Richard Petty remains The King of the Daytona 500. No one has more than his seven wins. But who holds that title for Daytona International Speedway’s other annual NASCAR race?
David Pearson.
The Silver Fox, Petty’s most prominent rival, captured five summer race titles, all while it was named the Firecracker 400. His triumphs came in 1961, 1972-74 and 1978.
Since then, the event has also used the monikers Pepsi Firecracker 400, Pepsi 400, Coke Zero 400 and now, since 2018, Coke Zero Sugar 400.
Tony Stewart and Cale Yarborough follow Pearson with four wins apiece.
Last year, Harrison Burton sped to Victory Lane, earning the first win of his Cup Series career.
Who will it be this season? The 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.
Before then, let’s look back at the previous winners.
Daytona summer race winners by year: Firecracker to Pepsi to Coke
- 2024: Harrison Burton
- 2023: Chris Buescher
- 2022: Austin Dillon
- 2021: Ryan Blaney
- 2020: William Byron
- 2019: Justin Haley
- 2018: Erik Jones
- 2017: Rickey Stenhouse Jr.
- 2016: Brad Keselowski
- 2015: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 2014: Aric Almirola
- 2013: Jimmie Johnson
- 2012: Tony Stewart
- 2011: David Ragan
- 2010: Kevin Harvick
- 2009: Tony Stewart
- 2008: Kyle Busch
- 2007: Jamie McMurray
- 2006: Tony Stewart
- 2005: Tony Stewart
- 2004: Jeff Gordon
- 2003: Greg Biffle
- 2002: Michael Waltrip
- 2001: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 2000: Jeff Burton
- 1999: Dale Jarrett
- 1998: Jeff Gordon
- 1997: John Andretti
- 1996: Sterling Marlin
- 1995: Jeff Gordon
- 1994: Jimmy Spencer
- 1993: Dale Earnhardt
- 1992: Ernie Irvan
- 1991: Bill Elliott
- 1990: Dale Earnhardt
- 1989: Davey Allison
- 1988: Bill Elliott
- 1987: Bobby Allison
- 1986: Tim Richmond
- 1985: Greg Sacks
- 1984: Richard Petty
- 1983: Buddy Baker
- 1982: Bobby Allison
- 1981: Cale Yarborough
- 1980: Bobby Allison
- 1979: Neil Bonnett
- 1978: David Pearson
- 1977: Richard Petty
- 1976: Cale Yarborough
- 1975: Richard Petty
- 1974: David Pearson
- 1973: David Pearson
- 1972: David Pearson
- 1971: Bobby Isaac
- 1970: Donnie Allison
- 1969: LeeRoy Yarbrough
- 1968: Cale Yarborough
- 1967: Cale Yarborough
- 1966: Sam McQuagg
- 1965: A.J. Foyt
- 1964: A.J. Foyt
- 1963: Fireball Roberts
- 1962: Fireball Roberts
- 1961: David Pearson
- 1960: Jack Smith
- 1959: Fireball Roberts
Daytona summer race wins leaderboard
- 5: David Pearson
- 4: Tony Stewart, Cale Yarborough
- 3: Bobby Allison, Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty, Fireball Roberts
Who is the oldest NASCAR driver to win the Daytona summer race?
Bobby Allison.
Allison claimed the 1987 Pepsi Firecracker 400 at the age of 49 years, seven months and one day.
The following February, he won the Daytona 500 at 50 and remains the oldest victor of that event.
Who is the youngest NASCAR driver to win the Daytona summer race?
Justin Haley.
In 2019, Haley won a rain-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400 at 20 years, two months and nine days old. He was in the lead when the race was called due to rain after 127 of the scheduled 160 laps.
NASCAR teams with most Daytona summer race wins
- 10: Wood Brothers Racing
- 7: Hendrick Motorsports
- 6: RFK Racing
- 4: Joe Gibbs Racing, Richard Childress Racing
- 3: Junior Johnson & Associates, Petty Enterprises
Car makes with most Daytona summer race wins
- 22: Ford, Chevrolet
- 7: Mercury
- 5: Dodge, Pontiac
- 3: Buick
- 2: Toyota
