Why Is the Daytona 500 Such A Special Race? 

What is your favorite Daytona 500 moment?

Nobody: Iceberg every ending: "Now, I wanna pass this on to you"

If you question the special-ness of the Daytona 500, *you have sinned and must be interrogated*

Question: Why is the Daytona 500 special?? Answer: For over 60 years, this was a crown jewel event that has produced great races ever since the inaugural running of the Great American Race. From great finishes, big crashes, to wild and great moments, this event will always be the peak of the NASCAR season.

This race is special in a lot of ways because it embodies all the elements of what we like about NASCAR and why it's been held in such a high regard.

I’ve said the same thing for a long time finally someone can explain it

My grandmothers mother’s cousin is cal Yarbrough

One of the things I think that I love about the aura of the Daytona 500 is how so many legends and champions cemented their legacy by being one of the winners of this race but also it has quite the group of underdogs who have won as well. Derricke Cope, Michael Waltrip, Ward Burton, Jamie McMurray, and Trevor Bayne all got to drive to victory lane after the great American race. On the flip side so many Champions, Hall of Famers, and Icons in nascar never got that honor. Guys like Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte, Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Burton, and Harry Gant never could add a Daytona 500 win to their impressive list of races won over their exceptional careers.

I’ve seen the clip of Sr. winning and being congratulated hundreds of times and it still gave me chills and watery eyes.

Why is the Daytona 500 Special? Denny Hamlin: *Shows 3 Harley J Earl Trophies* 🏆

"To win the Daytona 500, you have to be one of the best ever..." * Derrike Cope has left the chat *

THE 2004 & 2014 DAYTONA 500 WAS MY FAVORITE

Because it's the Daytona 500

I’ve lived in the Daytona area my entire life. My office is off of turn 1. One of the coolest things about the Daytona 500 that wasn’t mentioned was back in the day the winners car would be impounded and put on display at Daytona USA for the rest of the year. I remember being a 24 fan and making it a point to go see the 3 car on display a few months before it went back to RCR. Very cool race. Something changes in the city when speedweeks rolls in town. Also is pretty cool hearing cars practice while I’m on lunch when teams are testing. FYI the next gen car sounds pretty cool at speed.

I don’t know what NASCAR would look like today without the ‘79 500 working out the way it did

For me it's the history, but for the last 4 its been kind of a crap shoot so its kinda lost some of its lust it once had. Now its basically a survival race

You can here Mike Joy's voice breaking up from Earnhardt Sr win, and then re-living the #3 car winning 20yrs previously, when he retires whose voice will be the voice of Daytona?

Star wars music and daytona video clips. Epic !

My favorite Daytona 500 moment? First thing that comes to my mind is the end of 07 Daytona 500

9:42 what a Crazy shot to see him so clearly

I can’t believe that the Daytona 500 is still around It’s never been sponsored Nascar might go bankrupt 😂

My favorite moment was probably when Bayne won in 2011. It was the first Daytona 500 I ever watched, and when I found out the winner was the youngest in Daytona 500 history, that still gives me nostalgia to this day as I am now the same age Bayne was when he won

I keep looking at the old Daytona 500s. I saw a lot of single file freight trains, and the whole field being spread out before restrictor plates

My dad made such a good call to bring me to my first race ever, the 2007 Daytona 500. I swear, every greatest finish list/video or Daytona doc I see it. Amazing to think I lucked into that one. I love your content, this is one of your best edited videos yet

My favorite moments from the Daytona 500 are as followed 1. Dale Jr’s 2 500 victories (2004 and 2014) 2. Juan Montoya hitting the jet dryer putting a fire in the track 3. Dale Earnhardt’s 1998 Daytona 500 victory (no I wasn’t alive at that time yet) 4. Jamie McMurrays 2010 Daytona 500 victory 5. Denny Hamlin’s 2016 Daytona 500 victory, holding off Martin Truex Jr 6. The prerace concert before the 2006 Daytona 500 7. President Trump driving around the track pacing the field in the 2020 Daytona 500 8. Jimmie Johnson winning the 2006 Daytona 500 9. Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart tangle in the 2007 Daytona 500 10. Kevin Harvick beating Mark Martin to the line by 0.007 seconds in the 2007 Daytona 500 11. Jeff Gordon winning the 2005 Daytona 500 12. Danica Patrick winning the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500 13. Ryan Newman winning the 2008 Daytona 500 14. Dale Jr wrecking Brian Vickers in the 2009 Daytona 500 15. Joey Logano’s 2015 Daytona 500 victory 16. Michael Waltrip winning the 2001 Daytona 500, but in a bittersweet way. 17. Ward Burton winning the 2002 Daytona 500 after Sterling Marlin gets out and touches his car under red flag 18. Michael Waltrip winning his second Daytona 500 in 2003. This one better than the first. 19. Ryan Newman’s crash in the 2003 Daytona 500 20. Mark Martin’s engine failure in the 2004 Daytona 500 Honorable mentions (I wasn’t alive for any of these) Darrell Waltrip winning the Daytona 500 after 17 tries Derrike Cope winning his only Daytona 500 Dale Jarrett winning the Daytona 500 with his dad commentating Lee Petty winning the Inaugural Daytona 500 after 3 days David Pearson winning the 1976 Daytona 500 Donnie Allison’s fight with Cale Yarborough, with Richard Petty winning The 1988 Daytona 500 finish Dale Earnhardt’s flip in the 1997 Daytona 500, with Jeff Gordon winning

While I appreciate the Star Wars analogy, I prefer describing NASCAR’s crown jewels using Marvel’s Infinity Stones: Daytona 500 - Blue Space Stone (Most vast track and biggest crown jewel) Southern 500 - Green Time Stone (Throwback Weekend) Coke 600 - Purple Power Stone (takes a lot to win this race, let alone last 600 miles) Brickyard 400 - Red Reality Stone (malleable, much like the versatile venue this takes place in) Bristol Night Race - Yellow Mind Stone (Race tends to mess with your mind and tests your will and composure) Final race of the season (any track. likely championship clincher.) - Orange Soul Stone (Hardest stone to get.) Honorable Mention: All-Star Race - White Ego Stone (pretty much enhances your ego more than it is a crown jewel. Money and bragging rights. Still worthy of mention.)

The reason why I think it's so special is because Bill France Sr. was holding races there decades before NASCAR was founded

Daytona 500 > Monaco grand prix Come at me

Iceberg as a Diehard Nascar fan myself you basically said it for me..The Daytona 500 is that one Race that every nascar driver wants to win, It's almost like a Country Singer performing at the Grand Ole Opry.

I live half an hour from the Daytona International Speedway. I have been to 4 Daytona 500s, '10, '11, '16, '20. The Daytona 500 holds a special place in my heart and its a big part of my life. However, I am still waiting for Kyle Busch to win the Daytona 500.

The track, trophy, prize money, the prestige, history, 1st race of the season, crap shoot to win? What did I miss.

You forgot when dale hit the seagull, everything was keeping dale from winning the 500 lol.

Awesome video! You're really pumping out tons of quality content lately! One thing you said made me think though. You said that the first Daytona 500 went wrong in the way that there was a photo finish and no one knew who the winner was for three days. But, as far as showmanship and promoting goes, that might have just been the thing Bill France needed to get the Daytona 500 off the ground! People waited for the three days in anticipation of figuring out who the real winner of the race was! I know it sound cliché, but my favorite Daytona moment has to be Dale winning in 1998. Like, how can it not be?

My favorite moment was that every year since I can remember, all the way until I went off to college, my family would throw a big party for the race. I can't wait to take my dad to the 500 some day to see it in person. Then, that will be my new favorite memory

It always a great time for NASCAR to showcase what they are all about and for drivers to do their part and give it all they got for the eyes of the world.

At 0:14 when I heard the French Horn for Binary Sunset.... That theme always gets to me, even if it is the background music of a NASCAR video...

Fun Fact! In 2020, it got rained out AGAIN. And it flooded! How did I know? I was there, and almost died. What a day that was

Hahpee Burthday Trevuh BAYNE!!

My god the Star Wars comparison was 💯💯💯

this channel is so amazing, keep up the great work dude.

Ok, adding Star Wars music to nascar just upped the level so much!

The Star Wars music in the background made this video so much better

I would say the 1988 Daytona 500 but that one makes you want to cry more than anything with the events that would happen over the next few years to the Allison family. Watching at home the 1990 version was a heart stopper because I had met Cope when he was racing on the west coast a couple of years earlier, but also say the 1992 race was also a favorite moment since Davey won the race which goes back to the answer from the 1988 race.

To me it’s because it holds true “the world center of racing” because it’s not just NASCAR but it’s an IMSA track, it’s a supercross track, it’s a TT track and a sportbike track so to me personally the Daytona 500 holds a special place in my heart for being one of the few races that you see on so many different series. There’s always a NEW way to see the track and the 500 brings it out of the track, the roar of the V8 passing by the start/finish line at 190+ mph isn’t like any other track to me and you can feel the history of this race from all the way back to the sands of the original NASCAR Daytona race, it’s the Monaco of NASCAR,

You had my like within the first 30 seconds when I heard the Star Wars music

The time of year must be taken into account, it's the only game in town. My favorite moment will always be that snowstorm in 1979 that had me watching TV and finding NASCAR and the Daytona 500.

Hard to choose one personal favorite Daytona 500 moment when my driver, Hamlin, has won three. I think I'd have to choose his first, though. Took until his 11th full time season and my 12th as a fan of his to get there, but man has is been a ride since!

Damn this video got me super hyped for the 500!

I love your videos they are so relaxing to watch for me and always makes my day

It’s so wild how much that place has changed but yet, how little the track itself has changed. The grandstand now is just ridiculous

I loved the 2019 500 because I think it had one of the most memorable finishes

I’m a new resident of Daytona and I’m am so excited to go to my first 500. 14 days to go 👏🏽👏🏽

My favorite Daytona 500 memory is Dale Jr winning in 2014. Also it’s gonna be 20 years since Dale’s passing this Daytona race I hope NASCAR does something special.

Favorite Daytona moment? Dale Earnhardt winning the Daytona 500 of course

In your Devil’s Advocate video about the Daytona 500, I think I realized your point. New drivers don’t do as well as the older drivers because of one thing: experience. So much so that they know all the ins and outs of the track. If the Daytona 500 was in the middle of the season or pretty much one of the last races, then maybe the newcomers would have more time to adapt to the sport and get more competitive than the start of the season.

Why was I bawling through most of this video? Jeez I love the history of the 500

2018 is my favorite. Then the 1998 500, then the ‘07 500 top 3

Who else already knew most of this but still enjoyed the video?

When Dale Sr won it. I'm big Dale Sr fan. I live like an hour north from the track.

I just watched my first full season of nascar in 2020 and I was not disappointed I'm a dirt racing fan and I race on dirt myself but the daytona 500 was an absolutely incredible race and thankfully ryan newman survived I hope there is another great race this February too

I may be the only person that says 2016 is my favorite Daytona 500. It didn't have big wrecks, which is fine cause I hate seeing the big crashes happen and teams losing millions of dollars in destroyed race cars, and possibly getting one of the drivers hurt. It just had racing. Unapologetically good clean racing capped off by an incredible finish. Just amazing.

Favorite race to watch was when Trevor Bayne won.. Though I'll always remember 2001 for DWs call at the finish, going from absolute elation watching his little brother win to just a solemn 4 words "I hope Dale's ok"...

Gentleman Ned Jarrett.... That should have been his racing time name.

For a better look at the car safety, like you mentioned with Ryan Newman, I would have added the 2015 Austin Dillon crash. That was crazy.

The Daytona 500 is a book that has never ending chapters

Thanks for posting this!

It’s easy it’s the celebration of the first Daytona beach races of old and I like you just the way you are you make each day a special day by just you being you and the best person you can ever be is your honest self!

I know the '92 500 was under looked since it was dominated by Davey Allison after big accident took out majority of anyone that could contend, but was so happy my favorite driver won, specially four years after finishing runner up to his father

Well this just got me more hyped for the big race in a handful of weeks

The sport was born in Daytona on The Beach. Simple as that. That’s why it’s so special. Also helps it’s an hour away from Theme Park Capitol in Orlando where Galaxy’s Edge is. Nice job putting in John Williams Star Wars theme in there. My favorite moment it’s hard to say. There’s a ton. I can’t decide.

Just like Indianapolis is for IndyCar, it's the biggest event on the schedule. Drivers mainly aim for two goals during their career's, winning the Daytona 500 & a season championship. No matter what anyone says, at the end of the day your career isn't complete unless you've won both at least once...

The advances in safety over a 20 year period is both astonishing and frightening.

If you look at a lot of Petty's wrecks, once his car stops spinning and if it's drivable, Petty was always having to refire the engine and he always had problems getting the engine restarted in his cars. You'd think Richard Petty would have learned by now to step on the clutch and knock it out of gear so far wouldn't stall or spin the engine backwards. Which was 90% of the reason why Petty could never get it restarted.

The dark saber is the best analogy ever

Bru I’m not gunna lie, I started tearing up when u played the Earnhardt clip for 1998

Australians compare it to Bathurst and are still wondering what's "special " about Daytona

Honestly 1998 Daytona 500 was the first race I watched a bit of and saw the finish and was young enough to not know what had just happened. I also happened to pick a favorite that day of course being that #3. 2001 Daytona 500 is a race I am sure no one will ever forget. Whether you were a fan of Dale or not it was a mutual mourning throughout the community. My most memorable moment at Daytona is actually the 2001 Pepsi 400 and I was so happy for that young man and that team and family and I am sure a lot fan or not were happy for same reasons.

For me, it’s significant for not only kicking off the season, but it’s like 💥 🤯💣 NASCAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Should've also mentioned that beginning in around 2007, the race was moved to a later start time in order to finish at night, around primetime.

So I live in Daytona and to me personally, I've been to countless 500s and 400s and for those weekends that the race is here it's nothing but fun and fan fare, as much as I hate the crowds it's so cool seeing that happen twice a year every year. Plus it really helps out our little beach bum town economically more than anyone could ever know.

Ice Ice Baby, how about a video on Jamie McMurray's 2010 season? It's a great story - he starts hot with Ganassi and looks like a future star, jumps to Roush and his career nosedived, comes back to Ganassi/DEI reinvigorated and has a great year.

13:18 CORN DAAAWWWG

To Nascar fans this is a stupid question, for those trying to get into the sport this was a needed video

I used to think they hyped up the 500- because they are getting a lot of money to the teams to help them get through an expensive season. the Daytona 500 in 2004 purse was 13.6 million when most races were between 3 and 5 million. Think about it- you do good in this first race you get 3 times as much money to fund your season long efforts of any other race. It is the only race you had to race your way into. The others were qualifying based. This offered a unique way to setup a season for a team.

Everybody knows the best Daytona moment is Sterling Marling pulling on his fender during a red flag.

IMO the 2010 500 is one of the best plate & COT era races of all time. It would be looked at more fondly if not for the 4 hour delay patching the track. :p I was a big Jamie Mac fan, but then he went to Roush and after an underwhelming couple seasons I thought he was finished. But I was so glad to have been proven wrong.

Dw always yelling over the final call lol

All I'm saying is that both times my dad and I went to the Great American race, they ended with a very close finish with a car upside-down and on fire. (2007 and 2020).

Just like how the super bowl is special for the NFL. Some of the sport’s greatest and most historically memorable moments have happened in the race. If I could count them all I would. It’s an amazing and important sporting event. It’s very very special.

Newman saved his own life by pushing for NASCAR to make the "Newman" bar a mandatory part of a NASCAR roll cage. This bar would keep him from getting killed in the 500.

I have been to the Daytona 500 three times. All three made this video. 2011, 2016, 2018.

Asking why the Daytona 500 is so special is like asking why the Super Bowl is special.....

not gonna lie seeing the Bobby and Davey finish got dusty in here what a great day for the Allison family

2007 was not only tragic, but a big point against the Daytona 500 being special.

Just realized I wasn’t subscribed!! Jesus Christ! Love every video! Keep’er goin!

The Daytona 500 has been on a class of its own in the last decade and I don't think I will ever compare it to the Super Bowl or the Indy 500 ever again.

I love eating sheetz to go curly fries in my car with a new Iceberg video playing on my phone.

Never thought of the analogy of the darksaber and the Daytona 500

A great video for the great american race ! But for you what’s the second greatest race in nascar (Southern 500, Bristol Night Race, Coca Cola 600, Brickyard 400) ? (Sorry if my english is not good)

No wonder the Daytona 500 is chosen as NASCAR’s opening round. It’s a banger!