Did Mark Martin ever win the Daytona 500? All you need to know

Mark Martin is regarded as one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time. In his 31-year-long NASCAR career, Martin registered 40 wins in the Cup series and 49 wins in the Xfinity Series, ranking him second in all-time win list in the series. Despite his remarkable success, there’s one achievement that has eluded Martin: a Daytona 500 victory.

Mark Martin has never won the Daytona 500 in his career. He came close multiple times, with his best finish being a second-place one in 2007, and made 29 attempts to win NASCAR’s most prestigious event, the Daytona 500. In 29 appearances at the Daytona 500, Martin earned six top-5s and 12 top-10s.

In 2007, driving the #01 Chevy for Ginn Racing, Martin led the field in the final laps and appeared to be on the verge of ending his long-awaited Daytona 500 victory. However, Harvick’s sensational final lap move dashed the dreams of Martin, edging Batesville, Arkansas, native by mere 0.2 seconds, one of the closest finishes in Daytona 500 history.

The Daytona 500 is known as “The Great American Race,” NASCAR’s most prestigious event, and it is held annually as the season-opening race at Daytona. It has been a defining milestone for many drivers’ careers, but for Mark Martin, it became the ultimate near-miss.

Meanwhile, Mark Martin’s racing style, often focused on precision and consistency, didn’t always align with the chaotic nature of superspeedway racing.

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Mark Martin’s NASCAR legacy without a Daytona 500 victory

Even though the five-time IROC Champion hasn't reached the victory lane of the Daytona 500, he will remain one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers. His 89 career wins at NASCAR’s top-two tier series reflect his skill and consistency.

The 65-year-old Batesville, Arkansas, native is also remembered for his contributions to the sport. He is celebrated for his incredible versatility across multiple series, his mentorship of younger drivers, and his reputation as one of the sport’s classiest competitors. His career serves as a reminder that greatness isn’t defined by a single victory but by consistent excellence over time.

Martin, who is involved with a dirt racing team in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015 and 2017, cementing his status as one of NASCAR’s top drivers. Last year, Martin was named as one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers.