Daytona 500
The Daytona 500, the most prestigious race on NASCAR's schedule, is a 500-mile stock car event held each February at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is traditionally the first race of NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series season, with the winner receiving the Harley J. Earl trophy. First held in 1959, the Daytona 500 is now known as "The Great American Race" and offers the biggest total prize money payout for any motorsports event in the United States. Richard Petty has won the race more times than any other driver; his seven wins include back-to-back victories in 1973 and 1974.
The 2012 Daytona 500 was held on Feb. 27, after being delayed a day by rain. Matt Kenseth won his second Daytona 500.
The first Daytona 500 was held on February 22, 1959 at Daytona International Speedway, when a field of 59 cars took the green flag for the start of the inaugural 200-lap race. A crowd of 41,000 was on hand to witness the beginning of a major chapter in the history of racing at Daytona.
The finish of the first race was too close to call, but Johnny Beauchamp went to Victory Lane and savored the celebration, even though the results were posted as "unofficial." Sixty-one hours later, there was a turn of events as Lee Petty was awarded the win in what appeared to be a dead heat between Petty and Beauchamp. A clip of newsreel footage helped to prove that Petty was the winner by a few feet, thus earning him a little over $19,000 for the win and becoming the first name etched onto the trophy named for Harley J. Earl, a famous General Motors designer and friend of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.
Petty's son Richard burst on to the racing scene in the early 1960s and won his first Daytona 500 in 1964, leading for over 180 of the 200 laps on the way to his first victory on a super-speedway. He would win his second in 1966, the year before another racing legend -- Mario Andretti -- hoisted the trophy at Daytona Speedway.
The 1970s at Daytona opened with relative unknown Pete Hamilton claiming victory after a number of favorites dropped out of the race. Petty returned to win three of the next four races, and was the first driver in Daytona 500 history to win back-to-back years by taking the 1973 and 1974 editions. In 1976, Petty was leading on the last lap of the race before David Pearson passed him on the backstretch. Contact between the two cars resulting from Petty's attempt to pass on the final turn left both cars spinning onto the tri-oval grass. Petty couldn't restart his car but Pearson kept his from stalling and was able to slowly cross the finish line to win the only Daytona 500 victory of his career in one of NASCAR's best-ever finishes.
The 1979 race was the first Daytona 500 broadcast live on television for the duration, and it produced quite a show for viewers. Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison were battling for the lead on the final lap but banged fenders and crashed in Turn 3, allowing Petty to hold off Darrell Waltrip within the trailing group to earn his sixth victory at Daytona.
The seventh victory for "The King" -- which represents the record number of wins by an individual driver -- came in 1981, when he used a fuel-only pit stop late in the race to outlast Bobby Allison, who would go on to lift the trophy the following year. Yarborough then won back-to-back races in 1983 and 1984 to bring his total number of wins at Daytona to four, before Allison notched his third career win in 1988.
Daytona offered one its biggest upsets in 1990. Dale Earnhardt, who had won almost everything at Daytona International Speedway except the Daytona 500, looked like he would finally break the losing streak. But after leading for some 150 laps on the day, Earnhardt's right rear tire failed on the final lap, causing him to lose pace and be passed by Terry Labonte and Derrick Cope, who would take first place in just his third Daytona 500 start.
Cope's win was the first of eight by Chevrolet vehicles in the 1990s, with Sterling Marlin and Jeff Gordon claiming two victories each during that span. Earnhardt would have to wait until 1998 for his lone Daytona 500 victory, winning in the third-fastest race in the event's history.
Sadly, one of the historic race's most memorable moments was the tragic passing of Earnhardt at the 2001 Daytona 500. The seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion died on impact as his car slammed headfirst into a concrete retaining wall a few hundred yards from the finish line, as teammates Michael Waltrip and son Dale Jr. claimed the top two places that day. Waltrip captured the Harley Earl trophy again in 2003, while Earnhardt Jr. went on to win the 2004 race, six years to the day after his father won his only Daytona 500.
The 2007 Daytona 500 produced one of the most thrilling Daytona 500 finishes in the history of race. Kevin Harvick, who started seventh on the final green-white-checkered restart, nipped Mark Martin at the finish line to win by 0.020 seconds in the closest Daytona 500 finish since the advent of computer scoring in 1993.
For the 50th running of the Daytona 500 in 2008, the Harley Earl trophy was plated in gold instead of silver and Ryan Newman won the race for his only victory during the 2008 season. Delays marked the next two races, with Matt Kenseth claiming the win in the 2009 event that was stopped with 48 laps to go. Jamie McMurray became champion for the first time in the 2010 Daytona 500, which took over six hours to complete.
The next year, on a re-paved surface, the racing was marked by pairs of cars, with the back car serving as the "pusher", giving the front car additional speed. The race went green-white-checkered twice, extending to 208 laps, with 20-year-old Trevor Bayne becoming the youngest champion in Daytona 500 history. He was the first driver since the inaugural Daytona 500 to win the race in his first try.
Now known as "The Great American Race," which traditionally hosts a sellout crowd, the Daytona 500 offers the biggest total payout in prize money for any motorsports event in the United States, surpassing the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400. The annual race's posted awards are now approaching $20 million, with the winner pocketing more than $1 million.
Rolex 24 At Daytona
The Rolex 24 At Daytona is a 24-hour endurance car race held as part of Speedweeks at the Daytona International Speedway. Sponsored by Rolex since the early 1990s, the race was originally known as the 24 Hours of Daytona and is run on a 3-1/2 mile course that combines the NASCAR oval and a road course within the track's infield.
The 49th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, held on January 29 and 30, 2011, was won by the No. 01 BMW Riley team from Chip Ganassi Racing.
Budweiser Shootout
The Budweiser Shootout at Daytona is an exhibition NASCAR racing event held at Daytona International Speedway the weekend before the Daytona 500. The race features Sprint Cup series drivers, but it is a non-points event yet offers a large monetary prize while serving as a kickoff event for the NASCAR portion of Speed Weeks.
The race invites a small field of NASCAR drivers, who can qualify for the event by being one of the 12 drivers who qualified for the previous year's Chase, the past Cup Series champion, past Bud Shootout champions, past Daytona points race winners or the reigning rookie of the year.
The Bud Shootout is comprised of two segments that result in 187.5 miles over the track's 2.5-mile layout. A 25-lap first segment is followed by a 10-minute pit stop and intermission for all racers before a closing 50-lap leg segment.
Gatorade Duels
The Gatorade Duels are a pair of 150-mile races that determine the starting lineup of racers for the Daytona 500. The two preliminary events held are held on the Thursday prior to the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. While the traditional timed laps are held at Daytona -- in similar fashion to other NASCAR events -- these sessions only determine the two front row starters for the main race at Daytona, with the finishing order from the Gatorade Duels determing the rest of the starting grid.
Preliminary races of varying lengths have been in use since 1959 at Daytona, with the events known as the Gatorade Duels since 2005. Since that year, the two fastest racers from the ordinary qualifying timed runs (held one week before the Daytona 500) do automatically earn the pole and outside pole positions for the Daytona 500, but are also awarded pole position for either of the Gatorade Duels. While the result of these top two drivers in the preliminary races doesn't affect their starting position for the Daytona 500, the starting positions for the rest of the field are determined by racers' finishes in the Gatorade Duels, with drivers from the first duel beginning on the inside slot -- and those from the second duel lining up on the outside position -- of each row.
A small number of additional positions for non-exempt racing team cars (based on the previous NASCAR season's points by owner-basd teams) may be awarded for each Daytona 500, and are based on the original timed speeds held before the duels.
Daytona 500 Year-by-Year Winners
| Year | Driver | Car # | Car Make | Start | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Trevor Bayne | 21 | Ford | 32nd | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 2010 | Jamie McMurray | 1 | Chevrolet | 13th | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing |
| 2009 | Matt Kenseth | 17 | Ford | 43rd | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 2008 | Ryan Newman | 12 | Dodge | 7th | Penske Championship Racing |
| 2007 | Kevin Harvick | 29 | Chevrolet | 34th | Richard Childress Racing |
| 2006 | Jimmie Johnson | 48 | Chevrolet | 9th | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2005 | Jeff Gordon | 24 | Chevrolet | 15th | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2004 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | 8 | Chevrolet | 3rd | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 2003 | Michael Waltrip | 15 | Chevrolet | 4th | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 2002 | Ward Burton | 22 | Dodge | 19th | Bill Davis Racing |
| 2001 | Michael Waltrip | 15 | Chevrolet | 19th | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 2000 | Dale Jarrett | 88 | Ford | 1st | Robert Yates Racing |
| 1999 | Jeff Gordon | 24 | Chevrolet | 1st | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 1998 | Dale Earnhardt | 3 | Chevrolet | 4th | Richard Childress Racing |
| 1997 | Jeff Gordon | 24 | Chevrolet | 6th | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 1996 | Dale Jarrett | 88 | Ford | 7th | Robert Yates Racing |
| 1995 | Sterling Marlin | 4 | Chevrolet | 3rd | Morgan-McClure Motorsports |
| 1994 | Sterling Marlin | 4 | Chevrolet | 4th | Morgan-McClure Motorsports |
| 1993 | Dale Jarrett | 18 | Chevrolet | 2nd | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 1992 | Davey Allison | 28 | Ford | 6th | Robert Yates Racing |
| 1991 | Ernie Irvan | 4 | Chevrolet | 2nd | Morgan-McClure Motorsports |
| 1990 | Derrike Cope | 10 | Chevrolet | 12th | Bob Whitcomb |
| 1989 | Darrell Waltrip | 17 | Chevrolet | 2nd | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 1988 | Bobby Allison | 12 | Buick | 3rd | Stavola Brothers Racing |
| 1987 | Bill Elliott | 9 | Ford | 1st | Melling Racing |
| 1986 | Geoffrey Bodine | 5 | Chevrolet | 2nd | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 1985 | Bill Elliott | 9 | Ford | 1st | Melling Racing |
| 1984 | Cale Yarborough | 28 | Chevrolet | 1st | Harry Ranier |
| 1983 | Cale Yarborough | 28 | Pontiac | 8th | Harry Ranier |
| 1982 | Bobby Allison | 88 | Buick | 7th | DiGard Motorsports |
| 1981 | Richard Petty | 43 | Buick | 8th | Petty Enterprises |
| 1980 | Buddy Baker | 28 | Oldsmobile | 1st | Harry Rainer |
| 1979 | Richard Petty | 43 | Oldsmobile | 13th | Petty Enterprises |
| 1978 | Bobby Allison | 15 | Ford | 33rd | Bud Moore Engineering |
| 1977 | Cale Yarborough | 11 | Chevrolet | 4th | Junior Johnson |
| 1976 | David Pearson | 21 | Mercury | 7th | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 1975 | Benny Parsons | 72 | Chevrolet | 32nd | L.G. DeWitt |
| 1974 | Richard Petty | 43 | Dodge | 2nd | Petty Enterprises |
| 1973 | Richard Petty | 43 | Dodge | 7th | Petty Enterprises |
| 1972 | A.J. Foyt | 21 | Mercury | 2nd | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 1971 | Richard Petty | 43 | Plymouth | 5th | Petty Enterprises |
| 1970 | Pete Hamilton | 40 | Plymouth | 9th | Petty Enterprises |
| 1969 | LeeRoy Yarbrough | 98 | Ford | 19th | Junior Johnson |
| 1968 | Cale Yarborough | 21 | Mercury | 1st | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 1967 | Mario Andretti | 11 | Ford | 12th | Holman-Moody |
| 1966 | Richard Petty | 43 | Plymouth | 1st | Petty Enterprises |
| 1965 | Fred Lorenzen | 28 | Ford | 4th | Holman-Moody |
| 1964 | Richard Petty | 43 | Plymouth | 2nd | Petty Enterprises |
| 1963 | DeWayne L. "Tiny" Lund | 21 | Ford | 12th | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 1962 | Edward G. "Fireball" Roberts | 22 | Pontiac | 1st | Jim Stephens |
| 1961 | Marvin Panch | 20 | Pontiac | 4th | Smokey Yunick |
| 1960 | Junior Johnson | 27 | Chevrolet | 9th | John Masoni |
| 1959 | Lee Petty | 42 | Oldsmobile | 15th | Petty Enterprises |
Budweiser Shootout Year-by-Year Winners
| Year | Driver | Car Make | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2011 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Penske Racing |
| 2010 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 2009 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 2008 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2007 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2006 | Denny Hamlin | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2005 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2004 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | Robert Yates Racing |
| 2003 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 2002 | Tony Stewart | Pontiac | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2001 | Tony Stewart | Pontiac | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2000 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | Robert Yates Racing |
| 1999 | Mark Martin | Ford | Roush Racing |
| 1998 | Rusty Wallace | Ford | Penske Racing |
| 1997 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 1996 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | Robert Yates Racing |
| 1995 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 1994 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 1993 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 1992 | Geoff Bodine | Ford | Bud Moore Engineering |
| 1991 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 1990 | Ken Schrader | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 1989 | Ken Schrader | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 1988 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 1987 | Bill Elliott | Ford | Melling Racing |
| 1986 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 1985 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet | Billy Hagan |
| 1984 | Neil Bonnett | Chevrolet | Junior Johnson |
| 1983 | Neil Bonnett | Chevrolet | RahMoc Enterprises |
| 1982 | Bobby Allison | Buick | DiGard Motorsports |
| 1981 | Darrell Waltrip | Buick | Junior Johnson |
| 1980 | Dale Earnhardt | Oldsmobile | Rod Osterlund |
| 1979 | Buddy Baker | Oldsmobile | Harry Ranier |
Gatorade Duel Year-by-Year Winners
| Year | Duel #1 | Manufacturer | Duel #2 | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Matt Kenseth | Ford |
| 2011 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet |
| 2010 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Kasey Kahne | Ford |
| 2009 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Kyle Busch | Toyota |
| 2008 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Denny Hamlin | Toyota |
| 2007 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet |
| 2006 | Elliott Sadler | Ford | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet |
| 2005 | Michael Waltrip | Chevrolet | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet |
| 2004 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Elliott Sadler | Ford |
| 2003 | Robby Gordon | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet |
| 2002 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Michael Waltrip | Chevrolet |
| 2001 | Sterling Marlin | Dodge | Mike Skinner | Chevrolet |
| 2000 | Bill Elliott | Ford | Ricky Rudd | Ford |
| 1999 | Bobby Labonte | Pontiac | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet |
| 1998 | Sterling Marlin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet |
| 1997 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet |
| 1996 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | Ernie Irvan | Ford |
| 1995 | Sterling Marlin | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet |
| 1994 | Ernie Irvan | Ford | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet |
| 1993 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet |
| 1992 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | Bill Elliott | Ford |
| 1991 | Davey Allison | Ford | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet |
| 1990 | Geoff Bodine | Ford | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet |
| 1989 | Ken Schrader | Chevrolet | Terry Labonte | Ford |
| 1988 | Bobby Allison | Buick | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet |
| 1987 | Ken Schrader | Ford | Benny Parsons | Chevrolet |
| 1986 | Bill Elliott | Ford | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet |
| 1985 | Bill Elliott | Ford | Cale Yarborough | Ford |
| 1984 | Cale Yarborough | Chevrolet | Bobby Allison | Buick |
| 1983 | Dale Earnhardt | Ford | Neil Bonnett | Chevrolet |
| 1982 | Cale Yarborough | Buick | Buddy Baker | Buick |
| 1981 | Bobby Allison | Pontiac | Darrell Waltrip | Buick |
| 1980 | Neil Bonnett | Mercury | Donnie Allison | Oldsmobile |
| 1979 | Buddy Baker | Oldsmobile | Darrell Waltrip | Oldsmobile |
| 1978 | A.J. Foyt | Buick | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet |
| 1977 | Richard Petty | Dodge | Cale Yarborough | Chevrolet |
| 1976 | Dave Marcis | Dodge | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet |
| 1975 | Bobby Allison | Matador | David Pearson | Mercury |
| 1974 | Bobby Isaac | Chevrolet | Cale Yarborough | Chevrolet |
| 1973 | Buddy Baker | Dodge | Coo Coo Marlin | Chevrolet |
| 1972 | Bobby Isaac | Dodge | Bobby Allison | Chevrolet |
| 1971 | Pete Hamilton | Plymouth | David Pearson | Mercury |
| 1970 | Cale Yarborough | Mercury | Charlie Glotzbach | Dodge |
| 1969 | David Pearson | Ford | Bobby Isaac | Dodge |
| 1967 | LeeRoy Yarbrough | Dodge | Fred Lorenzen | Ford |
| 1966 | Paul Goldsmith | Plymouth | Earl Balmer | Dodge |
| 1965 | Darel Dieringer | Mercury | Junior Johnson | Ford |
| 1964 | Junior Johnson | Dodge | Bobby Isaac | Dodge |
| 1963 | Junior Johnson | Chevrolet | Johnny Rutherford | Chevrolet |
| 1962 | Fireball Roberts | Pontiac | Joe Weatherly | Pontiac |
| 1961 | Fireball Roberts | Pontiac | Joe Weatherly | Pontiac |
| 1960 | Fireball Roberts | Pontiac | Jack Smith | Pontiac |
| 1959 | Bob Welborn | Chevrolet | Shorty Rollins | Ford |
VIDEO RESULTS FOR DAYTONA 500
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The Mario Andretti-A.J. Foyt Rivalry
May 23, 2012 -
A.J. Foyt Still A Legend In NASCAR
May 23, 2012 -
Cross-Sport Power Rankings: Matt Kenseth motors to Top of the Rankings
February 28, 2012 -
The Word: Danica's Daytona Debut
February 22, 2012
NEWS RESULTS FOR DAYTONA 500
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Martina McBride discusses Indy 500 anthem
Dave Wilson, Playbook SoundsMartina McBride knows her way around the national anthem. She's a go-to performer before big sporting events, including the 2009 AFC Championship Gam...
Story | May 25, 2012 -
IndyCar - The world according to Mario Andretti
Ed Hinton, ESPN.comMario Andretti remains the only driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500 and the Formula One world championship. So when he talks racing, we listen.
Story | Conversation | May 24, 2012 -
Chevrolet SS to replace Impala in Sprint Cup Series
David Newton, ESPN.comThe new Chevrolet SS will replace the Impala in the Sprint Cup Series in 2013.
Story | Conversation | May 17, 2012 -
NASCAR - Matt Kenseth feeling good about Talladega
Ed Hinton, ESPN.comMatt Kenseth, winner of the season-opening Daytona 500, can't wait to see what he's got for Sunday's race at Talladega. But it's still always a crapshoot at Casino de Alabama.
Story | Conversation | May 04, 2012 -
Chat with Matt Kenseth, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
ESPNDallas.com, Dallas Motor SportsAs NASCAR motors into Texas Motor Speedway, two drivers -- Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -- stop by ESPN Dallas to chat wi...
Story | April 11, 2012
PHOTO RESULTS FOR DAYTONA 500
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 01: Matt Kenseth, winner of the 2012 Daytona 500, signs autographs for fans on March 1, 2012 in San Francisco, California. ...
March 01, 2012 Getty Images -
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 01: Matt Kenseth, winner of the 2012 Daytona 500, holds a bottle of wine at a press conference on March 1, 2012 in San Fran...
March 01, 2012 Getty Images -
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 01: Matt Kenseth, winner of the 2012 Daytona 500, rides a replica Cable Car on March 1, 2012 in San Francisco, California. ...
March 01, 2012 Getty Images -
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 01: Matt Kenseth, winner of the 2012 Daytona 500, rides a replica Cable Car with Steve Page on March 1, 2012 in San Francis...
March 01, 2012 Getty Images
AUDIO RESULTS FOR DAYTONA 500
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Jayski
April 10, 2012 -
Scott Van Pelt Show 2/29 - Hour 2
February 29, 2012 -
ESPN Radio Daily: 2/29
February 29, 2012 -
Jayski: 2/29
February 29, 2012
TOP STORY

Blaze of Glory
Rain forced the race to Monday. A freak fire delayed its finish for hours. But Matt Kenseth wouldn't be denied winning his second Daytona 500. Story »
DAYTONA 500 QUICK FACTS
Date: Feb. 26, 2012
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
First run: Feb. 22, 1959
Most wins: Richard Petty, 7
Most consecutive wins: Richard Petty/Cale Yarborough/Sterling Martin, 2
2011 winner: Trevor Bayne
RELATED SEARCHES
2012 DAYTONA 500 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
| Jan. 28-29 - Rolex 24 at Daytona Michael Shank Racing wins at Daytona |
| Feb. 18 - Budweiser Shootout |
| Feb. 19 - Daytona 500 Qualifying |
| Feb. 23 - Gatorade Duel |
| Feb. 26 - Daytona 500 |
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