It’s called The Great American Race for a reason.
The Daytona 500 (Feb. 15 on FOX) has provided many memorable moments — everything from fighting to dancing when drivers exited the car, and everything from dramatic contact to dramatic finishes.
So let’s count down my top 20 Daytona 500 memorable moments.
You might not consider some of these to be great, but they sure are memorable.
No. 20: 2016 Daytona 500
After Matt Kenseth’s block attempt went awry thanks to the fast run from behind, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. went side-by-side to the finish line with Hamlin winning by 0.01 seconds — the closest margin in race history. It was the first of what is now three Daytona 500 wins for Hamlin, but also will be remembered as a battle between Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Hamlin and Kenseth at the end.
Hamlin pulled a couple of moves on Kenseth, and they made slight contact as Kenseth appeared to attempt to side-draft him after he pulled underneath him, a move that followed an attempt to pass Kenseth up against the wall.
19. 2018 Daytona 500
Austin Dillon would not be denied when he tried to pass Aric Almirola on the final lap. Almirola blocked him once to the outside and then again on the inside before Dillon made another move to the outside. Almirola ended up in the wall while Dillon sped to the victory.
Dillon’s win put the iconic No. 3 back in Daytona 500 victory lane and Dillon followed the win with a burnout celebration making No. 3s in the Daytona grass.
18: 1988 Daytona 500
Father-and-son. Bobby Allison wins, while his son, Davey, tries to make a move to the bottom on the final lap but to no avail and finishes second. Davey Allison visited Victory Lane and celebrated a little with his father.
Davey said: “When I was a little kid, I always dreamed of racing with my dad and having a 1-2 finish, but I wanted him to be second.” For Allison fans, this was the best.
No. 17: 1989 Daytona 500
Darrell Waltrip leads the final four laps and earns his first Daytona 500 victory. It was one of the most memorable Victory Lane celebrations. Waltrip was in tears — tears of joy. And then he danced, doing his version of the “Ickey Shuffle,” a move made popular by football player Ickey Woods during his touchdown celebrations. When you talk about the thrill of victory, this is what you’re talking about.
No. 16: 2011 Daytona 500
This race was during the “tandem” era of drafting, and Jeff Gordon found himself helping a young driver, Trevor Bayne. And lo and behold, Bayne took all the help and found himself in the lead late in the race. The 20-year-old driver, in just his second career Cup start, held off Carl Edwards for the win — the first Daytona 500 victory for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing since 1976.
No. 15: 1993 Daytona 500
Dale Jarrett wins. What made this more memorable was his father, Ned, calling him to the finish line as one of the TV analysts. And while many remember it for the sound of Jarrett’s voice, it was also a big moment for Joe Gibbs Racing. It was the first win for JGR after it went winless in its inaugural season.
No. 14: 1997 Daytona 500
Dale Earnhardt appeared out of the race following a flip with 11 laps remaining. But as he was getting in the ambulance, Earnhardt looked at the car and thought it might start as it had landed on its four wheels. So he ran over to his car and cranked it up. It fired, and Earnhardt drove it to the pits. He finished the race in 31st, five laps down. This is one of those highlights that you know couldn’t happen today.
No. 13: 1988 Daytona 500
Richard Petty had a wild crash with about eight flips. The first contact came with Phil Barkdoll, turning him sideways, and the car then got airborne. After it was done flipping, Petty got hit by Brett Bodine. This was the first race where restrictor plates were used, which bunched up the field. Petty raced the following week.
No. 12: 2019 Daytona 500
Denny Hamlin wins the Daytona 500, five weeks after the death of J.D. Gibbs, the JGR team president who saw Hamlin at a test and decided he might be the JGR star of the future. It was an emotional victory lane as the driver and team paid tribute. It was Hamlin’s second Daytona 500 win.
No. 11: 2007 Daytona 500
In one of the more wild finishes, Kevin Harvick wins just 0.02 seconds ahead of Mark Martin. As they were about to cross the finish line, chaos erupted. Clint Bowyer slid upside-down across the finish line. Martin, who never won a Daytona 500, was leading at the white flag with Harvick running fifth.
Check back daily for the next memorable moment in the countdown.
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