No. 3: The 1959 Daytona 500

Winner: Lee Petty
Margin of victory: 2 feet

Why it's No. 3: This was the first Daytona 500, and it was a dilly. Petty -- the patriarch of NASCAR's First Family -- sped toward the finish line in a side-by-side battle with Johnny Beauchamp, a hiccup finish made even more complicated by the fact that Joe Weatherly, two laps down, was wedged in beside the two leaders. The three cars crossed the finish line in a dead-heat blur.

Who won? Nobody knew. It was too close to call.

Bill France Sr. spent three days trying to figure out who won the 1989 Daytona 500.
©Ford Motorsports History via Wieck
Bill France Sr. [left] spent three days trying
to figure out who won the 1959 Daytona 500.


It took three days of studying still photos of the finish before NASCAR president Bill France Sr. finally proclaimed Petty the victor. Did he make the correct call? The debate continues to this day.

The controversial finish was good news for the fledgling sport. For three days, it kept NASCAR and the Daytona 500 on the front page of sports sections around the country. Stock car racing had never received so much publicity -- the Daytona 500 was on its way.

Here are the top-10 finishers in the 1959 Daytona 500:

Finish Driver
Car
Money Won
1 Lee Petty
 1959 Oldsmobile
 $19,050
2 Johnny Beauchamp
 1959 T-Bird
 $7,650
3 Charley Griffith
 1957 Pontiac
 $4,600
4 Cotton Owens
 1958 Pontiac
 $2,525
5 Joe Weatherly
 1959 Chevrolet
 $1,875
6 Jim Reed
 1959 Chevrolet
 $1,075
7 Jack Smith
 1959 Chevrolet
 $2,625
8 Tom Pistone
 1959 T-Bird
 $1,825
9 Tim Flock
 1959 T-Bird
 $800
10 Speedy Thompson
 1957 Chevrolet
 $600

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.
  • 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.