The Daytona 500 has long held a special place in NASCAR lore, serving as the season-opening race for more than 35 years and being part of the NASCAR circuit for 60.
The 500-mile track at Daytona International Speedway is the site of some of the sport's most iconic moments, from Richard Petty's record seventh Daytona 500 triumph in 1981 to Dale Earnhart's 1998 victory after years of near-misses.
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Nine different drivers have claimed the last nine Daytona 500 races, reflecting the unpredictability of the storied course.
Here's a look at the history of past Daytona 500 winners, including the record-holder for most wins all time.
Who has won the most Daytona 500 races?
Richard Petty won the most Daytona 500 races with seven victories.
Who won the Daytona 500 in 2020?
Denny Hamlin is the reigning Daytona 500 champion, winning the race in back-to-back years (2019, 2020). He won his third "Great American Race" in four years, having also claimed the title in 2016.
Who is the oldest Daytona 500 winner?
Bobby Allison remains the oldest driver to win the Daytona 500. He won the 1988 race at 50 years old.
Who is the youngest Daytona 500 winner?
Trevor Bayne became the youngest Daytona 500 winner in 2011 at 20 years old.
List of Daytona 500 past winners
| Year | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | |
| 1959 | 42 | Lee Petty | Petty Enterprises | Oldsmobile | |
| 1960 | 27 | Junior Johnson | John Masoni | Chevrolet | |
| 1961 | 20 | Marvin Panch | Smokey Yunick | Pontiac | |
| 1962 | 22 | Fireball Roberts | Jim Stephens | Pontiac | |
| 1963 | 21 | Tiny Lund | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | |
| 1964 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises (2) | Plymouth | |
| 1965 | 28 | Fred Lorenzen | Holman-Moody | Ford | |
| 1966 | 43 | Richard Petty (2) | Petty Enterprises (3) | Plymouth | |
| 1967 | 11 | Mario Andretti† | Holman-Moody (2) | Ford | |
| 1968 | 21 | Cale Yarborough | Wood Brothers Racing (2) | Mercury | |
| 1969 | 98 | LeeRoy Yarbrough | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | |
| 1970 | 40 | Pete Hamilton | Petty Enterprises (4) | Plymouth | |
| 1971 | 43 | Richard Petty (3) | Petty Enterprises (5) | Plymouth | |
| 1972 | 21 | A. J. Foyt | Wood Brothers Racing (3) | Mercury | |
| 1973 | 43 | Richard Petty (4) | Petty Enterprises (6) | Dodge | |
| 1974 | 43 | Richard Petty (5) | Petty Enterprises (7) | Dodge | |
| 1975 | 72 | Benny Parsons | L.G. DeWitt | Chevrolet | |
| 1976 | 21 | David Pearson | Wood Brothers Racing (4) | Mercury | |
| 1977 | 11 | Cale Yarborough (2) | Junior Johnson & Associates (2) | Chevrolet | |
| 1978 | 15 | Bobby Allison | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | |
| 1979 | 43 | Richard Petty (6) | Petty Enterprises (8) | Oldsmobile | |
| 1980 | 28 | Buddy Baker | Ranier-Lundy | Oldsmobile | |
| 1981 | 43 | Richard Petty (7) | Petty Enterprises (9) | Buick | |
| 1982 | 88 | Bobby Allison (2) | DiGard Motorsports | Buick | |
| 1983 | 28 | Cale Yarborough (3) | Ranier-Lundy (2) | Pontiac | |
| 1984 | 28 | Cale Yarborough (4) | Ranier-Lundy (3) | Chevrolet | |
| 1985 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | |
| 1986 | 5 | Geoffrey Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | |
| 1987 | 9 | Bill Elliott (2) | Melling Racing (2) | Ford | |
| 1988 | 12 | Bobby Allison (3) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | |
| 1989 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports (2) | Chevrolet | |
| 1990 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 1991 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan-McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | |
| 1992 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | |
| 1993 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 1994 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan-McClure Motorsports (2) | Chevrolet | |
| 1995 | 4 | Sterling Marlin (2) | Morgan-McClure Motorsports (3) | Chevrolet | |
| 1996 | 88 | Dale Jarrett (2) | Robert Yates Racing (2) | Ford | |
| 1997 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports (3) | Chevrolet | |
| 1998 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 1999 | 24 | Jeff Gordon (2) | Hendrick Motorsports (4) | Chevrolet | |
| 2000 | 88 | Dale Jarrett (3) | Robert Yates Racing (3) | Ford | |
| 2001 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | |
| 2002 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | |
| 2003 | 15 | Michael Waltrip (2) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (2) | Chevrolet | |
| 2004 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (3) | Chevrolet | |
| 2005 | 24 | Jeff Gordon (3) | Hendrick Motorsports (5) | Chevrolet | |
| 2006 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports (6) | Chevrolet | |
| 2007 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing (2) | Chevrolet | |
| 2008 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | |
| 2009 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | |
| 2010 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 2011 | 21 | Trevor Bayne | Wood Brothers Racing (5) | Ford | |
| 2012 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (2) | Roush Fenway Racing (2) | Ford | |
| 2013 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (2) | Hendrick Motorsports (7) | Chevrolet | |
| 2014 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2) | Hendrick Motorsports (8) | Chevrolet | |
| 2015 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske (2) | Ford | |
| 2016 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing (2) | Toyota | |
| 2017 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | |
| 2018 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing (3) | Chevrolet | |
| 2019 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (2) | Joe Gibbs Racing (3) | Toyota | |
| 2020 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (3) | Joe Gibbs Racing (4) | Toyota |