Who are the 10 greatest Daytona 500 drivers of all time?

There are few sporting events bigger than the Daytona 500, which takes place Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). The race happens at Florida's scenic Daytona Beach and is the first of three held in-state annually.

The famous event began in 1959 when Lee Petty won the inaugural race, finishing with an average speed of 135.52 miles per hour. Petty, racing in an Oldsmobile branded car, is also the event's first winner as both a driver and owner.

In all, Daytona has seen 12 multi-time winners and 14 teams win multiple times. William Byron, who captured the checkered flag in 2024, will look to become the first driver to win back-to-back Daytona races since Denny Hamlin did so in 2019 and 2020. That said, who's the best driver to race this event?

Here are the 10 best drivers in Daytona 500 history.

Martin's career at Daytona started with a bang when he earned his first NASCAR victory at the Daytona 500, becoming just the ninth driver to accomplish that feat. Moreover, his second career victory also came at the Daytona 500, winning in back-to-back years — something just four drivers can say about their careers.

Eliott was a fixture at the famed racetrack, making 30 career starts, which ties him with Michael Waltrip for fourth all-time in career Daytona 500 starts. He was also able to claim pole position a record-tying four times throughout his career, including three straight from 1985-1987, doing so with Ford three times and Dodge once. His two victories are tied for the seventh-most all time. 

The son of a legend and a NASCAR Hall of Famer in his own right, Earnhardt Jr. was one of the more popular drivers during his time behind the wheel. He was able to deliver for those fans, earning two Daytona 500