Daytona 500
Active championship · 1959 - 2026The Daytona 500 is NASCAR's signature race: 500 miles of drafting, manufacturer pride, late cautions and February pressure at Daytona International Speedway.
Daytona is not just another season opener. It is the race that turns patience into a survival skill and drafting partners into temporary allies. The high banks make speed look effortless, but every lane choice and every push can decide a career-defining win. This page follows the winners, cars, teams, drivers and seasons of NASCAR's most famous event, from stock-car tradition to modern superspeedway strategy.Interesting facts
- The first Daytona 500 was held in 1959.
- The race is run at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.
- Drafting and pack racing are central to its modern identity.
Explore the championship
Seasons
Follow the championship season by season, from 1959 to 2026. Current status: Active championship.
Drivers
Explore driver profiles, standings, race starts and title battles. The title benchmark is Austin Cindric.
Teams
See how teams shaped the championship through entries, standings and race wins. The title benchmark is Not available.
Tracks
Browse the circuits and venues that define this racing series. The most familiar stop is Daytona.
Races
Open the race and Grand Prix history behind the championship. The most frequent race is Daytona 500.
Cars
Compare winning cars, chassis and manufacturers across the results. The standout winner is Monte Carlo.
Season and race snapshot
| First race | 1959 Daytona 500 |
|---|---|
| Latest race | 2026 Daytona 500 |
| Latest season | 2026 |
| Latest driver champion | Ryan Blaney (2025) |
|---|---|
| Races with results | 68 |
Drivers by titles
| Austin Cindric | 1 |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
|
1 |
| William Byron | 1 |
Ryan Blaney
|
1 |
| Tyler Reddick | 1 |
Drivers by race wins
Richard Petty
|
7 |
Cale Yarborough
|
4 |
Jeff Gordon
|
3 |
Dale Jarrett
|
3 |
Bobby Allison
|
3 |
Teams by race wins
| Hendrick Motorsports | 10 |
| Petty Enterprises | 9 |
| Wood Brothers Racing | 5 |
| Joe Gibbs Racing | 4 |
| Ranier Racing | 3 |
Most used tracks
| Daytona | 68 |
Most frequent races
| Daytona 500 | 68 |
Cars by race wins
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
|
12 |
Ford Thunderbird
|
5 |
Chevrolet Lumina
|
5 |
Ford Fusion (5th gen)
|
3 |
Buick Regal
|
3 |
Championship by eras
| Era | Years | Seasons | Races |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1959 - 1959 | 1 | 1 |
| 1960s | 1960 - 1969 | 10 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1970 - 1979 | 10 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1980 - 1989 | 10 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1990 - 1999 | 10 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2000 - 2009 | 10 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2010 - 2019 | 10 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2020 - 2026 | 7 | 7 |
Championship FAQ
When did Daytona 500 start?
Daytona 500 starts on this timeline in 1959.
How many seasons are covered?
This championship page covers 68 seasons, from 1959 to 2026.
Who has the most driver titles?
Austin Cindric sets the title benchmark here with 1 championships.
Which team has the most race wins?
Hendrick Motorsports is the leading team by race wins here, with 10 victories.
Which track appears most often?
Daytona is the most frequent venue on this championship page, with 68 races.