Ranking the top 10 Daytona 500 races of all time

Honorable mention

1990

The 1990 Daytona 500 was one of many heartbreaks in the race over the years for Dale Earnhardt Sr., as he controlled the lead for much of the afternoon before cutting his tire on debris in the final lap that allowed Derrike Cope to grab the victory.

1997

The 1997 race will always be a memorable one for Hendrick Motorsports, as the top three spots in the race were claimed by the team’s drivers, with Ricky Craven finishing third, Terry Labonte finishing second, and young superstar Jeff Gordon claiming his first Daytona 500 victory.

2001

The 2001 race will always be remembered for the devastating loss of Earnhardt Sr. after a wreck on the final lap. Michael Waltrip claimed his first Daytona 500 victory in a close finish, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. coming in second.

2016

The 2016 Daytona 500 saw one of the closest finishes in both race history and NASCAR history. Matt Kenseth was leading the race late, but lost control in turn four, allowing Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. to battle for the win, with Hamlin coming out on top by 0.01 seconds.

2019

The 2019 Daytona 500 is another one which saw Hamlin claim a victory, as he powered past Kyle Busch late in the race to take home an emotional win that came just weeks after the death of J.D. Gibbs, the co-founder of Joe Gibbs Racing.

2016 #DAYTONA500. Final Lap.

Instant Classic. pic.twitter.com/TGtBufh7qD

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) December 22, 2016