The 67th Daytona 500 opens the NASCAR Cup Series season Sunday at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway.
As NASCAR’s biggest race, every driver dreams of hoisting the Harley J. Earl Trophy in victory lane.
However, for some, that dream never becomes reality. Some NASCAR greats such as NASCAR Hall of Famers Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace and Terry Labonte never experienced the thrill of victory in the Great American Race.
On Sunday, some of NASCAR’s most notable names are still in search of a Daytona 500 victory.
Here’s a list of active drivers who have not won the Daytona 500 despite having made five starts or more in the season-opening classic at the 2.5-mile superspeedway:
Martin Truex Jr. (20 starts)
While Martin Truex Jr. retired from full-time Cup Series racing last year, the former champion will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 driving a TRICON Garage Toyota.
Truex has been on the cusp of victory in the 500-mile event before, most notably in 2016 as he lost to Denny Hamlin in a photo finish.
Without a full-time points schedule to chase this year, perhaps this is the year it all comes together for Truex in his 21st attempt.
Kyle Busch (19 starts)
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has yet to reach the pinnacle in stock car racing at Daytona.
In 19 previous Daytona 500 starts, Busch has a best finish of second (2019). The Richard Childress Racing driver has one previous points-paying win at the 2.5-mile oval (July, 2008) and an average finish of 18.1 across both the 500 and 400-mile races.
Entering his 20th start, Busch will look to emulate Dale Earnhardt, who it took 20 attempts to win the Daytona 500.
Brad Keselowski (15 starts)
RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski has won every crown jewel NASCAR has to offer (Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500 and Brickyard 400) aside from the Daytona 500.
The 2012 Cup Series champion has a best finish of third (2014) and boasts one points-paying victory at Daytona (July, 2016).
Keselowski’s chances have arguably been at its peak since joining RFK as he’s led 112 laps in the last three Daytona 500s.
Kyle Larson (11 starts)
Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson has yet to score a victory on a superspeedway race track since joining the Cup Series full time in 2014.
The 2022 Daytona 500 polesitter has an average finish of 22nd in his career at Daytona and hasn’t earned a top-10 finish in the 500-mile race since 2021.
He has a best finish of seventh in the 500 (2016, 2019).
Ryan Blaney (10 starts)
Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney has 10 previous starts in the Daytona 500, with a best finish of second (twice, 2017 & 2020).
The 2023 Cup Series champion earned a win in the 400-mile July race at Daytona in 2021 and has an average finish of 17.2 in the Great American Race.
With Ford’s success at superspeedway tracks of late, Blaney may be in line to finally break through.
Chase Elliott (9 starts)
NASCAR’s most popular driver eyes his 10th Daytona 500 start to be a winning one. Chase Elliott’s best finish in the Great 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 an average finish of 18.3.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver is arguably the man with the most momentum on his side as he won the Clash at North Carolina’s Bowman Gray Stadium two weeks ago.
Perhaps history will repeat itself this year as Elliott’s father, Bill Elliott, won the exhibition Clash event in 1987 (at Daytona) and followed it up with a victory in the Daytona 500.
Other Notable Drivers
A.J. Allmendinger (11 starts, best finish of third in 2009 & 2017)
Chris Buescher (nine starts, best finish of third in 2020)
Alex Bowman (eight starts, best finish of second in 2024)
Erik Jones (eight starts, best finish of third in 2019)
Ty Dillon (eight starts, best finish of sixth in 2019)
Bubba Wallace (seven starts, best finish of second in 2018 & 2022)
Daniel Suárez (seven starts, best finish of seventh in 2023)
Tyler Reddick (six starts, best finish of 27th in 2019 & 2021)
Ross Chastain (six starts, best finish of seventh in 2021)
Christopher Bell (five starts, best finish of third in 2023 & 2024)
Ryan Preece (five starts, best finish of sixth in 2021)
