NASCAR Power Rankings: 20 Most Successful Drivers in Daytona 500 History

The Daytona 500 is set to take place this weekend. That means it's time for the start of another NASCAR season. There are many changes to the NASCAR Cup Series this year, but it's good to see the biggest race of the season is still the sport's opener. Teams have been preparing for this race since the 2025 season ended. Now, it's time to put it all on the line and see who will emerge as this year's champion.

Throughout the 67-year history of the event, we've been fortunate to see numerous great drivers take home the checkered flag and the Harley J. Earl Trophy. But how do some of the greatest drivers in Daytona 500 history stack up against each other? If you've ever wondered that question, then you're in luck because today we are counting down the top 20 drivers to ever compete in the "Great American Race."

Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and download the RotoBaller app for all your NASCAR news, DFS, and betting needs. Here’s our list of the 20 most successful drivers in Daytona 500 history.

All-Time Daytona 500 Power Rankings

20.) Michael Waltrip

The two-time Daytona 500 champion kicks off our list. Waltrip didn't score his first victory until he joined Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the 2001 season. He did so in his first race with the fledgling team, scoring a victory in the 2001 Daytona 500. Unfortunately, his win was overshadowed by the unfortunate death of Dale Earnhardt.

However, Waltrip would score another victory at the track and win the 2003 Daytona 500. In fact, three of Waltrip's four career victories came at Daytona. His career as a whole is certainly underwhelming, but he experienced a lot of success at Daytona during his time with DEI.

19.) Davey Allison

Allison won the "Great American Race" in 1992 and famously finished runner-up to his father in 1988. His NASCAR career was cut short when he passed away following a tragic helicopter accident. In 14 Daytona starts, Allison posted two wins, four top fives, and five top 10s.

18.) A.J. Foyt

Foyt was primarily known as an open-wheel racer. However, he would occasionally dip his toes in NASCAR waters. Maybe Foyt should have given NASCAR his full attention because whenever he did enter a stock car, he had plenty of speed.

Foyt won the 1972 Daytona 500 and is one of two men to win both a Daytona 500 and an Indianapolis 500. Spoiler - the other man will also make an appearance on this list.

17.) Mario Andretti

The winner of the 1967 Daytona 500 is next up on our list. Along with Foyt, Andretti is the other driver to win both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.

Andretti did not accomplish much in his NASCAR ventures outside of that 1967 victory, but capturing two of racing's crown jewels is worthy of a spot here.

16.) Buddy Baker

Baker won the 1980 Daytona 500, and it was his only win in the event. However, he scored several victories in qualifying races and won the Busch Clash at Daytona in 1979. Baker also won the summer Daytona race in 1983.

15.) Sterling Marlin

Marlin is a two-time Daytona 500 champion. He scored back-to-back Daytona 500 victories in 1994 and 1995 and did so driving the iconic Morgan-McClure Motorsports #4 Chevrolet.

Marlin is one of five drivers to win back-to-back Daytona 500s.

14.) Lee Petty

Petty is the winner of the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959. He is the father of NASCAR great Richard Petty and the grandfather of Kyler Petty. Fun fact: Lee Petty is also the first three-time champion in NASCAR Cup Series history.

13.) Kevin Harvick

Harvick scored his Daytona 500 victory by winning the 2007 race and inching out veteran Mark Martin in one of the closest finishes in the event's history.

Memorable Moments of the Daytona 500 (according to @bobpockrass).

#11: "In one of the more wild finishes, Kevin Harvick wins just ahead of Mark Martin, with Clint Bowyer sliding upside-down across the finish line in 2007." pic.twitter.com/SSBTWFJtS0

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 5, 2026

That win is Harvick's only Daytona 500 victory. However, it was an unforgettable finish, and he was one of the greatest drivers of his era.

12.) Junior Johnson

Johnson is largely credited with discovering the draft at Daytona, and this knowledge helped him win the 1960 Daytona 500. That would be Johnson's only win in the "Great American Race," but his impact on the sport is still seen to this day.

Johnson was also a successful team owner in NASCAR's top series and won six owner's championships.

11.) Bill Elliott

The winner of the 1985 and 1987 Daytona 500s is next. Elliott was one of the sport's most popular drivers, and he experienced a good amount of success at Daytona. In addition to his two Daytona 500 wins, Elliott won four Daytona 500 poles and has a total of four victories at the track.

10.) Denny Hamlin

Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 champion, winning in 2016, 2019, and 2020.

Denny Hamlin made every inch count in the 2016 Daytona 500.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver won by a record margin of 0.010 seconds. pic.twitter.com/D5JjJgtvS2

— Motorsport (@Motorsport) February 10, 2026

Hamlin has accomplished just about everything possible at Daytona, and he is one of the best drafting racers of his generation.

9.) Darrell Waltrip

The elder Waltrip checks in at number nine on our list. "DW" is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and winner of the 1989 Daytona 500. It was his 17th attempt to win the sport's biggest race, and he finally broke through to get the job done.

That victory was his only one at the track, but he did post 13 top fives and 18 top 10s in 55 career Daytona starts.

8.) Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt's history at Daytona doesn't quite match up to his father's, but he does hold the edge over his old man when it comes to Daytona 500 victories. Earnhardt's win in the 2004 race was memorable, and it's hard to forget Allen Bestwick's call when he crossed the finish line.

That 2004 victory was also noteworthy because it came six years to the day of his father's first and only Daytona 500 win.

Then, there was Earnhardt's Daytona 500 win in 2014, which snapped a 55-race winless streak.

Memorable Moments of the Daytona 500 (according to @bobpockrass).

#9: "Dale Earnhardt Jr. earned his second Daytona 500 victory in 2014, 10 years after his first. He snapped a 55-race winless streak. And then he made his first Twitter post. NASCAR social was never the same." pic.twitter.com/YNHs1WjEO4

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 7, 2026

Earnhardt's career may not have come anywhere close to that of his legendary father, but he was no slouch in the sport's biggest event.

7.) Dale Jarrett

The 1999 NASCAR Cup Series champion is next on our list. Jarrett is a three-time Daytona 500 champion, winning the event in 1993, 1996, and 2000. His win in 1993 was highlighted by his father (Ned Jarrett) being on the national television broadcast and getting to call his son winning NASCAR's biggest race.

What a cool moment.

Jarrett is one of the best drivers in NASCAR history and was always a class act, too.

6.) David Pearson

"The Silver Fox" won eight times at the Daytona International Speedway, highlighted by a victory in the 1976 Daytona 500.  Even though that was his lone victory in this event, Pearson was excellent at the track. In addition to his eight wins, Pearson had 22 top fives, 34 top 10s, and an average finish of 12.2 in 54 career Daytona starts.

5.) Bobby Allison

Allison recorded three wins in the Daytona 500 during his NASCAR career. His most famous Daytona 500 win came when he finished ahead of his son, Davey, in the 1988 race. Allison is in a four-way tie with Jeff Gordon, Jarrett, and Hamlin for the third-most Daytona 500 wins of all time.

4.) Cale Yarborough

Yarborough has four Daytona 500 titles to his name. He won the race in 1968, 1977, and went back-to-back in 1983 and 1984. Yarborough has the second-most Daytona 500 wins of all time.

3.) Jeff Gordon

Three of Gordon's 93 career Cup Series victories came in the "Great American Race." Gordon won the 500 in 1997, 1999, and 2005.

In 46 career Daytona starts, Gordon has six wins, 13 top fives, and 21 top 10s. He also won four poles at the track, including two for the Daytona 500. Gordon also won the 1994 and 1997 Busch Clash at the track.

2.) Dale Earnhardt

"The Intimidator" checks in at number two. Earnhardt is the greatest drafting racer in the history of the sport. He was so good at the drafting tracks that legend has it that Earnhardt could actually see the draft during the race and plan his moves accordingly.

Urban myths aside, Earnhardt was incredible at Daytona. In 46 career Daytona starts, Earnhardt has three wins, 22 top fives, 34 top 10s, and an average finish of 10.7. After falling short of the sport's biggest prize 19 times, Earnhardt finally captured his first Daytona 500 victory in 1998.

Even though Earnhardt only has one Daytona 500, his resume at the track speaks for itself. Across qualifying races, the Bud Shootout/Busch Clash, and other series, Earnhardt won at Daytona a total of 34 times.

1.) Richard Petty

With an all-time best seven Daytona 500 wins, there was nobody else who was going to take the top slot on our list.

"The King" won the 1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, and 1981 Daytona 500s.

With 200 career victories, he's the best to ever do it, and his dominant ways always continued at Daytona.

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