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Who won the first Daytona 500? Who has the most Daytona 500 wins? A look at NASCAR history

ryan pritt, daytona beach news-journal
·4 min read
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Last year, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. edged out Joey Logano on the backstretch as the caution flew, claiming his first Daytona 500 in the 65th running of the Great American Race.

In doing so, Stenhouse Jr. added his name to one of the most coveted lists in all of motorsports: The list of NASCAR's Daytona 500 champions.

He joined the likes of Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and yes, Dale Earnhardt Sr. And yet, those drivers, as legendary as they may be, are just a small part of the story.

As the 66th running of the NASCAR regular-season opener rapidly approaches, set for a green flag at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, here's a look back through the annals of Daytona 500 history including the drivers, teams and manufacturers that have made the race one of the most prestigious events in all of auto sports.

DAYTONA 500: Everything NASCAR fans should know about the 66th running of the Great American Race

Looking west from atop the grandstands, toward Turn 1 at Daytona International Speedway.
Looking west from atop the grandstands, toward Turn 1 at Daytona International Speedway.

Daytona 500 winners by year

  • 1959: Lee Petty, No. 42 Petty Enterprises Oldsmobile

  • 1960: Junior Johnson, No. 27 John Mansoni Chevrolet

  • 1961: Marvin Panch, No. 20 Smokey Yunick Pontiac

  • 1962: Fireball Roberts, No. 22 Jim Stephens Pontiac

  • 1963: Tiny Lund, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Richard Petty won the first of his seven Daytona 500s in 1964.
Richard Petty won the first of his seven Daytona 500s in 1964.

  • 1964: Richard Petty, No. 43 Petty Enterprises Plymouth

  • 1965: Fred Lorenzen, No. 28 Holman-Moody Ford

  • 1966: Richard Petty, No. 43 Petty Enterprises Plymouth

  • 1967: Mario Andretti, No. 11 Holman-Moody Ford

  • 1968: Cale Yarborough, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Mercury

  • 1969: LeeRoy Yarbrough, No. 98 Junior Johnson & Associates Ford

  • 1970: Pete Hamilton, No. 40 Petty Enterprises Plymouth

  • 1971: Richard Petty, No. 43 Petty Enterprises Plymouth

  • 1972: A.J. Foyt, No. 21 Wood Brothers Mercury

  • 1973: Richard Petty, No. 43 Petty Enterprises Dodge

  • 1974: Richard Petty, No. 43 Petty Enterprises Dodge

  • 1975: Benny Parsons, No. 72 L.G. DeWitt Chevrolet

  • 1976: David Pearson, No. 21 Wood Brothers Mercury

  • 1977: Cale Yarborough, No. 11 Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet

  • 1978: Bobby Allison, No. 15 Bud Moore Engineering Ford

Donnie Allison (1) and Cale Yarborough (11) crash on the final lap of the 1979 Daytona 500, sending Richard Petty to Victory Lane. Allison and Yarborough famously fought after both climbed from their cars in front of a national television audience.
Donnie Allison (1) and Cale Yarborough (11) crash on the final lap of the 1979 Daytona 500, sending Richard Petty to Victory Lane. Allison and Yarborough famously fought after both climbed from their cars in front of a national television audience.

  • 1979: Richard Petty, No. 43 Petty Enterprises Oldsmobile

  • 1980: Buddy Baker, No. 28 Ranier-Lundy Oldsmobile

  • 1981: Richard Petty, No. 43 Petty Enterprises Buick

  • 1982: Bobby Allison, No. 88 DiGard Motorsports Buick

  • 1983: Cale Yarborough, No. 28 Ranier-Lundy Pontiac

  • 1984: Cale Yarborough, No. 28 Ranier-Lundy Chevrolet

  • 1985: Bill Elliott, No. 9 Melling Racing Ford

  • 1986: Geoffrey Bodine, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

  • 1987: Bill Elliott, No. 9 Melling Racing Ford

  • 1988: Bobby Allison, No. 12 Stavola Brothers Racing Buick

  • 1989: Darrell Waltrip, No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Derrike Cope improbably emerged the winner of the 1990 Daytona 500 after Dale Earnhardt shredded a right rear tire on the final lap.
Derrike Cope improbably emerged the winner of the 1990 Daytona 500 after Dale Earnhardt shredded a right rear tire on the final lap.

  • 1990: Derrike Cope, No. 10 Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet

  • 1991: Ernie Irvan, No. 4 Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet

  • 1992: Davey Allison, No. 28 Robert Yates Racing Ford

  • 1993: Dale Jarrett, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet

  • 1994: Sterling Marlin, No. 4 Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet

  • 1995: Sterling Marlin, No. 4 Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet

  • 1996: Dale Jarrett, No. 88 Robert Yates Racing Ford

  • 1997: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Dale Earnhardt finally claimed a Daytona 500 win in 1998.
Dale Earnhardt finally claimed a Daytona 500 win in 1998.

  • 1998: Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

  • 1999: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

  • 2000: Dale Jarrett, No. 88 Robert Yates Racing Ford

  • 2001: Michael Waltrip, No. 15 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet

  • 2002: Ward Burton, Bill Davis Racing Dodge

  • 2003: Michael Waltrip, No. 15 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet

Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates the first of his two Daytona 500 wins in 2004.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates the first of his two Daytona 500 wins in 2004.

  • 2004: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet

  • 2005: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

  • 2006: Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

  • 2007: Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

  • 2008: Ryan Newman, No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge

  • 2009: Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford

  • 2010: Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Earnhardt Gannassi Racing Chevrolet

  • 2011: Trevor Bayne, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford

  • 2012: Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford

  • 2013: Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

  • 2014: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

  • 2015: Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford

Denny Hamlin nipped Martin Truex Jr. by 0.01 seconds for the first of his three Daytona 500 wins in 2016. It remains the closest margin of victory in the event's history.
Denny Hamlin nipped Martin Truex Jr. by 0.01 seconds for the first of his three Daytona 500 wins in 2016. It remains the closest margin of victory in the event's history.

  • 2016: Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  • 2017: Kurt Busch, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

  • 2018: Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

  • 2019: Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  • 2020: Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  • 2021: Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford

  • 2022: Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford

  • 2023: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Chevrolet

Most Daytona 500 wins

While Richard Petty has the most Daytona 500 wins with seven, Cale Yarborough is next in line with four. Here, he celebrates after driving to the win in 1984.
While Richard Petty has the most Daytona 500 wins with seven, Cale Yarborough is next in line with four. Here, he celebrates after driving to the win in 1984.

  • 7: Richard Petty

  • 4: Cale Yarborough

  • 3: Bobby Allison, Dale Jarrett, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin

  • 2: Bill Elliott, Sterling Marlin, Michael Waltrip, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Manufacturer wins

  • 24: Chevrolet

  • 17: Ford

  • 4: Plymouth, Dodge

  • 3: Mercury, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, Toyota

Team wins

Pete Hamilton won the 1970 Daytona 500 while driving for Petty Enterprises.
Pete Hamilton won the 1970 Daytona 500 while driving for Petty Enterprises.

  • 9: Petty Enterprises

  • 8: Hendrick Motorsports

  • 5: Wood Brothers Racing

  • 4: Joe Gibbs Racing

  • 3: Ranier-Lundy, Morgan-McClure Motorsports, Robert Yates Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Richard Childress Racing, Team Penske

  • 2: Holman-Moody, Junior Johnson & Associates, Melling Racing, Roush Fenway Racing

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona 500 winners by year: From Lee Petty to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.