The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap, 500 mile, NASCAR race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. In stock car racing, it is the most important race of the year. Not only is Daytona NASCAR's biggest race, it is also the circuit's first race of the year; this phenomenon is virtually unique in sports. Since 1995, television ratings for the Daytona 500 have been the highest for any auto race of the year, surpassing the traditional leader, the Indy 500.

The race used to be held on Daytona Beach itself, but was later moved to a track.

Lee Petty, founder of a famous racing family whose most renowned member was his son Richard, won the first Daytona 500 on February 22, 1959. Richard won the race a record seven times.

Daytona 500 winners:

• 2003 -- Michael Waltrip
• 2002 -- Ward Burton
• 2001 -- Michael Waltrip
• 2000 -- Dale Jarrett
• 1999 -- Jeff Gordon
• 1998 -- Dale Earnhardt
• 1997 -- Jeff Gordon
• 1996 -- Dale Jarrett
• 1995 -- Sterling Marlin
• 1994 -- Sterling Marlin
• 1993 -- Dale Jarrett
• 1992 -- Davey Allison
• 1991 -- Ernie Irvan
• 1990 -- Derrike Cope
• 1989 -- Darrell Waltrip
• 1988 -- Bobby Allison
• 1987 -- Bill Elliott
• 1986 -- Geoff Bodine
• 1985 -- Bill Elliott
• 1984 -- Cale Yarborough
• 1983 -- Cale Yarborough
• 1982 -- Bobby Allison
• 1981 -- Richard Petty
• 1980 -- Buddy Baker
• 1979 -- Richard Petty
• 1978 -- Bobby Allison
• 1977 -- Cale Yarborough
• 1976 -- David Pearson
• 1975 -- Benny Parsons
• 1974 -- Richard Petty
• 1973 -- Richard Petty
• 1972 -- A.J. Foyt
• 1971 -- Richard Petty
• 1970 -- Pete Hamilton
• 1969 -- LeeRoy Yarborough
• 1968 -- Cale Yarborough
• 1967 -- Mario Andretti
• 1966 -- Richard Petty
• 1965 -- Fred Lorenzen
• 1964 -- Richard Petty
• 1963 -- Tiny Lund
• 1962 -- Fireball Roberts
• 1961 -- Marvin Panch
• 1960 -- Junior Johnson
• 1959 -- Lee Petty