Winning the Daytona 500 changes a career. Winning it multiple times changes history.
Only two drivers in NASCAR history have won “The Great American Race” more than three times. One of them still stands alone.
The Daytona 500 has crowned legends, launched dynasties and reshaped the sport’s national profile. But very few drivers have mastered it more than once. Fewer still have owned it.
Here are the winningest drivers in Daytona 500 history.
Richard Petty — 7 Wins
1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981
Richard Petty’s seven Daytona 500 victories remain one of the most durable records in the sport’s history. He won across three different decades and dominated the event during a transformative period for the sport.
His victories stretched from 1964 to 1981, spanning three different decades and multiple competitive eras. No driver has reached five Daytona 500 wins, let alone seven.
Seven wins. Still the standard.
Cale Yarborough — 4 Wins
1968, 1977, 1983, 1984
Yarborough is the only driver with four Daytona 500 victories.
His back-to-back wins in 1983 and 1984 cemented his place among superspeedway royalty. Nearly four decades later, he remains the only driver in history with four Daytona 500 victories.
Three-Time Daytona 500 Winners
Only four drivers have won the Daytona 500 three times.
Bobby Allison
1978, 1982, 1988
Allison officially owns three Daytona 500 victories. He originally crossed the line first in 1971, but that win was later awarded to Petty after a scoring correction. Officially, NASCAR credits Allison with three Daytona 500 victories. His 1988 triumph remains one of the most emotional wins in event history.
Dale Jarrett
1993, 1996, 2000
Jarrett’s 1993 victory is one of the most iconic in Daytona history, coming with his father Ned Jarrett calling the race from the broadcast booth. He went on to win twice more, including the 2000 edition, which came right after his 1999 championship season.
Jeff Gordon
1997, 1999, 2005
Gordon helped define NASCAR’s modern television era. His three Daytona 500 victories came during the sport’s late 1990s and early 2000s surge in popularity.
Denny Hamlin
2016, 2019, 2020
Hamlin is the only current full-time Cup Series driver to reach three wins. His 2016 victory came in what was then the closest Daytona 500 finish in history. He later won back to back in 2019 and 2020.
Two-Time Daytona 500 Winners
Several modern era champions and stars have won the race twice, including:
- Jimmie Johnson — 2006, 2013
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. — 2004, 2014
- Michael Waltrip — 2001, 2003
- Sterling Marlin — 1994, 1995
- Matt Kenseth — 2009, 2012
Winningest Daytona 500 Drivers in NASCAR History