The Daytona 500 in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series was held on February 16, 2025. Often dubbed as, "The Great American Race", the Daytona 500 event is considered the most important and valuable event of the NASCAR calendar. It starts off the NASCAR Regular season and is the first of the four Crown Jewel races. The Daytona 500 is considered and important victory among the drivers and the teams alike.
Daytona 500 was started in 1959, coinciding with the inauguration of the Daytona 500 speedway. The event is a part of the “Crown Jewel” races of NASCAR. Drivers compete for 200 laps to glorify their name in the history of NASCAR and to earn a shot at the Cup Series Playoffs. The race winning car is displayed for a year in the final condition at the Daytona 500 Experience museum. The Daytona 500 is held at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. The track record at Daytona International Speedway is held by Erik Jones, who set a time of 43.682. The name of the Daytona 500 is famous worldwide and even non-NASCAR fans are accustomed with the event due to its popularity and respect in motorsports.
Daytona 500 Winners: Full list of champions year-by-year
The Daytona 500 race was won by William Byron in 2025, as per Racing Reference. The Daytona 500 race has seen many different race winners, many of whom have went on become NASCAR champions. The Daytona 500 has been won seven times by Richard Petty which is a NASCAR record. The Daytona 500 race is preceded by the Duels at Daytona which are crucial in deciding the starting grid of the Daytona 500.
| S. No | Year | Name of Daytona 500 Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2025 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2. | 2024 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 3. | 2023 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 4. | 2022 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske |
| 5. | 2021 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports |
| 6. | 2020 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 7. | 2019 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 8. | 2018 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing |
| 9. | 2017 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 10. | 2016 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 11. | 2015 | Joey Logano | Team Penske |
| 12. | 2014 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 13. | 2013 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 14. | 2012 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 15. | 2011 | Trevor Bayne | Woods Brothers Racing |
| 16. | 2010 | Jamie McMurray | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing |
| 17. | 2009 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 18. | 2008 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing |
| 19. | 2007 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing |
| 20. | 2006 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 21. | 2005 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 22. | 2004 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt Inc. |
| 23. | 2003 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt Inc. |
| 24. | 2002 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing |
| 25. | 2001 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt Inc. |
| 26. | 2000 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing |
| 27. | 1999 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 28. | 1998 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing |
| 29. | 1997 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 30. | 1996 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing |
| 31. | 1995 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan-McLure Motorsports |
| 32. | 1994 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan -McLure Motorsports |
| 33. | 1993 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 34. | 1992 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing |
| 35. | 1991 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan-McLure Motorsports |
| 36. | 1990 | Derrike Cope | Bob Whitcomb Racing |
| 37. | 1989 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 38. | 1988 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing |
| 39. | 1987 | Bill Elliot | Meling Racing |
| 40. | 1986 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 41. | 1985 | Bill Elliot | Meline Racing |
| 42. | 1984 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy |
| 43. | 1983 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy |
| 44. | 1982 | Bobby Allison | DiGard Motorsports |
| 45. | 1981 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 46. | 1980 | Buddy Baker | Ranier-Lundy |
| 47. | 1979 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 48. | 1978 | Bobby Allison | Bud Moore Engineering |
| 49. | 1977 | Cale Yarborough | Junior Johnson and Associates |
| 50. | 1976 | David Pearson | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 51. | 1975 | Benny Parsons | L.G. DeWitt |
| 52. | 1974 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 53. | 1973 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 54. | 1972 | A.J. Foyt | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 55. | 1971 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 56. | 1970 | Pele Hamilton | Petty Enterprises |
| 56. | 1969 | LeeRoy Yarborough | Junior Johnson and Associates |
| 57. | 1968 | Cale Yarborough | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 58. | 1967 | Mario Andretti | Holman Moody |
| 59. | 1966 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 60. | 1965 | Fred Lorenzen | Holman Moody |
| 61. | 1964 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 62. | 1963 | Tiny Lund | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 63. | 1962 | Fireball Roberts | Jim Stephens |
| 64. | 1961 | Marvin Punch | Smokey Yunick |
| 65. | 1960 | Junior Johnson | John Masoni |
| 66. | 1959 | Lee Petty | Petty Enterprises |
FAQ's On Daytona 500 Winners
A. William Byron won the 2025 Cup Series Daytona 500.
A. The track is 2.5 miles long.
A. Richard Petty is known as the king of the Daytona 500.
A. The Daytona 500 race is 500 miles long.
A. Yes, the race was shortened 4 times due to rain in the years 1965,1966, 2003 and 2009.
