Daytona 500 Eludes Many NASCAR Stars

From Tony Stewart to Kyle Busch, a long list of champions have never won stock car racing's biggest event

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Daytona 500 is one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR, but many of the sport's biggest stars have never won it. Drivers like Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, and Kyle Busch have all come up short in their attempts to capture the Harley J. Earl Trophy. The race is notoriously difficult to win, with teams spending the offseason preparing the perfect car and engine, and the final laps often coming down to calamity and risk-taking. While lesser-known drivers like Derrike Cope, Trevor Bayne, and Michael McDowell have pulled off upsets, the list of champions who have never won the 500 is long and impressive.

Why it matters

The Daytona 500 is considered the most important race in NASCAR, and winning it can make a driver's career. The fact that so many of the sport's all-time greats have never won the event speaks to how challenging and unpredictable the race can be. It raises questions about the role of luck, preparation, and risk-taking in determining the outcome of the sport's biggest event.

The details

The Daytona 500 trophy features the names of every driver who has won the race, from Lee Petty in 1959 to William Byron in 2022. But many of NASCAR's biggest stars, including Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, and Kyle Busch, have never had their names added to the trophy. Stewart, for example, failed to win the 500 in 17 attempts, while Kyle Busch has led the most laps (342) in the race without a victory. Other drivers who have never won the 500 include Ned Jarrett, Terry Labonte, Carl Edwards, and Martin Truex Jr. The race is notoriously difficult to win, with teams spending the offseason preparing the perfect car and engine, and the final laps often coming down to calamity and risk-taking.

  • The Daytona 500 is held annually in February to kick off the NASCAR season.
  • Tony Stewart competed in his final Daytona 500 in 2016, having never won the race in 17 attempts.
  • Kyle Busch will be making his 21st start in the Daytona 500 in 2023, having led the most laps (342) in the race without a victory.

The players

Tony Stewart

A three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who never won the Daytona 500 in 17 attempts.

Kyle Busch

A two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who has led the most laps (342) in the Daytona 500 without a victory.

Rusty Wallace

A former NASCAR Cup Series champion who never won the Daytona 500 in his career.

Mark Martin

A NASCAR Hall of Famer who finished second in the Daytona 500 in 2007, losing by just 0.02 seconds to Kevin Harvick.

Derrike Cope

A NASCAR driver who pulled off an upset victory in the 1990 Daytona 500.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I failed to win the Daytona 500 in 17 attempts, and I can say with certainty that my name will never be found on a Daytona 500 entry list again.”

— Tony Stewart, Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (Autoweek)

“Winning the Daytona 500 is the ultimate goal in our sport, and it's a shame that so many of the all-time greats have never been able to accomplish that feat.”

— Kyle Busch, Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (Autoweek)

What’s next

The 2023 Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, February 19th, with Kyle Busch starting from the pole position as he seeks his first career win in the event.

The takeaway

The Daytona 500 is one of the most challenging and unpredictable races in NASCAR, and the fact that so many of the sport's all-time greats have never won it speaks to the unique challenges of the event. While lesser-known drivers have pulled off upsets, the list of champions who have come up short in the 500 is a testament to the race's difficulty and the role that luck and risk-taking play in determining the outcome.