Daytona 500
Top photos from the 2021 Daytona 500
USA TODAY
![Michael McDowell celebrates winning the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/ce31abf7-519b-4f8e-b67e-dbe4278dbe0d-USATSI_15576879.jpg?crop=4485,2892,x0,y0&width=660&height=426&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Michael McDowell celebrates winning the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Michael McDowell celebrates winning the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/82b442a9-d2b6-4ae9-b266-3be91bd26ee6-USATSI_15576844.jpg?crop=4212,2808,x0,y0&width=660&height=440&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Michael McDowell celebrates winning the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Michael McDowell (34) celebrates winning the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/aa51428f-3930-4f0d-8c4e-47dd755c04df-USATSI_15576839.jpg?crop=5163,3442,x0,y0&width=660&height=440&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Michael McDowell (34) celebrates winning the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Michael McDowell (34) leads Chase Elliot (9) to win the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/cac400f8-3bc7-44bb-b6eb-69805efe2808-USATSI_15576835.jpg?crop=3977,2651,x0,y0&width=660&height=440&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Michael McDowell (34) leads Chase Elliot (9) to win the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Brad Keselowski (2), Kyle Busch (18) and Austin Cindric (33) wreck during the final lap of the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/c8ef640f-3628-4256-9869-8212c1b9de45-USATSI_15576831.jpg?crop=2529,1411,x0,y0&width=660&height=369&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Brad Keselowski (2), Kyle Busch (18) and Austin Cindric (33) wreck during the final lap of the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Brad Keselowski (2), Kyle Busch (18), Joey Logano (22), Brad Keselowski (2) and Austin Cindric (33) wreck during the final lap of the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/6c46378f-dc44-4316-a7a3-05b66f8f1b67-USATSI_15576828.jpg?crop=3799,1566,x0,y480&width=660&height=273&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Brad Keselowski (2), Kyle Busch (18), Joey Logano (22), Brad Keselowski (2) and Austin Cindric (33) wreck during the final lap of the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Kyle Busch (18), Brad Keselowski (2) and Austin Cindric (33) wreck during the final lap of the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/c7d2bd9d-3358-4511-b64a-ea9be418fd47-USATSI_15576829.jpg?crop=2219,1165,x0,y43&width=660&height=347&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Kyle Busch (18), Brad Keselowski (2) and Austin Cindric (33) wreck during the final lap of the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Brad Keselowski (2), Kyle Busch (18), Joey Logano (22), Brad Keselowski (2) and Austin Cindric (33) wreck during the final lap of the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/079d2215-713e-4daf-ade2-23405deb899a-USATSI_15576827.jpg?crop=2999,1712,x0,y150&width=660&height=377&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Brad Keselowski (2), Kyle Busch (18), Joey Logano (22), Brad Keselowski (2) and Austin Cindric (33) wreck during the final lap of the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![The field drives past the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/f52d22df-120a-435e-a81e-70406f4de209-USATSI_15576785.jpg?crop=5138,3168,x0,y257&width=660&height=407&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The field drives past the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Kaz Grala (16) has a fire in his car during the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/8b96b846-d46b-49b9-956b-f239b0c7d157-USATSI_15576748.jpg?crop=4983,3322,x0,y0&width=660&height=441&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Kaz Grala (16) has a fire in his car during the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Austin Dillion (3), Cole Custer (41) and Kyle Larson (5) pit during the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/f4bcf506-3c16-458e-a408-e83d09aaaa3d-USATSI_15576739.jpg?crop=4554,2342,x0,y436&width=660&height=340&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Austin Dillion (3), Cole Custer (41) and Kyle Larson (5) pit during the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Christopher Bell (20) is turned sideways during the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/06e88b13-f55d-429d-8186-940388f91261-USATSI_15576721.jpg?crop=2066,1377,x0,y0&width=660&height=440&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Christopher Bell (20) is turned sideways during the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Austin Cindric (33) leads the field during the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/48e6952f-412c-4bd0-8903-3dbe2ba7e23e-USATSI_15576623.jpg?crop=3352,2235,x0,y0&width=660&height=441&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Austin Cindric (33) leads the field during the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![The field drives in the fog during the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/d2b4f895-77ae-4fc1-84cb-44157c040ee5-USATSI_15576625.jpg?crop=4169,2389,x0,y390&width=660&height=379&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The field drives in the fog during the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Fog covers the track during the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/2837452d-e4d6-4eec-875f-324dbaf2cfc5-USATSI_15576596.jpg?crop=4755,2332,x0,y838&width=660&height=324&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fog covers the track during the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Denny Hamlin (11) leads the field during the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/a4006a3c-1c9d-4fb6-98e5-40546b9ae1da-USATSI_15576462.jpg?crop=5148,3432,x0,y0&width=660&height=440&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Denny Hamlin (11) leads the field during the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Chase Elliot (9) and Austin Dillion (3) lead the restart of the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/a1e4bb7a-6e91-41e2-859d-d815bf6456d9-USATSI_15576413.jpg?crop=3860,2574,x0,y0&width=660&height=441&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Chase Elliot (9) and Austin Dillion (3) lead the restart of the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![The pace car leads the field in a caution lap during the Daytona 500 restart after a lengthy weather delay.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/4d280d4d-95e8-43e7-a04e-ddb1f0b54163-USATSI_15576375.jpg?crop=3998,2413,x0,y96&width=660&height=399&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The pace car leads the field in a caution lap during the Daytona 500 restart after a lengthy weather delay.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Fans wait for restart of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/15/USAT/a45cf623-f22f-4c9c-88f0-c57824412ef5-USATSI_15576354.jpg?crop=4311,2649,x0,y0&width=660&height=406&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans wait for restart of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports![Race fans seek shelter during a rain delay at the NASCAR Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/c90193e0-12a4-4fbf-85a8-607a1e21f4a5-AP_NASCAR_Daytona_500_Auto_Racing_4.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Race fans seek shelter during a rain delay at the NASCAR Daytona 500.
John Raoux-AP![NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ryan Newman (6), Erik Jones (43), Tyler Reddick (8), Martin Truex Jr. (19), Aric Almirola (10) and Alex Bowman (48) wreck during the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/00acdf4e-2cea-4369-943d-6aa017aca5f5-USATSI_15575081.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ryan Newman (6), Erik Jones (43), Tyler Reddick (8), Martin Truex Jr. (19), Aric Almirola (10) and Alex Bowman (48) wreck during the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports![NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ryan Newman (6), Erik Jones (43), William Byron (24) Tyler Reddick (8), Martin Truex Jr. (19), Aric Almirola (10) and Chris Buescher (17) wreck during the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/3a6e1e62-5205-4f21-9555-1cd1abf6d4ca-USATSI_15575114.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ryan Newman (6), Erik Jones (43), William Byron (24) Tyler Reddick (8), Martin Truex Jr. (19), Aric Almirola (10) and Chris Buescher (17) wreck during the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports![NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ryan Newman (6), Erik Jones (43), William Byron (24) Tyler Reddick (8), Martin Truex Jr. (19), Aric Almirola (10) and Chris Buescher (17) wreck during the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/9d258bfe-0789-4b3f-9dfc-b2ccedfc0c56-USATSI_15575111.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ryan Newman (6), Erik Jones (43), William Byron (24) Tyler Reddick (8), Martin Truex Jr. (19), Aric Almirola (10) and Chris Buescher (17) wreck during the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports![Corey LaJoie (7), Matt DiBenedetto (21) and Kurt Busch (1) race during the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/ed597731-b119-40c7-93a5-aa51d6819678-GTY_1302154637.jpg?width=660&height=473&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Corey LaJoie (7), Matt DiBenedetto (21) and Kurt Busch (1) race during the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500.
Jared C. Tilton-Getty Images![Fans hold up three fingers on the third lap of the Daytona 500 to honor Dale Earnhardt, who died 20 years ago today.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/66e6c578-3aff-4b08-a7af-02205dfa9f78-USATSI_15575164.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans hold up three fingers on the third lap of the Daytona 500 to honor Dale Earnhardt, who died 20 years ago today.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports![Fans hold up three fingers during a lap three tribute honoring the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr. during the NASCAR Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/b83c3e3e-e1ba-41c7-9b25-eb67bfc318cb-AP_NASCAR_Daytona_500_Auto_Racing_2.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans hold up three fingers during a lap three tribute honoring the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr. during the NASCAR Daytona 500.
Chris O'Meara-AP![Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/92d6e70b-6def-4007-a4ff-3bb7208f287e-GTY_1302159201.jpg?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500.
Chris Graythen-Getty Images![The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds do a flyover before the NASCAR Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/11b1e4d6-6409-4ed4-b24b-74c6f52ac882-AP_NASCAR_Daytona_500_Auto_Racing_1.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds do a flyover before the NASCAR Daytona 500.
Chris O'Meara-AP![A US Ari Force Thunderbird takes off for a national anthem fly over before the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/af7868dd-a8b9-44ea-8ccc-1591792b84f2-USATSI_15574910.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A US Ari Force Thunderbird takes off for a national anthem fly over before the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports![Singer Pitbull gives the command to start engine prior to during the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/8d9c0363-ff99-4f31-be46-a87ba3ff103c-GTY_1302151115.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Singer Pitbull gives the command to start engine prior to during the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500.
Chris Graythen-Getty Images![Alex Bowman prepares for the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/9e814a5b-941c-4b3a-9886-2a73a0a725d8-GTY_1302159569.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Alex Bowman prepares for the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500.
Chris Graythen-Getty Images![The pit crew of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet display a #3 sign in tribute of Dale Earnhardt prior to NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/c10283f6-e2d1-4a17-9a6e-4b0859f10287-GTY_1302159557.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The pit crew of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet display a #3 sign in tribute of Dale Earnhardt prior to NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500.
Brian Lawdermilk-Getty Images![Fans wait for the start of the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/3bf83ee2-139a-4cd1-90f8-559c0b5fb502-USATSI_15574944.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans wait for the start of the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports![A flower was placed near the Dale Earnhardt, Sr. statue before the NASCAR Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt, Sr., the all-time winner at Daytona, was killed in a fatal car crash at the speedway 20-years ago today.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/f69b1b9e-fc0c-4977-9bc8-4f9384262818-AP_NASCAR_Daytona_500_Auto_Racing.jpg?crop=3659,5485,x0,y0&width=441&height=660&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A flower was placed near the Dale Earnhardt, Sr. statue before the NASCAR Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt, Sr., the all-time winner at Daytona, was killed in a fatal car crash at the speedway 20-years ago today.
Chris O'Meara-AP![Martin Truex Jr. points to fans during driver introductions before the Daytona 500 .](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/4ebf3864-1fbd-4a6d-9361-d414711c60e9-USATSI_15574867.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Martin Truex Jr. points to fans during driver introductions before the Daytona 500 .
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports![Fans waiting in line to buy NASCAR merchandise before the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/5f387b5d-d999-4ba9-ad08-d170cb1fde79-USATSI_15574809.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans waiting in line to buy NASCAR merchandise before the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports![Fans enter Daytona International Speedway before the Daytona 500.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/822ce79c-9023-4b56-a634-5e8dedc8f981-USATSI_15574805.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans enter Daytona International Speedway before the Daytona 500.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports![Fans go through security check while entering Daytona International Speedway.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2021/02/14/USAT/670ab4f3-bf1d-453c-9d80-5b8de0728b1d-USATSI_15574806.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Fans go through security check while entering Daytona International Speedway.
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