In the category “Richard Petty’s records that are unlikely to be broken” you can include the King’s seven victories in the DAYTONA 500. In 1964, five years after his father, Lee Petty, won the inaugural running of the Great American Race, Richard Petty was the only driver on the lead lap at the finish as he claimed his first triumph. Over the next 17 years, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion was the dominant force at Daytona, winning six more Harley J. Earl trophies, in 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979 and 1981. Petty’s record 200 career victories, 27 wins in a single season and 10 straight Cup victories might be considered more unassailable, but note that among current full-time Cup drivers, there are only two multiple DAYTONA 500 winners—Denny Hamlin with three and William Byron with two.
Tune-in to the 2026 DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.