Daytona 500 Winners Club Is Missing Key Names

The Daytona 500 is the Super Bowl of the NASCAR universe. It is among the most watched events on television yearly. Some of NASCAR’s most legendary drivers have come through and won this crown jewel. For some drivers, this is their only career win. It’s a fan favorite, and there’s a reason they kick off the racing season with this race.

The legendary drivers who have come through and won this? Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, and many more. But there are some glaring names missing from this list. Drivers whom you cannot tell the story of NASCAR without mentioning. We’re lucky to have some of them still actively racing, so I’ll deliver the top five drivers who have yet to win it, and their history at the Daytona 500.

#6 Brad Keselowski

I must say, I was surprised to see Keselowski’s name on the list here. He’s commonly referred to as one of the best restrictor-plate racers in NASCAR today. He’s led 177 laps in his Daytona 500 starts with seven top-fives. Last year, he was unfortunately wiped out by a wreck and finished 22nd. A NASCAR Cup Series champion, and a team owner, a Daytona 500 win would be the final feather in his legendary career.

#8 Kyle Busch

Maybe the most talked about absentee of the Daytona 500 winners club is one Kyle Busch. A two-time Cup Series Champion, with 229 race wins across the three major NASCAR series (63 in Cup). Busch was actually in a position to win, leading the race at lap 200. In the olden days, he’d have his Daytona 500 win and the monkey off his back. Unfortunately for him though, there was a restart and the race went to Ricky Stenhouse Jr. At the 500, he’s led 329 laps over 18 starts, and he’s finished inside the top-five plenty of times. He just needs to get the job done. In his 20th start, could this be the year?

#9 Chase Eliott

Chase’s dad Bill Eliott won two Daytona 500s back in his day. This could be a really cool moment for NASCAR, joining the Earnhardt’s and the Waltrip’s in the club of having multiple generations winning the biggest race of the sport. Elliott in his career at the 500 has led 71 laps and has a best finish of second behind Michael McDowell in 2021. His crew chief, Alan Gustafson, also hasn’t won the biggest race in NASCAR. Despite calling races for Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, and Mark Martin previously. Being the most popular driver in NASCAR, it’s only fitting he wins the most popular race the industry has to offer.

#12 Ryan Blaney

Ryan Blaney broke his cold streak in a big way last year, winning the Coke 600. He didn’t stop there though, he took that momentum and rode it to a NASCAR Cup Series championship. With wins at Talladega and Martinsville, the next task naturally is conquering the Great American Race. Blaney has a solid history at Daytona. He finished 8th last year and inside the top five in 2022. Not for nothing, he’s also the Vegas favorite to win the Daytona 500 at +900. We’ll see how Blaney begins his title defense at Daytona Beach, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it starts with a win.

#19 Martin Truex Jr

Martin Truex Jr is in an interesting position going into 2024. He had a monumental collapse to close 2023 after winning the regular season championship. He’s also not getting any younger, mulling retirement as it begins to get closer and closer. One of the few things our 2018 NASCAR Cup Series champion has yet to do is win the Daytona 500. At the track, Truex is entering his 38th start where he has three top five finishes, losing to Denny Hamlin by a hair and finishing second in the 2016 Daytona 500. He’s won the Coke 600 and the Southern 500 before, this and the Brickyard 400 arethe lone crown jewel races he’s yet to claim.

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