NASCAR
List of Daytona 500 Past Winners Looking to Repeat Glory in 2019
With the Daytona 500 less than 4 weeks away, let’s take a look at each of the past winners in the 61st running of The Great American Race. 8 drivers enter the season-opening race as a previous Daytona 500 champion. These past winners are a mix of some of the greatest active drivers, as well as some young stars. Will a 9th driver add their name to this list, or will winning experience prevail?
Jimmie Johnson
The only active driver with multiple Daytona 500 wins, 2-time past winner Jimmie Johnson is in a unique situation. Coming off of his first winless season ever, Johnson has a lot of new names on his team in 2019. Longtime crew chief Chad Knaus has been replaced by rookie Kevin Meendering. In addition, his 17-year sponsorship with Lowe’s Home Improvement has ended. Johnson has new support from Ally Financial. With all these changes, can the 48 return to glory in 2019?
Johnson’s Daytona 500 stats have been a mixed result of big wins and disappointments. Jimmie is a 2-time Daytona 500 winner, in 2006 and 2013. He has also been polesitter twice for this race. In the past 5 years however, Johnson only has 2 top 5s in the 500. Since 2017, he has yet to finish higher than 34th, due to being involved in crashes. Jimmie Johnson is always hit-or-miss at Daytona. If he can survive the calamity, he could add to his legendary career as a 3-time Daytona 500 winner.
Kevin Harvick
Though he only has 1 win in the Daytona 500, Kevin Harvick has been a very underrated plate racer in recent years. While the results may not show it, Harvick has been one of the strongest drivers in the Daytona 500. Since his win in 2007, Harvick has 5 top 5s, 2 runner ups, and 96 laps led in the 500 mile classic. However, Harvick has not finished the Daytona 500 since 2016. The last 2 years have seen the 4 car taken out in a crash. Harvick has shown his plate racing prowess, and if he can be in the right position, he will have a chance to win a second Daytona 500.
Ryan Newman
The poster boy for inconsistency on superspeedways, Ryan Newman will debut with a new team at the 2019 Daytona 500. The Indiana native will take over the Roush Fenway Racing 6 car. Since his 2008 Daytona 500 win, Newman has not had the best of luck in the 500. He only has 1 top 5 and 2 top 10s in his past 10 Daytona 500 starts. Newman is usually a victim of ‘The Big One’ at Daytona, despite his status as a Daytona 500 past winner. However, can his luck change with a new team?
Jamie McMurray
2010 Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray will make his final career start in the 2019 running of the Great American Race. The Missouri native will pilot the number 40 Chevrolet Camaro for Spire Motorsports, in cooperation with Chip Ganassi Racing. McMurray has been another hit-or-miss superspeedway racer, as he has not scored a top 10 in the Daytona 500 since his win. Jamie McMurray will try to end his carer on a high note, before moving into the NASCAR On Fox broadcast team.
Joey Logano
Perhaps the strongest active superspeedway racer, Joey Logano enters the 2019 Daytona 500 with tons of momentum. The 2018 Cup Series Champion won the season-opening race back in 2015, and has finished 6th or better in every year since. Along with his Penske teammates, expect Logano to be a strong favorite for a second Harley J. Earl Trophy.
Denny Hamlin
The winner of the closest Daytona 500 in history just 3 years ago, Denny Hamlin is also looking for a bounce back performance in 2019. In the 2 years since his win, Hamlin has 1 top 5, a 3rd place finish last year. He was also leading on the final restart in 2018, losing the lead late in the race. Hamlin is another strong plate racer, and he should have a great chance to win another Daytona 500 next month.
Kurt Busch
In his first start for Chip Ganassi Racing, Kurt Busch will look to win his second Daytona 500 in 3 years. Now behind the number 1 Camaro, the elder Busch brother has been a historically strong contender in the 500. Kurt has 1 win (2017), 6 top 5s, 8 top 10s, and 205 laps led in the Daytona 500. In his 18th start in this race, Kurt will look for his second win.
Austin Dillon
The defending Daytona 500 winner, Austin Dillon and the Richard Childress Racing 3 team come into 2019 with lots of pressure. Even with just 1 lap led in last year’s win, RCR is still expected to be a strong team in Daytona. Prior to last year, Dillon had 1 pole, 2 top 10s, and 9 laps led in the Daytona 500. The 3 car made history yet again in Daytona last year, can RCR repeat this glory? This team has produced 3 past winners of this race.
In the 60 year history of the Daytona 500, only 11 drivers are multi-time past winners. For 2019, 1 past winner is looking for their third Daytona 500 trophy, while 7 more drivers will be going for 2. 4 weeks remain until the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is underway, with The Great American Race. Despite this very accomplished list of past winners, many drivers are capable of scoring their first Daytona 500 victory. Be sure to stay tuned to TSJ101NASCAR for continued preseason coverage of all things NASCAR, as the countdown is on to Daytona.
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Photo Credit to Andy Todd via Flickr.
