As the Daytona 500 enters it’s 57th edition, take a look at the past winners of the Great American Race.
No one imagined how big the Daytona 500 would become when the inaugural race took place in 1959. Since then, NASCAR has gone through many changes, controversies, and drivers as the race now enters it’s 57th running.
While much has changed since 1959 (like racing on asphalt instead of the beach), the accomplishment of winning the big race has only grown stronger. With a win, a driver’s name is added to a long list of NASCAR legends to win at Daytona International Speedway in what is now consistently been the opening weekend of the Sprint Cup series.
Eleven drivers have won the elite race twice or more, while Richard Petty holds the record for most Daytona 500 wins with 10. Michael Waltrip isn’t racing full-time in 2016, but he is looking to win this event for the third time.
A full list of winners from the event’s first race in 1959 when Lee Petty to 2015 Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano are listed chronologically below. After this weekend’s race, one driver will have the honor of being crowned Daytona 500 champion for the 2016 season.
1959: Lee Petty
1960: Junior Johnson
1961: Marvin Panch
1962: Fireball Roberts
1963: Tiny Lund
1964: Richard Petty
1965: Fred Lorenzen
1966: Richard Petty
1967: Mario Andretti
1968: Cale Yarborough
1969: LeeRoy Yarbrough
1970: Pete Hamilton
1971: Richard Petty
1972: A.J. Foyt
1973: Richard Petty
1974: Richard Petty
1975: Benny Parsons
1976: David Pearson
1977: Cale Yarborough
1978: Bobby Allison
1979: Richard Petty
1980: Buddy Baker
1981: Richard Petty
1982: Bobby Allison
1983: Cale Yarborough
1984: Cale Yarborough
1985: Bill Elliott
1986: Geoff Bodine
1987: Bill Elliott
1988: Bobby Allison
1989: Darrell Waltrip
1990: Derrike Cope
1991: Ernie Irvan
1992: Davey Allison
1993: Dale Jarrett
1994: Sterling Marlin
1995: Sterling Marlin
1996: Dale Jarrett
1997: Jeff Gordon
1998: Dale Earnhardt
1999: Jeff Gordon
2000: Dale Jarrett
2001: Michael Waltrip
2002: Ward Burton
2003: Michael Waltrip
2004: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2005: Jeff Gordon
2006: Jimmie Johnson
2007: Kevin Harvick
2008: Ryan Newman
2009: Matt Kenseth
2010: Jamie McMurray
2011: Trevor Bayne
2012: Matt Kenseth
2013: Jimmie Johnson
2014: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2015: Joey Logano