Shivali Nathta is a NASCAR Primary Editor at EssentiallySports. She leads a team of experienced writers and works alongside them during live coverage for the Cup Series races. To date, she has published countless off-court as well as on-court stories on top drivers like Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Bubba Wallace. At the time of pushing out stories, as an English Major with 4 years of experience in creating content, Shivali looks to provide her readers with the most well-rounded and informative articles. 
When she is not engrossed into the world of Stock Car Racing, she can found publishing stories for NFL stars like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady.

 Harrison Burton’s unexpected win at Daytona stirred up mixed reactions among NASCAR fans. Some were frustrated with the playoff format, as Burton secured a spot despite a lackluster season. But for many, it was exactly the kind of thrill NASCAR needed. Burton’s victory, after a challenging season, highlighted just how pivotal every race can be, reigniting the excitement and unpredictability that makes NASCAR so special. One person who truly appreciated the moment was Carl Edwards, a veteran with 28 Cup Series wins to his name. Having felt the intensity of the playoffs firsthand before his retirement in 2016, he could relate to Burton’s journey. Famous for his signature backflips, Edwards made a rare appearance at the NASCAR circuits, reflecting on Burton’s win and what it meant to him. “Forgot the magic,” Carl Edwards confessed, but Burton’s win brought it all back. Edwards’ career was nothing short of remarkable. Racing from 2004 to 2016, he achieved everything except a title—and even then, he came heartbreakingly close. Twice, in 2008 and 2011, he almost clinched the crown, with the latter year ending in a dramatic tie with Tony Stewart. Still, Carl Edwards walked away from the sport knowing he had accomplished everything he set out to, title or not. His legacy is one of perseverance, success, and a deep love for the sport—a legacy that Burton’s victory helped him remember and celebrate. Over the years, he has been connected to NASCAR, but according to him, it didn’t feel the same. It was only when he spoke to the media recently that he revealed what helped him rekindle his love for the sport. Eric Estepp put out a video on X where Carl Edwards said, “You can get used to doing anything. You can’t forget the magic.” He explained how he put on the Daytona [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/daytona-500/] race on TV, and his son wanted to watch the end of the race. Giving the very details of that day, he said, It was quite late, and his wife came down to ask everyone to sleep before getting captivated by the race and joining them. “Harrison Burton won that race,” said Edwards before describing the environment of the room. “I mean, the tension in the room, some amazing excitement. I look over, and my wife’s got tears in her eyes. My son’s pumped, and I thought, ‘Man, that’s what NASCAR is about.'” Harrison Burton did turn his luck around with a thrilling final lap at Daytona, passing Kyle Busch in overtime to claim his first career victory and secure a spot in NASCAR’s playoffs. The 23-year-old, who is losing his ride in the No. 21 Ford with Wood Brothers Racing next season, took the lead with a big push from Parker Retzlaff and now has signed to drive for AM Racing in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series. During the race, Busch made a late charge and forced Burton below the double-yellow line, but NASCAR ruled the contact led to Burton crossing, sparing him from a penalty. It was the underdog win that moved the Burton Family and many more in the NASCAR community. Sharing the sentiment at his house, Carl Edwards concluded, “To see it the way I’ve been seeing it lately is pretty exciting for me. You can get used to it.” Although many fans did not like that Burton eliminated many drivers who performed better all season, Edwards and his family enjoyed the unpredictability of the situation. After doing everything that he wanted to do in the sport, Carl Edwards is happily retired, but it does not mean that he doesn’t miss the spot. THE REASONS BEHIND CARL EDWARDS’ EARLY RETIREMENT When Edwards decided to step down from racing at the age of 36, there was more than one reason he quit. In his recent interview, he said, “I do miss driving, but I got to drive and do just about everything I wanted to do in the sport.” Besides that, he has also mentioned in the past that he wants to retire when he is still young and healthy so he can do more in the future. Having a family also added to the reason behind his retirement, as having a wife and kid is a full-time job. Juggling racing and his family started to get hectic for him, and he decided to pick what was more important to him. But as per sources, what really stuck with him was the 2016 title race. Carl Edwards was all in control at Homestead-Miami Speedway until a questionable caution was called with four laps remaining. It set up a late two-lap sprint to the finish, and Edwards wrecked on the restart, racing Joey Logano for the win. Although he hasn’t won the Cup Series title, he decided that proving he is a champion was not that important to him. Despite not having a title, his larger-than-life personality got him tons of fans, and his celebratory black flips have left many in awe. So the NASCAR Hall of Fame is a well-deserved one for him. When the announcement came, he was off the grid for hours, until his wife nudged him to check his phone. When Carl Edwards finally did, he was floored—he’d just been announced as one of the 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees, joining the legendary Ricky Rudd. Even nine days later, the news hadn’t fully sunk in. “I’m still overwhelmed,” a candid Edwards admitted. “Definitely, I would have rather not have had a caution come out,” Carl Edwards added. “But, you never know the outcome of that, and like I’ve said, I wouldn’t change a thing….I think things would have been a lot different if we won that championship,” he further added, finally shutting all rumors around his early exit. Even though there’s no title for him, he remains the NASCAR legend that he is. Considering the Burton story that Carl Edwards just revealed, do you stand with him in his definition of true NASCAR spirit? 

Carl Edwards rediscovers his love for NASCAR after watching Harrison Burton’s Daytona win with his family.

Viren Mirpuri is an F1 & NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. With a passion for
motorsports and a background in journalism, he provides authentic and
informative coverage of the racing world. Till now, he has covered multiple
stories on top drivers like Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott. Starting with
simulation racing, Viren developed a love for the sport and now focuses on
sharing well-researched news pieces. While he enjoys writing about Formula 1
too, his true passion lies with Stock Car Racing. In his free time, Viren likes
to play iRacing and other AAA video game titles.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/viren-mirpuri-1-96x96.png

Driving NASCAR Insights

Viren Mirpuri

Get ready to dive into the life and legacy of NASCAR legend, Dale Earnhardt Jr. We're talking about the Pied Piper of Daytona, who took the world of stock car racing by storm and built a $400 million empire. From his iconic wins to his business ventures and jaw-dropping car collection, there's more to Dale Jr. than just racing. Want to know what makes this NASCAR royalty tick? Stick around as we uncover his journey from the track to the boardroom—without revealing all the surprises!

Dale Earnhardt Jr: A Look Inside The Empire of NASCAR's Richest Driver

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Carl Edwards Confesses ‘Falling in Love’ With NASCAR After Harrison Burton’s
Tear-Jerking Daytona Glory

Months After Suspension, Joe Gibbs’ Veteran ‘Chokes Up’ On Fulfilling 7-Year
Long Redemption

Richard Childress’s Youngest Grandson Makes a Political Move Back to the Cup
Series After a Disappointing Stint at CTS

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Stewart’s Star, Claim Fans

Despite ‘Undrivable’ Rant, Shane van Gisbergen Lets Slip 8-Word Secret Behind
Kansas Comeback

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

[caption id="attachment_1627382" align="alignnone" width="1"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1627382" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024835900h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1" height="1" /> Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Origins of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2632995 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/DoBedrfXoAAjZ5P-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3000" height="2400" />

And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps.

The first-ever Daytona 500, called the <b>1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona</b> back then, saw 59 cars competing. The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called ‘The Great American Race’</strong></span></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR's crème de la crème. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl.

The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President's Day weekend in every NASCAR fan's heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President's Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that's definitely a win-win!

While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn't any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure.

One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Highlights of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2491357 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lee-petty.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1262" />

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Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-petty/">Richard Petty</a> sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn't see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne.

Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011.

Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when 'Cars of Tomorrow' debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, 'Cars of Tomorrow' simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks.

The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While 'Captain America' famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event's grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong> Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter.

In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to as <em>"the duels". </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>'s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nerve-wracking-crashes-that-changed-nascar-forever-edition-five-dale-earnhardt/">The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall</a> after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt's death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today.

[caption id="attachment_2105958" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2105958 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029986512h-e1699811493626.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt Sr" width="1920" height="1080" /> US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564<br />Image Credits - Imago[/caption]

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<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The changes of the name of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that's the very name that has stuck around.

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Daytona 500

Read on to know all about the glorious history, origins and lesser know facts about the crown-jewel race of NASCAR, the Daytona 500.

Daytona 500: Origins, Past Winners, Race Results

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Carl Edwards Confesses 'Falling in Love' With NASCAR After Harrison Burton's Tear-Jerking Daytona Glory

https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-carl-edwards-confesses-falling-in-love-with-nascar-after-harrison-burtons-tear-jerking-daytona-glory/

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