10 Historic Daytona Records
by Tom Jensen February 15, 2024
Daytona International Speedway was where drivers and teams made their marks on history with record-shattering runs.
Since it opened in February 1959, Daytona has seen more than its fair share of records set around the 2.5 miles of high-banked asphalt. Following are 10 records set at Daytona.
Pete Hamilton’s first big NASCAR victory came in the 1970 Daytona 500 where he drove a Petty Enterprises Plymouth Superbird. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
10. Most Daytona 500 owner wins
Petty Enterprises set the gold standard with nine Daytona 500 race victories. Hall of Famer and family patriarch Lee Petty (Class of 2011) won the inaugural 500 in 1959. Son Richard Petty (Class of 2010) leads all drivers with seven wins in the Great American Race, while Pete Hamilton won the 1970 Daytona 500 in a Petty Enterprises Plymouth Superbird with Maurice Petty (Class of 2014) serving as crew chief.
In a hugely emotional finish for a father-son, Hall of Fame duo, Bobby Allison led his son Davey to the checkered flag in the 1988 Daytona 500. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
9. Oldest Daytona 500 Winner
Old guys rule: Hall of Famer Bobby Allison (Class of 2011) was 50 years old when he won the 1988 Daytona 500. Making the story even more remarkable was that Allison’s son and fellow Hall of Famer Davey Allison (Class of 2019) finished second that day, making it the only father-son 1-2 in the race’s storied history.
Trevor Bayne shocked the sports world with his upset victory in the 2011 Daytona 500. Photo courtesy of Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR
8. Youngest Daytona 500 Winner
Driving for Wood Brothers Racing, the team founded by Hall of Famer Glen Wood (Class of 2012) and run with his brothers, including Leonard Wood (Class of 2013), Trevor Bayne won the 2011 Daytona 500 one day after he turned 20 years old. Given that the Wood Brothers hadn’t won a race in nearly a decade and Bayne was making just his second Cup Series start, this was a huge upset.
The 1972 Firecracker 400 was one of five victories David Pearson scored in the annual July 4th race at Daytona International Speedway. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
7. Most July 4th Wins
From 1959 through 1987, the Firecracker 400 at Daytona was always run on July 4th proper, no matter what day of the week the Independence Day holiday fell on. And the driver who won the most Firecracker 400s was Hall of Famer David Pearson (Class of 2011), who took the checkered flag on five different occasions: 1961, ’72, ’73, ’74 and ’78.
One of Dale Earnhardt’s six IROC victories at Daytona came in 1999, when he beat Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin to take the checkered flag. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
6. Most IROC Victories
The International Race of Champions, a series that featured the best drivers from a variety of disciplines competing in identically prepared cars, raced at Daytona from 1975 to 2006. Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt (Class of 2010) won six of the 26 IROC races at Daytona.
Bill Elliott dominated Daytona Speedweeks in 1987, setting a Daytona 500 pole record and winning NASCAR’s most prestigious race. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
5. Fastest Pole Speed
Bill Elliott (Class of 2015) set the qualifying mark at Daytona in 1987, when he wheeled Harry Melling’s Coors-sponsored No. 9 Ford Thunderbird to a pole speed of 210.364 mph. Elliott went on to win the race, his second Daytona 500, at an average speed of 176.263 mph. That was the second-fastest average speed for the Great American Race.
Winning the pole for the 1968 Daytona 500 was the start of an impressive Speedweek for Cale Yarborough. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
4. Most Daytona Poles
One of the most impressive Daytona records belongs to Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough (Class of 2012), who was the No. 1 qualifier in 13 points races at the 2.5-mile track. Eight of those poles came in the July 4th Firecracker 400. Yarborough won four Daytona races from the pole, including the 1968 Daytona 500 when he drove for Wood Brothers Racing.
Of the 68 drivers who started the 1960 Daytona 500, only the top four finishers completed all 200 laps. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
3. Largest Field
In the second running of the Daytona 500 in 1960, Hall of Famer Junior Johnson (Class of 2010) defeated a field of 68 drivers, including a dozen other Hall of Famers. It was the largest field ever in a Daytona Cup Series race. Bobby Johns finished second, 23 seconds behind Johnson, with Richard Petty (Class of 2010) third, one spot ahead of his father, Lee Petty (Class of 2011).
Buddy Baker (No. 28) crushed the 1980 Daytona 500 field, winning from the pole in his Waddell Wilson-prepared Oldsmobile. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
2. Fastest Daytona 500 Ever Run
Driving the iconic No. 28 “Gray Ghost” Oldsmobile prepared by fellow Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductee Waddell Wilson, Buddy Baker (Class of 2020) won the 1980 Daytona 500 at an average speed of 177.602 mph. Baker, who drove for Ranier Racing, set the all-time event speed record despite five caution flags.
Not only was Richard Petty “The King” of NASCAR racing, but he was also the King of Daytona International Speedway. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
1. Most Records Held
Serious NASCAR fans know that Richard Petty (Class of 2010) holds the record for most Daytona 500 victories with seven. That’s just the start of the records set at Daytona by “The King,” who also holds the marks for most points races won (10); most starts (74); top fives (28); top 10s (37) and top 20s (48).
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