Daytona Notebook - Did You Know?

Did you know that among the Daytona 500 winners, Lee Petty has raced the fewest Daytona 500s, and his son Richard has run the most. Lee won the first Daytona 500 in 1959, then raced in only one more. The King has run in 32 Daytona 500s, winning seven overall.

Did you know that Richard's son Kyle has run in the most Daytona 500s of any driver. Sunday he will be running for the 37th time.

Did you know that Tony Stewart has led the most laps in Daytona 500s without ever winning the race. Stewart has led for 282 laps over the span of five 500s. Of the 43 drivers in Sunday's race, he's lead for the most laps, even more than previous winners Jeff Gordon, Michael Waltrip and Dale Jarrett.

Did you know that excluding the first Daytona 500 in 1959, no one has ever won the race on the first try. Bobby Allison is the only driver to win the race on his LAST try... Allison picked up his third and final Daytona 500 victory in 1988. (BONUS DYK!!!) Allison doesn't remember anything about that race, because of head trauma he sustained in a crash at Pocono Raceway a few months later.

Did you know that the smallest payout for the 2007 Daytona 500 was $248,000. That's more than Dale Jarrett took home for winning the race in 1993.

Did you know that Kevin Harvick walked away with over $1.5 million for winning the 2007 Daytona 500. That's more than the first 26 winners of the race took home combined.

Did you know that three drivers have started lower than 30th and came back to win the Daytona 500. But no one has started anywhere in the 20's and won it.

Did you know that Terry Labonte has ran the most laps in the Daytona 500. In 27 races, Labonte has made the lap around the World Center of Racing 4,996 times.

Did you know that in Sunday's 43 car field there are four drivers that have won the summer race in Daytona but never won the 500. Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, John Andretti and Jamie McMurray have all won at Daytona, but not the Great American Race.

Did you know that the longest span in between Daytona 500 victories by one driver is 9 years. Timmonsville native Cale Yarborough won his first Daytona 500 in 1968. He then wouldn't win another until 1977. Cale would then go back to back in 1983 and 1984.

Did you know that more drivers have won the Daytona 500 at age 36 than at any other age. Geoff Bodine, Dale Jarrett, Sterling Marlin, Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough all won the race at that age. Jeff Gordon turned 36 in August. Tony Stewart turned 36 in May.

Do you have any Did You Knows for me? Enjoy the race!

Log In | Register as a new member