Daytona 500 Countdown

The Daytona 500, 'The Great American Race', opens the NASCAR Cup Series season every February at Daytona International Speedway. Unusually for a sport, NASCAR's biggest, richest race is its first. This countdown targets the expected race day; confirm with NASCAR.

How many days until Daytona 500?

Daytona 500 is on Sunday, February 14, 2027, which is 206 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.

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Daytona 500 Records

Most wins by a driverRichard Petty — 7 wins (1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981)

Youngest winnerTrevor Bayne — 20 years, 1 day old (2011)

Oldest winnerBobby Allison — 50 years old (1988)

Fastest average winning speedBuddy Baker — 177.602 mph (1980)

Closest finishDenny Hamlin over Martin Truex Jr. by 0.010 seconds (2016)

Most laps led, single raceRichard Petty led 184 of 200 laps (1964)

Daytona 500 Winners, Last 15 Years

2026Tyler Reddick — No. 45 Toyota, 23XI Racing — passed Chase Elliott just before the line

2025William Byron — No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports — back-to-back winner

2024William Byron — No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

2023Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — No. 47 Chevrolet — first-ever double overtime

2022Austin Cindric — No. 2 Ford, Team Penske — first rookie ever to win

2021Michael McDowell — No. 34 Ford — first career Cup win, in his 358th start

2020Denny Hamlin — No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

2019Denny Hamlin — No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

2018Austin Dillon — No. 3 Chevrolet — last-lap pass of Aric Almirola

2017Kurt Busch — No. 41 Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing

2016Denny Hamlin — won by 0.010 sec, closest finish in race history

2015Joey Logano — No. 22 Ford, Team Penske

2014Dale Earnhardt Jr. — 2nd Daytona 500 win, ending a 55-race winless streak

2013Jimmie Johnson — No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

2012Matt Kenseth — first Daytona 500 postponed by rain, finished Monday night

The Great American Race

First run in 1959, the Daytona 500 is 200 laps around a 2.5-mile superspeedway, 500 miles of high-speed, pack racing. Winning it is the crown jewel of a NASCAR career.

Dates subject to change

The race traditionally runs on the Sunday of Presidents' Day weekend in mid-February. This countdown tracks the expected date, check NASCAR's schedule for confirmation.

The photo finish that took three days to call

The very first Daytona 500, in 1959, ended with Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp crossing the line side by side at nearly 150 mph in front of 41,000 fans. NASCAR called Beauchamp the unofficial winner, and he celebrated in victory lane. Petty protested — "I had him by a good two feet" — and officials spent three days gathering news photographs and newsreel footage before reversing the call and declaring Petty the champion. The Great American Race was born with a controversy worthy of it.

Watching from the grandstands or the couch

On TV, the Daytona 500 airs on FOX, which locked up the race through 2031 under NASCAR's latest media deal. In person, tickets and infield camping are sold through Daytona International Speedway, and the race caps a week of on-track action — the Duel qualifying races the Thursday before set most of the 40-car starting grid, and grandstand seats for them cost far less than Sunday's. The race traditionally runs on the Sunday of Presidents' Day weekend in mid-February.

Quick facts

First run in 1959
200 laps, 500 miles at Daytona International Speedway
NASCAR's season-opening crown jewel
Held in mid-February
Daytona's turns are banked at a steep 31 degrees
Richard Petty holds the record with seven Daytona 500 wins

How to watch Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 has aired live on FOX every year since 2001, opening the NASCAR Cup Series season each February, with coverage streaming on the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

NASCAR.com — Daytona 500

Learn more

NASCAR (official) Wikipedia Daytona International Speedway (official tickets) FOX Sports: NASCAR

Daytona 500 — frequently asked questions

When is Daytona 500?

Daytona 500 is on Sunday, February 14, 2027.

How many days until Daytona 500?

Daytona 500 is on Sunday, February 14, 2027, which is 206 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.

Updated July 2026 · alarm-clock.org

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