NASCAR: Top 10 drivers at Daytona of all-time

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 22: NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

2. Richard Petty

Races: 74
Wins: 10
Top 5 finishes: 28
Top 10 finishes: 37
Average finish: 14.96

Seven Daytona 500 victories…and Richard Petty is still not ranked #1 on this list.

Let me explain. Richard Petty will probably be considered the greatest Daytona driver of all-time by many people, and honestly, it’s a toss-up when you start comparing all of these great drivers.

Petty had 74 starts at Daytona. That is 17 more starts than Cale Yarborough, who finished his career with one less win at the track than he did. With 17 more starts, I find it hard to believe that Yarborough couldn’t overtake Petty in wins.

Assumptions aren’t good enough, though. Yarborough’s DNF total and Petty’s superior statistics were ultimately what placed him the former at 3rd on this list and the latter at 2nd. While Petty had one more DNF than Yarborough did at Daytona (26 to 25), he had 17 more starts, so he wins that fight also.

Seven wins in the most prestigious race in NASCAR is a major accomplishment. Most great drivers spend their whole careers trying to win just one and that’s because everyone is giving it their all at the Daytona 500. From big teams to small teams, every single one is giving their maximum effort.

Petty dominated Daytona much like he dominated all of NASCAR for most of his career.

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