Daytona 500 Upset Winners Throughout the Years
Vito Pugliese examines some of the top upsets in the Daytona 500, including one in the 2020s.
Days ‘Til Daytona
11 Days ‘Til Daytona: The 11th (1969) Daytona 500
Until 1969, winning all three NASCAR crown jewels had never been done.
22 Days ‘Til Daytona: The 22nd (1980) Daytona 500
The 1980 Daytona 500 sealed the Gray Ghost’s spot in NASCAR lore.
27 Days ‘Til Daytona: The 27th (1985) Daytona 500
1985 was the year Bill Elliott’s legend grew to epic proportions
30 Days ‘Til Daytona: The 30th (1988) Daytona 500
The 1988 Daytona 500 saw the modern debut of restrictor plates, a scary blowover for Richard Petty and a family duel for the win.
31 Days ‘Til Daytona: The 31st (1989) Daytona 500
Darrell Waltrip’s 1989 Daytona 500 win checked an elusive box for the three-time champion.
33 Days ‘Til Daytona: The 33rd (1991) Daytona 500
1991 at Daytona saw strange new rules for pit stops under caution and a team coming into its own.
34 Days ‘Til Daytona: The 34th (1992) Daytona 500
As fate played out, Davey Allison’s Daytona 500 win was the pinnacle of his career.
