The Daytona 500 is the crown jewel of the NASCAR Cup Sequence, standing as the most important and most prestigious race on the calendar. Because the season opener of the 36-race schedule, it takes place yearly on the historic Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
Successful the Daytona 500 is a dream for each driver, however the coveted checkered flag stays elusive for even among the sport’s biggest opponents.
Victory at Daytona could be a career-defining achievement, etching a driver’s title into NASCAR historical past ceaselessly. The winner additionally will get to hoist the legendary Harley J. Earl Trophy, an emblem of excellence in inventory automotive racing.
Here’s a full record of each Daytona 500 winner for the reason that race’s inception in 1959.
Daytona 500 Winners
- 2025: William Byron
- 2024: William Byron
- 2023: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- 2022: Austin Cindric
- 2021: Michael McDowell
- 2020: Denny Hamlin
- 2019: Denny Hamlin
- 2018: Austin Dillon
- 2017: Kurt Busch
- 2016: Denny Hamlin
- 2015: Joey Logano
- 2014: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 2013: Jimmie Johnson
- 2012: Matt Kenseth
- 2011: Trevor Bayne
- 2010: Jamie McMurray
- 2009: Matt Kenseth
- 2008: Ryan Newman
- 2007: Kevin Harvick
- 2006: Jimmie Johnson
- 2005: Jeff Gordon
- 2004: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 2003: Michael Waltrip
- 2002: Ward Burton
- 2001: Michael Waltrip
- 2000: Dale Jarrett
- 1999: Jeff Gordon
- 1998: Dale Earnhardt
- 1997: Jeff Gordon
- 1996: Dale Jarrett
- 1995: Sterling Marlin
- 1994: Sterling Marlin
- 1993: Dale Jarrett
- 1992: Davey Allison
- 1991: Ernie Irvan
- 1990: Derrike Cope
- 1989: Darrell Waltrip
- 1988: Bobby Allison
- 1987: Invoice Elliott
- 1986: Geoff Bodine
- 1985: Invoice Elliott
- 1984: Cale Yarborough
- 1983: Cale Yarborough
- 1982: Bobby Allison
- 1981: Richard Petty
- 1980: Buddy Baker
- 1979: Richard Petty
- 1978: Bobby Allison
- 1977: Cale Yarborough
- 1976: David Pearson
- 1975: Benny Parsons
- 1974: Richard Petty
- 1973: Richard Petty
- 1972: A.J. Foyt
- 1971: Richard Petty
- 1970: Pete Hamilton
- 1969: LeeRoy Yarbrough
- 1968: Cale Yarborough
- 1967: Mario Andretti
- 1966: Richard Petty
- 1965: Fred Lorenzen
- 1964: Richard Petty
- 1963: Tiny Lund
- 1962: Glenn “Fireball” Roberts
- 1961: Marvin Panch
- 1960: Junior Johnson
- 1959: Lee Petty
