No. 6: The 1997 Daytona 500

Winner: Jeff Gordon
Margin of victory: under caution

Why it's No. 6: Today, Gordon is the most famous driver in NASCAR. And his victory in the 1997 Daytona 500 -- at 25, he became the youngest person ever to win the race -- helped catapult him to that status.

Jeff Gordon won the 1997 Daytona 500.
©2007 Dorsey Patrick via Wieck
A 25-year-old Jeff Gordon showed the graybeards a thing
or two with his win in the 1997 Daytona 500.


The race ended under caution, but the action leading up to that point was electric -- Gordon and Bill Elliott waged a fierce battle for the lead. "It's an experience I'll never forget," Gordon said of the duel. "I got chill bumps."

Adding drama to the afternoon were the travails of Dale Earnhardt, Gordon's main NASCAR rival. Earnhardt crashed hard during the race, but when his car was hooked to a tow truck, he intervened and demanded that it be unhooked. Earnhardt then crawled inside, managed to get the mangled car started, and completed the race. That, at least, was a moral victory for the man known as "The Intimidator."

Here are the top-10 finishers in the 1997 Daytona 500:

Finish Driver
Car
Money Won
1 Jeff Gordon
 Chevrolet $337,410
2 Terry Labonte
 Chevrolet $194,925
3 Ricky Craven
 Chevrolet $155,625
4 Bill Elliott
 Ford $133,200
5 Sterling Marlin
 Chevrolet $121,080
6 Jeremy Mayfield
 Ford $100,355
7 Mark Martin
 Ford $105,515
8 Ward Burton
 Pontiac $82,390
9 Ricky Rudd
 Ford $88,590
10 Darrell Waltrip
 Chevrolet $78,840

For more information on NASCAR and on cars in general, check out:

  • To learn everything you need to know about "The Great American Race" -- from its history to the technical aspects of driving at Daytona International Speedway -- read How the Daytona 500 Works.
  • Toyota introduced its Camry to NASCAR in 2007. To learn about the history of this popular car, read How the Toyota Camry Works.
  • Ever wonder what makes a stock car go? Read How NASCAR Race Cars Work to find out.
  • Driver safety is a huge concern in NASCAR. Learn what measures the series takes in this area by reading How NASCAR Safety Works.
  • Muscle cars embody the NASCAR philosophy of speed and power. Here are features on more than 100 classic muscle cars, including photos and specifications for each model.