The Daytona 500 is regarded as one of the most iconic races in NASCAR. It has been around since 1959 and continues to go strong to this day. As one would expect, the major event will be back again on February 16, and all drivers will be vying for the win. This race is so special that winning it, feels like a status symbol in the community. It is as good as winning the Monaco Grand Prix in F1, or the Indy 500 in IndyCar, or the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It should come as no surprise, that the most successful Daytona 500 winner was none other than Richard Petty. The King has amassed a record seven Daytona 500 wins, four of which came during his championship-winning seasons. Namely, the 1964, 1971, 1974 and 1979 Daytona 500 and title doubles.

Among the current crop of drivers, the most successful driver is Denny Hamlin, with three wins. He is tied on three wins, with Bobby Allison, Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon. The 2025 race will be the 67th edition of the Daytona 500, so it is obvious that there is a long and storied history. In those 66 races, it will be extremely difficult to cherry-pick the best races of all-time. However, if it were that easy, everyone would be making lists. So in the buildup to the 2025 Daytona 500, what are some of the greatest Daytona 500 memories?

The inaugural Daytona 500 always has special memories

It goes without saying, that the first time something happens, is always special. After all, it is a bit of a novelty and that is what sticks out, especially when the first impression is a good one. The legendary Lee Petty will forever be remembered as the first ever winner of the Daytona 500. However, it could have so easily been someone else because the race ended with a photo finish. Petty and Johnny Beauchamp crossed the finish line in unison, and Beauchamp was initially credited with the win. However, photographs revealed that Petty just about nosed ahead, and his name went down in history.

17 years later, the battle for the lead was between David Pearson and Richard Petty. The latter had already won five times, and the former was gunning for his first. On the last lap, they crashed in Turn 4, but Pearson was able to restart his wrecked race car, and limp to the finish line. Petty was able to redeem himself in 1979, with his sixth career win, but the race was memorable for a different reason. As it happened, it was the first 500-mile NASCAR race to be nationally televised. Additionally, there was a massive post-race brawl between race leaders Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough. The duo crashed out, and Petty inherited the lead and win.

A year later, Buddy Baker dominated the field, leading 143 of 200 laps to win the race. Another significant event was that female pioneer racer Janet Guthrie finished in an impressive 11th place. Moving on, in 1993, Dale Jarrett fended off Dale Earnhardt, all the while his father Ned Jarrett was commentating.

Speaking of feel-good stories, Jeff Gordon led his Hendrick Motorsports teammates to take 1-2-3 in the 1997 Daytona 500. While this was happening, Rick Hendrick was being treated for chronic myelogenous leukemia. And of course talking about Daytona 500 we cannot fail to mention how Dale Earnhardt Sr. finally broke his Daytona 500 jinx in his 20th try. However, the millennium started on a rather sad note.

How were the Daytona 500 races in the modern era?

Trending

1

FedEx’s Sudden Exit From Joe Gibbs Racing Prompts The Coach to Bag their $13 Billion Worth Competitor

2

After Cutting 15-YO Ties With Kyle Busch, M&M’s Rumored to Have Found Next NASCAR Driver

3

Kelley Earnhardt Sends Bold 4-Word Message Amid JRM’s Cup Series Entry

4

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Wife Fights Off Rumors After Fans Go Down a Rabbit Hole

5

Shane Van Gisbergen Gets “Bullied” on His Triple Shift, Getting a Head-Start for His 2025 Season

The 2000s started off on a sour note, with the tragic passing of Dale Earnhardt Sr. That pretty much overshadowed Michael Waltrip’s maiden Cup win. Onto more positive stuff, in 2011, Trevor Bayne created history in the NASCAR Cup Series. He had just turned 20 years old and became the youngest winner of the iconic race.

Finally, there is Denny Hamlin, who is a three-time Daytona 500 winner. However, it has to be said that the 2019 win was by far the sweetest victory. This was because he led a 1-2-3 finish for Joe Gibbs Racing. What made it all the more poetic was that it came, a month after the passing of Joe Gibb’s son, J.D. As it turned out, J.D. Gibbs was the one who scouted Hamlin when he was just a local short-track racer.

Now that we have listed some of the memorable Daytona 500 moments, let’s hear what are your favorites. Comment down below!