NASCAR
Can Ryan Blaney Join a Very Elite NASCAR Club?
In a recent interview on The Money Lap podcast, Ryan Blaney acknowledged a rare feat he has the chance to accomplish this week. “Winning the Daytona 500 back-to-back with the championship is a unique opportunity. That’s the dream deal, the ultimate mission.”
The list of defending NASCAR Cup Series champions who have also claimed the Harley J. Earl Trophy is a very exclusive class. The five drivers who have achieved both halves of this milestone are all Hall of Famers, representing some of NASCAR’s best ever. Here are the five men who have toppled both ends of this seemingly improbable endeavor.
Lee Petty – 1959
The first Daytona 500 was won by that year’s current Cup champion, Lee Petty. NASCAR’s first photo finish controversy, the Petty patriarch’s win was not official for three days. In the time being, the inaugural victory was awarded to Johnny Beauchamp. It took until a photo from the infield surfaced for Bill France to reverse this decision. 1959 would go on to be Petty’s third and final championship season.
Richard Petty – 1973
The next driver to summit this mountain was Lee Petty’s son, ‘The King’ Richard Petty. After claiming his fourth Cup title, the famed No. 43 also took its fourth victory in The Great American Race. His first season driving a Dodge, Petty went on to win five more times and finish fifth in points.
Cale Yarborough – 1977
In the midst of his three-straight titles in the late 1970s, Cale Yarborough also picked up a second Daytona 500 win. Competing for Junior Johnson & Associates, Yarborough won just about everything in the three year span from 1976-78. 1977 would be his second consecutive title on the strength of nine checkered flags.
Jeff Gordon – 1999
From one dynasty to another, late 1990s Jeff Gordon was the most prolific modern era driver and team. The Hendrick No. 24 Chevrolet practically won everything in 1998, picking up 13 victories. Gordon’s winning ways did not halt the next year, parking his Monte Carlo in Daytona 500 victory lane for the second time. Gordon ultimately did not claim the 1999 title, but Daytona was the first of seven wins for the Hendrick team.
Dale Jarrett – 2000
Only a year after Gordon’s double dip, Dale Jarrett also joined this prestigious list. The No. 88 Robert Yates Racing Ford stood tall as Cup champion in 1999, and was lights-out dominant in 2000 Speedweeks. The Ford Quality Care Taurus was up front for almost the entire race, starting on pole. This marked Jarrett’s third Daytona 500 win in eight years. Jarrett’s title defense season came up just short at fourth in points, with one more victory at Charlotte in the fall.
Next weekend, Ryan Blaney will have the chance to further cement his legacy among this coveted group of Hall of Famers. A Blaney Daytona 500 win is likely bound to happen eventually; the 12 has finished second in The Great American Race twice before (2017, 2020), has three Talladega wins, and one Daytona summer victory. Put simply, Ryan Blaney is one of the best on superspeedways today. Should he hoist the Harley J. Earl Trophy in victory lane on Sunday, a bit of rare history not seen in over two decades will help define this win.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Chris Graythen/Getty Images and Peter Stratta/TSJSports
