Daytona 500 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Daytona 500

NASCAR Cup Series
Venue	Daytona International Speedway
Location	Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
First race	1959 (1959)
Distance	500 mi (800 km)
Laps	200 Stages 1/2: 65 each Final stage: 70
Previous names	Daytona 500 (most years) Also known by sponsor names like Daytona 500 presented by STP (1991–1993)
Most wins (driver)	Richard Petty (7)
Most wins (team)	Hendrick Motorsports (10)
Most wins (manufacturer)	Chevrolet (27)
Circuit information
Surface	Asphalt
Length	2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Turns	4

The Daytona 500 is a famous 500-mile (800 km) NASCAR Cup Series car race. It happens every year at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. This exciting event is the first big race of the NASCAR season. It is often called "The Great American Race" or the "Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing."

The Daytona 500 is known as the most important and respected race in NASCAR. It offers the biggest prize money. The race has been held every year since 1959. Since 1982, it has kicked off the Cup Series season. This is special because most major sports events happen at the end of a season.

The race is always held in February. It often takes place on the third Sunday of February, around Presidents' Day weekend. The winner receives the Harley J. Earl Trophy. The winning car is then shown for a year at the Daytona 500 Experience museum. This museum is right next to the Speedway.

The Start of the Great Race

Aerial view of Daytona International Speedway

The Daytona 500 grew out of shorter races. These earlier races were held on the Daytona Beach and Road Course. This course used both the sandy beach and a nearby highway. In 1959, the first 500-mile (800 km) stock car race was held at the new Daytona International Speedway. It has been a yearly event ever since. By 1961, people started calling it the Daytona 500.

The Daytona International Speedway track is 2.5 miles (4 km) long. This means a 500-mile race takes 200 laps to finish. Sometimes, races are shortened because of rain. This happened in 1965, 1966, 2003, and 2009. Also, races can go longer than 500 miles due to special rules for exciting finishes. The 2023 race was the longest, lasting 212 laps (530 miles).

Tyler Reddick is the current winner of the Daytona 500, having won the 2026 race.

Exciting Moments in Daytona 500 History

• 1959: Lee Petty, a famous racing dad, won the very first Daytona 500.
• 1960: Junior Johnson used a clever trick called "drafting" to win. This helped his slower car go faster.
• 1961: This was the first year the race was officially called the Daytona 500.
• 1966: Richard Petty became the first driver to win the race two times.
• 1967: Racing legend Mario Andretti won his only NASCAR Cup Series race here.
• 1972: A. J. Foyt drove so well that he finished almost two laps ahead of everyone else.
• 1976: Richard Petty and David Pearson had a thrilling finish. Both cars crashed near the finish line, but Pearson managed to restart and win.
• 1979: This was the first Daytona 500 shown live on national TV. It ended with a dramatic crash and a small argument between drivers Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison. Richard Petty then drove past to win.
• 1980: Buddy Baker won the fastest Daytona 500 ever, before new safety rules changed speeds.
• 1981: Richard Petty made history by winning his seventh Daytona 500. No one else has won it that many times.
• 1988: Bobby Allison and his son Davey finished first and second. This was a special family moment. Safety changes were also made this year to slow down the cars.
• 1990: Derrike Cope, a less known driver, won in a huge surprise after Dale Earnhardt had a tire problem on the last lap.
• 1998: After many tries, Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500, a victory fans had waited years to see.
• 2001: This race is remembered for a sad event. On the final lap, while battling for a top spot, racing legend Dale Earnhardt was involved in a serious crash. His passing deeply affected the NASCAR community. Despite the sadness, Michael Waltrip earned his first-ever Cup Series win in this race, a victory that was overshadowed by the day's events.
• 2011: Trevor Bayne, at just 20 years old, became the youngest driver to ever win the Daytona 500.
• 2012: Rain delays pushed this race to Monday night, making it the first Daytona 500 to start in prime time. A strange incident where a car hit a jet dryer caused a long delay. Matt Kenseth eventually won.
• 2013: Danica Patrick made history by being the first woman to win the pole position for the Daytona 500. Jimmie Johnson won the race.
• 2016: Denny Hamlin won by the closest margin in Daytona 500 history, just 0.010 seconds!
• 2018: Austin Dillon won in the famous #3 car, just like Dale Earnhardt did 20 years before. Bubba Wallace finished second, the best result for an African-American driver in the race.
• 2020: Denny Hamlin won his third Daytona 500. The race was delayed by rain and ended with a serious crash involving Ryan Newman, who thankfully recovered.
• 2022: Austin Cindric won in only his eighth Cup Series start, becoming the second-youngest winner.
• 2023: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won after a thrilling double-overtime finish.
• 2024: William Byron won his first Daytona 500.
• 2025: William Byron won again, making it two wins in a row!
• 2026: Tyler Reddick won his first Daytona 500.

How Drivers Qualify for the Race

The way drivers qualify for the Daytona 500 is special. The fastest two cars are decided in a timed qualifying session. This session happens a few days before the main race. The rest of the starting positions are decided by two shorter qualifying races. These races are called the Duels at Daytona. Drivers who do well in these Duels earn their spot in the big race.

Watching the Daytona 500 on TV

The Daytona 500 was the first 500-mile (800 km) car race ever shown live from start to finish on TV. This happened in 1979 on CBS. Today, Fox is the main broadcaster for the Daytona 500.

Over the years, the race start times have changed. This was done to make it easier for people across the country to watch. Sometimes, rain delays have pushed the race into the evening or even to the next day. The 2012 race was postponed to a Monday night, making it the first Daytona 500 to be run as a night race. The 2014 and 2025 races also had long rain delays.

Daytona 500 Winners List

For NASCAR Grand National winners at Daytona from 1949 to 1958, see Daytona Beach and Road Course.

‡ – This was the record for the fastest Daytona 500 before the "stages era" began in 2017. † – This is the record for the fastest Daytona 500 during the "stages era."

Drivers with Multiple Wins

Teams with Multiple Wins

Car Manufacturers with Most Wins

Daytona 500 Records

Prerace ceremonies before the 2008 Daytona 500.

Consecutive Victories

• Drivers who won two years in a row:
  • Richard Petty (1973, 1974)
  • Cale Yarborough (1983, 1984)
  • Sterling Marlin (1994, 1995)
  • Denny Hamlin (2019, 2020)
  • William Byron (2024, 2025)

• Teams that won two years in a row:
  • Petty Enterprises (1970, 1971) and (1973, 1974)
  • Harry Ranier & J. T. Lundy (1983, 1984)
  • Morgan–McClure Motorsports (1994, 1995)
  • Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (2003, 2004)
  • Hendrick Motorsports (2005, 2006), (2013, 2014), and (2024, 2025)
  • Joe Gibbs Racing (2019, 2020)

Winners from the Pole Position

• 1962 – Fireball Roberts
• 1966 – Richard Petty
• 1968, 1984 – Cale Yarborough
• 1980 – Buddy Baker
• 1985, 1987 – Bill Elliott
• 1999 – Jeff Gordon
• 2000 – Dale Jarrett

Family Winners

• Petty Family:
  • Father Lee (1959) and son Richard (7 wins)
• Allison Family:
  • Father Bobby (3 wins) and son Davey (1992)
    • In 1988, Bobby and Davey Allison finished first and second, a rare father-son achievement.
• Earnhardt Family:
  • Father Dale (1998) and son Dale Jr. (2004, 2014)
• Waltrip Brothers:
  • Darrell (1989) and Michael (2001, 2003)

Winners as Both Driver and Owner

• Lee Petty (1959)
• Junior Johnson (won as driver in 1960, as owner in 1969, 1977)
• Richard Petty (won as driver/owner 7 times, as owner in 1970)
• Jeff Gordon (won as driver 3 times, as owner in 2006, 2013)
• Denny Hamlin (won as driver 3 times, as owner in 2026)

Winning the Daytona 500 and Other Major Races in the Same Year

• Daytona 500 and Busch Clash:
  • 1982 – Bobby Allison
  • 1987 – Bill Elliott
  • 1996, 2000 – Dale Jarrett
  • 1997 – Jeff Gordon
  • 2016 – Denny Hamlin

• Daytona 500 and the Duel at Daytona:
  • 1962 – Fireball Roberts
  • 1977, 1984 – Cale Yarborough
  • 1985 – Bill Elliott
  • 1988 – Bobby Allison
  • 1995 – Sterling Marlin
  • 1998 – Dale Earnhardt
  • 2004 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
  • 2012 – Matt Kenseth

• Daytona 500 and Spring Talladega race:
  • 1970 – Pete Hamilton
  • 1980 – Buddy Baker
  • 1984 – Cale Yarborough
  • 1985 – Bill Elliott
  • 1992 – Davey Allison
  • 2005 – Jeff Gordon
  • 2006 – Jimmie Johnson

• Daytona 500 and the Coca-Cola 600:
  • 1965 – Fred Lorenzen
  • 1969 – LeeRoy Yarbrough
  • 1976 – David Pearson
  • 1996 – Dale Jarrett
  • 1997 – Jeff Gordon

• Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400:
  • 1996 – Dale Jarrett
  • 2006 – Jimmie Johnson
  • 2010 – Jamie McMurray

• Daytona 500 and the Southern 500:
  • 1968 – Cale Yarborough
  • 1969 – LeeRoy Yarbrough
  • 1976 – David Pearson
  • 1985 – Bill Elliott
  • 1997 – Jeff Gordon

• Daytona 500 and 1 other Crown Jewel Race in the same year:
  • 1965 – Fred Lorenzen (World 600)
  • 1968 – Cale Yarborough (Southern 500)
  • 1970 – Pete Hamilton (Alabama 500)
  • 1980 – Buddy Baker (Winston 500)
  • 1984 – Cale Yarborough (Winston 500)
  • 1989 – Darrell Waltrip (Coca-Cola 600)
  • 1992 – Davey Allison (Winston 500)
  • 2005 – Jeff Gordon (Aaron's 499)
  • 2010 – Jamie McMurray (Brickyard 400)

• Daytona 500 and 2 other Crown Jewel Races in the same year:
  • 1969 – LeeRoy Yarbrough (World 600 and Southern 500)
  • 1976 – David Pearson (World 600 and Southern 500)
  • 1985 – Bill Elliott (Winston 500 and Southern 500)
  • 1996 – Dale Jarrett (Coca-Cola 600 and Brickyard 400)
  • 1997 – Jeff Gordon (Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500)
  • 2006 – Jimmie Johnson (Aaron's 499 and Brickyard 400)

• Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in the same year:
  • 1959 – Lee Petty
  • 1964, 1971, 1974, 1979 – Richard Petty
  • 1977 – Cale Yarborough
  • 1997 – Jeff Gordon
  • 2006, 2013 – Jimmie Johnson

Drivers Whose First NASCAR Cup Series Win Was the Daytona 500

• 1963 – Tiny Lund
• 1967 – Mario Andretti (his only Cup Series win!)
• 1970 – Pete Hamilton
• 1990 – Derrike Cope
• 1994 – Sterling Marlin (his first two wins were both Daytona 500s!)
• 2001 – Michael Waltrip (won after 462 races without a win)
• 2011 – Trevor Bayne (youngest winner and his only Cup Series win!)
• 2021 – Michael McDowell (won after 357 races without a win)
• 2022 – Austin Cindric (second youngest winner)

Youngest and Oldest Winners of the Daytona 500

• Youngest Winner: Trevor Bayne – 2011 (age 20 years, 1 day)
• Oldest Winner: Bobby Allison – 1988 (age 50 years, 73 days)

Images for kids

• 

  Trevor Bayne, driving the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing, won the 2011 Daytona 500.

• 

  The start of the 2015 Daytona 500

See also

In Spanish: 500 Millas de Daytona para niños