1972 Daytona 500 was pregnant for much the same cause asAndretti ’s in 1967 : A big - name driver from the other side of the tracks ( Indy gondola ) brought aid and prestigiousness to stock car racing .
Foyt , a bigger - than - life Texan , made a Joe Namath - similar guaranty prior to the 1972 Daytona 500 : " I ’ll gain it . " Early on , though , it looked as if Foyt would have fuss survive up to his words . He got cram in traffic and was forced to elbow his way through the crowd of roughhewn NASCAR regulars .
It was n’t until the shutdown lap , after a contending Richard Petty was sent to the garage because of car failure , that Foyt found himself destitute and clear of the pack .
Foyt then sailed to the checkered flag , pound Charlie Glotzbach by almost two laps , the biggest security deposit of triumph in Daytona 500 history .
Foyt ’s gutsy – and in the end prevalent – carrying out earned eminent kudos from the NASCAR brotherhood . " He fit right in , " drawled Petty .
7: The 1994 Daytona 500
Winner : Sterling Marlin
Margin of victory:0.19 seconds
Why it ’s No . 7 : Marlin had paid his due . And paid . And paid . For 17 years , he had pelt along in NASCAR obscurity , nursing second - rate car to second - tier finishes .
Then Marlin landed a topflight ride with Morgan - McClure Motorsports near the goal of the 1993 time of year . The self - proclaimed country male child from Columbia , Tennessee , finally had his grownup chance . And he made the most of it in the 1994 Daytona 500 . Marlin steadily worked his way of life through the field , shook off a previous challenge from Ernie Irvan , and nip off Irvan at the finish by a short .19 of a second . It was his first NASCAR win in 279 tries . And he did it in the most honored event on the calendar .
afterwards , as he celebrated in the bright Florida temperateness , Sterling give the victory to his father , Coo Coo Marlin , a colorful eccentric who raced 12 years in NASCAR without ever earning a victory . " This one ’s for Daddy , " Sterling said . " He endure all those years and never won one . This one ’s for him . "
Back in Columbia , a welcome - home parade wound through the rural farmland and onto Main Street , creating such a commotion that Sterling ’s married woman Paula said , " It scared the cows . "
Maybe the cow , like everybody else , simply were inspire .
6: The 1997 Daytona 500
achiever : Jeff Gordon
Why it ’s No . 6 : Today , Gordon is the most renowned gadget driver in NASCAR . And his triumph in the 1997 Daytona 500 – at 25 , he became the young person ever to deliver the goods the race – helped sling him to that status .
The race ended under caution , but the activeness leading up to that point was galvanizing – Gordon and Bill Elliott wage a fierce battle for the lead . " It ’s an experience I ’ll never forget , " Gordon said of the duel . " I got chill bumps . "
Adding drama to the afternoon were the travails of Dale Earnhardt , Gordon ’s main NASCAR contender . Earnhardt crashed hard during the airstream , but when his motorcar was rob to a tow motortruck , he intervened and ask that it be unhooked . Earnhardt then crawled inwardly , managed to get the murder auto started , and completed the race . That , at least , was a moral victory for the valet de chambre known as " The Intimidator . "
5: The 1989 Daytona 500
Winner : Darrell Waltrip
Margin of victory:7.64 seconds
Why it ’s No . 5 : Waltrip was nicknamed " Jaws " because he ran his mouth as heavily as he execute the motor of his race car . But the brash Tennessean like to say : " boy , it ai n’t braggin ' if you do it . "
In the 1989 Daytona 500 , Darrell did it . nurse a gasping gas tank , Waltrip handle to dart across the refinement line 7.64 seconds in advance of Ken Schrader , claiming his first Daytona 500 win in his seventeenth try in , suitably , car No . 17 .
An incredulous Dale Earnhardt , who finished third , question Waltrip ’s amazing milage . " I ’d like to get a look at that gas cooler , " Earnhardt grumble .
Another doubt driver aver : " For $ 5 , I ’d salute what was give . "
Waltrip did n’t hear the harpies ; he was too in use lace his helmet and doing the " Icky Shuffle " in Victory Circle . " This is the race everybody will always think back , " aver Waltrip . " This is Daytona . "
Waltrip has hit the hay from race , but he has n’t retired from talking . Today , he is an award - acquire spreader on Fox Sports ' racing telecast .
4: The 1998 Daytona 500
Winner : Dale Earnhardt
Why it ’s No . 4 : Earnhardt , the baddest dude in racing , was nicknamed " The Intimidator . " Daytona International Speedway , however , was n’t frightened – Earnhardt had been ineffectual to intimidate the dreadful track when thing mattered most .
head into 1998 , Earnhardt was 0 - for-19 in the Daytona 500 . He had been robbed of victories at the last second by shove along tires , wreck , dry gas storage tank – you name it .
As Earnhardt train for the 1998 Daytona 500 , he suppose , " I do n’t know if I ’m crazy or settle , but I ’m more eager than ever . "
It showed . With one lap to go in the raceway , Earnhardt was leading when a John Andretti crash brought out a caution iris . The field was glacial – the race was over . Earnhardt , who had led the former 61 laps , was about to win the Daytona 500 .
As Earnhardt cruise down pit route on his style to Victory Circle , members of rival pit crews belt along out to slap his hand and offer him congratulations . Fans in the grandstand hold out uncivilised . " Finally , " Earnhardt say after climbing out of his car .
That said it all . At long last , the toughest driver of them all had overcome his tough fate in the Daytona 500 .
3: The 1959 Daytona 500
succeeder : Lee Petty
Margin of victory:2 feet
Why it ’s No . 3 : This was the first Daytona 500 , and it was a dilly . Petty – the paterfamilias of NASCAR ’s First Family – sped toward the finish line in a side - by - side conflict with Johnny Beauchamp , a hiccup finish made even more complicated by the fact that Joe Weatherly , two laps down , was wedged in beside the two leaders . The three machine crossed the ending blood line in a dead - rut fuzz .
Who make headway ? Nobody knew . It was too tight to call .
It took three days of studying still photos of the finish before NASCAR president Bill France Sr . in conclusion exalt Petty the superior . Did he make the right call ? The debate stay to this day .
The controversial polish was good word for the fledgling mutation . For three days , it kept NASCAR and the Daytona 500 on the front page of sports sections around the country . Stock car racing had never receive so much promotion – the Daytona 500 was on its mode .
2: The 1979 Daytona 500
success : Richard Petty
Margin of victory:1 railcar length
Why it ’s No . 2 : Petty gain the 1979 Daytona 500 , but nobody was catch . When he crossed the finish line , everyone ’s eyes were glue to the Daytona International Speedway infield , where Cale Yarborough was slugging it out with the Allison brothers , Donnie and Bobby .
Cale and Donnie had been waging a stubborn side - by - side engagement guide into the last lap . Neither would shift an inch , and when they could n’t wedge two cars into a hole made for only one motorcar , they collided and crashed . Their wrecked cars went spin off the track and jolt to a arrest in the muddy diamond .
Bobby , driving in the back of the pack , extract over to check on his chum . Then he made the mistake of " chink " on Yarborough . A thickset , hickory - problematical former semipro football game thespian , Yarborough had a quick irritability . dead , helmet were sweep and fists were flying .
This was the first NASCAR race ever to be televise hot flagstone - to - flag , and the viewers get an eyeful . They were enamor as they see those wild - and - unbalanced stock car drivers pose each other to pieces both on and off the racecourse .
NASCAR would develop into the secondly - highest - rated pro sport on TV , behind only the NFL – and it all pop out with a fisticuffs on a muddy Daytona diamond .
" I ’d have wish to have stopped and watched , " chuckled Petty , who navigate past the shipwreck on his way to victory . " It bet pretty excitin ' . "
1: The 1976 Daytona 500
victor : David Pearson
Margin of victory:150 feet
Why it ’s No . 1 : Pearson was known as the " Silver Fox " because of his slyness on the racetrack . Most fan considered only one driver to be his adequate : Richard " The King " Petty .
Pearson and Petty had waged many battle over the yr , and the 1976 Daytona 500 was perhaps the most memorable instalment in their rivalry . They were side - by - side as they cry toward the finish pedigree on the final lap . It was a test of backbone , guts , and gumption . Neither driver grant an in .
Their cable car touch , swerved , and then break apart hard into the wall 20 yard diffident of the finale strain . Petty ’s crushed car spun into the infield and stalled . Pearson – shouting into his radio , " Where ’s Richard ! ? " – care to get his evenly mangled racing car refired . He wobbled across the line at 30 mph , smoke billowing from his car and torn metallic element clanking .
" For a minute , I thought I was going to become the first driver to win the Dayton 500 rearward , " said Pearson .
Win the Daytona 500 he did . It was the greatest finish ever in NASCAR ’s sterling race .
