The Daytona 500 can set a driver’s legacy when their career is all said and done. While many great stories have been made in this race and also many great drivers have made their mark there are some moments that we can all think “what if” on. So with that this is 10 Daytona 500 what if moments.
My Twitter
My Instagram:
Video Credits:
ABC Sports
CBS Sports
CrashRacing2
CrossFire43
Dave W
ESPN
FOX Sports
jinjabradman46
Michael McIntyre
Motorsports on NBC
MRN
NASCAR
NASCAR on FOX
NASCAR Productions
NascarAllOut
nascargavin8
NBC Sports
Turner Sports
White Bat Audio
666Matys666
Thumbnail Credits:
Getty Images
Mark J. Rebilas
NASCAR
NASCAR Images
Outro Song:
Strange Animal (Crowder Remix) by Gowan
Songs:
Synthwave / Chill Synth / Retrowave Mix – Skykline // Royalty Free No Copyright Background Music uploaded by White Bat Audio
#NASCAR #Motorsports #Racing
33 comments
0:23: 2020 (#10)
1:20: 2016 (#9)
1:57: 2011 (#8)
2:55: 2010 (#7)
3:55: 2008 (#6)
4:42: 2002 (#5)
5:36: 1998 (#4)
6:40: 1990 (#3)
7:30: 1979 (#2)
8:37: 1959 (#1)
Wow. Kinda surprised Sadler 09 wasn’t on here. One lap short of being up front when the final red flag was out
I think it would’ve been cool if the 1979 Daytona 500 came down to Cale and Bobby slamming each other heading into the tri oval instead of the back stretch. Maybe Cale or Bobby would win the race.
Donnie*
I find your lack of Mark Martin disturbing.
@CraftyCritter / AshesUndying LMAO
@joshawott31 facts
2007 500 is the reason I clicked on this video
*Cough* Kyle Busch *Cough*
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
What if Dale never flipped in 1997?
Does he win?
Does Gordon still win?
Maybe Elliott?
Or maybe someone else?
I think Jeff still wins it cause he was determined to win the 500 with Rick battling leukemia.
What if Dale Sr wrecked earlier in the Daytona 500 in 2001 during a big one?
He prop would still be living
Let’s be real: the BIGGEST what-if is the 2001 Daytona 500, specifically the survival of Dale Earnhardt. Either he gets caught up in the Lap 173 Big One, or doesn’t try to block Sterling Marlin.
Either way, with Dale still alive, he’d have a TON of clout, and Brian France wouldn’t be able to get away with much of the crap he did in our timeline. The Chase/playoffs, stage racing, the Car of Tomorrow in its original state, the elimination of Rockingham, none of these would happen. And if they did, Dale would either organize a strike, or a CART/IRL-type split.
What if McDowell pushed Logano instead of Kyle Busch in the final lap of the 2019 Daytona 500…
What if Sterling Marlin didn’t burn a piston while leading the 1996 Daytona 500? Probably would’ve been the first person to win 3 Daytona 500s in a row.
I watched this documentary over the New Years. These legendary dirt racers had commented that Charley Griffith, dirt racing legend, should have won the Daytona 500 in 1959 if it was not for a scoring error. What if there was no scoring error on this case with Griffith? What if he won the first 500?
Robby Gordon nearly won the 2011 Daytona 500. Yes! Robby had one hell a run, being pushed by David Gilliland coming off turn 2 with 1 & 1/2 laps to go. Tony Stewart pulled a idiotic block resulting in Robby getting turned, nearly spinning out and loosing several spots. If Tony hasn’t done this, Robby would’ve took the lead going down the backstretch. Talk about what an “almost moment”
3:55 I remembered going to that race as a kid. One of the most painful moments to witness in person as a Tony Stewart fan
At least he won it as a car owner in 2017 with Kurt Busch after he retired
That and 2007 were the most painful
@ZACLAND21 I was there for that race too. More pain
@KJ Productions first race in a Ford for Stewart that year
@Holden McMillen that’s right
6:52 For one thing, Ken Squier doesn’t butcher the call of that finish.
What if the caution came out while Mark Martin was in the lead after the big one in 2007? What if Austin Dillon didn’t spin Almirola in turn 3 in 2018? And what if the top 2 in 1979 didn’t crash and raced side by side through the final turns to the checkered flag?
What if Petty slid the additional feet or was able to get his car started and 76?
I have two: one is a what-if scenario as to what if Dale Earnhardt never died in the crash in the Daytona 500 in 2001. As in, what if NASCAR had taken action on Adam Petty’s death and upped its safety that Dale survived the crash? The other is what if the caution flew in 2007 as soon as the wreck started?
6:22 This could be a bigger “what if” than you would think at first. Everyone knows that in the 2001 500 Dale was defending for his team rather than trying to actually win for himself, but if he didn’t have the ’98 500 win, maybe he would have been more aggressive, thus being further ahead of the main pack (maybe in 1st or 2nd) and not caught up in that crash.
One “what if” for me is what if the 2003 Daytona 500 ran to full distance? Would Waltrip still win? Would Jr get his lap back and be a contender?
Juan Montoya wrecking the jet dryer almost gave Dave Blaney the Daytona 500. It took an incredible effort to clean that up and get the race going again.
I was at T-Bayne’s 500 victory!!! That will still go down in my mind as the greatest upset in Daytona and NASCAR history