The 67th Daytona 500 opens the NASCAR Cup Sequence season Sunday at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway.
As NASCAR’s largest race, each driver goals of hoisting the Harley J. Earl Trophy in victory lane.
Nonetheless, for some, that dream by no means turns into actuality. Some NASCAR greats corresponding to NASCAR Corridor of Famers Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace and Terry Labonte by no means skilled the joys of victory in the Nice American Race.
On Sunday, a few of NASCAR’s most notable names are nonetheless in the hunt for a Daytona 500 victory.
Right here’s an inventory of lively drivers who haven’t received the Daytona 500 regardless of having made 5 begins or extra within the season-opening basic on the 2.5-mile superspeedway:
Martin Truex Jr. (20 begins)
Whereas Martin Truex Jr. retired from full-time Cup Sequence racing final yr, the previous champion will try to qualify for the Daytona 500 driving a TRICON Storage Toyota.
Truex has been on the cusp of victory within the 500-mile occasion earlier than, most notably in 2016 as he misplaced to Denny Hamlin in a photograph end.
With no full-time factors schedule to chase this yr, maybe this is the yr all of it comes collectively for Truex in his twenty first try.
Kyle Busch (19 begins)
Two-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion Kyle Busch has but to achieve the top in inventory automobile racing at Daytona.
In 19 earlier Daytona 500 begins, Busch has a greatest end of second (2019). The Richard Childress Racing driver has one earlier points-paying win on the 2.5-mile oval (July, 2008) and a median end of 18.1 throughout each the five hundred and 400-mile races.
Coming into his twentieth begin, Busch will look to emulate Dale Earnhardt, who it took 20 makes an attempt to win the Daytona 500.
Brad Keselowski (15 begins)
RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski has received each crown jewel NASCAR has to supply (Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500 and Brickyard 400) apart from the Daytona 500.
The 2012 Cup Sequence champion has a greatest end of third (2014) and boasts one points-paying victory at Daytona (July, 2016).
Keselowski’s probabilities have arguably been at its peak since becoming a member of RFK as he’s led 112 laps within the final three Daytona 500s.
Kyle Larson (11 begins)
Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson has but to attain a victory on a superspeedway race observe since becoming a member of the Cup Sequence full time in 2014.
The 2022 Daytona 500 polesitter has a median end of twenty second in his profession at Daytona and hasn’t earned a top-10 end within the 500-mile race since 2021.
He has a greatest end of seventh within the 500 (2016, 2019).
Ryan Blaney (10 begins)
Staff Penske’s Ryan Blaney has 10 earlier begins within the Daytona 500, with a greatest end of second (twice, 2017 & 2020).
The 2023 Cup Sequence champion earned a win within the 400-mile July race at Daytona in 2021 and has a median end of 17.2 within the Nice American Race.
With Ford’s success at superspeedway tracks of late, Blaney could also be in line to lastly break by way of.
Chase Elliott (9 begins)
NASCAR’s hottest driver eyes his tenth Daytona 500 begin to be a profitable one. Chase Elliott’s greatest end within the Nice American Race was a second-place effort behind Michael McDowell in 2021.
Elliott earned the pole two years in a row (2016, 2017) and has a median end of 18.3.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver is arguably the person with essentially the most momentum on his aspect as he received the Conflict at North Carolina’s Bowman Grey Stadium two weeks in the past.
Maybe historical past will repeat itself this yr as Elliott’s father, Invoice Elliott, received the exhibition Conflict occasion in 1987 (at Daytona) and adopted it up with a victory within the Daytona 500.
Different Notable Drivers
A.J. Allmendinger (11 begins, greatest end of third in 2009 & 2017)
Chris Buescher (9 begins, greatest end of third in 2020)
Alex Bowman (eight begins, greatest end of second in 2024)
Erik Jones (eight begins, greatest end of third in 2019)
Ty Dillon (eight begins, greatest end of sixth in 2019)
Bubba Wallace (seven begins, greatest end of second in 2018 & 2022)
Daniel Suárez (seven begins, greatest end of seventh in 2023)
Tyler Reddick (six begins, greatest end of twenty seventh in 2019 & 2021)
Ross Chastain (six begins, greatest end of seventh in 2021)
Christopher Bell (5 begins, greatest end of third in 2023 & 2024)
Ryan Preece (5 begins, greatest end of sixth in 2021)
