The Ultimate Daytona 500 Tier List

The Daytona 500 is the most viewed race on the NASCAR schedule every year, but what makes it good vs bad? Today, I've ranked EVERY Daytona 500 by considering all possible factors; crashes, finishes, the quality of racing, etc. What has been your favorite 500 of the ones you've watched?
In this video we will be going from 2000 to 2023. If this video is successful, there may be a part 2 with pre-2000. After seeing a video from nascarman showing off each command every year, I decided to include them in here!
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Race by year
2000- 0:43
2001- 2:11
2002- 3:33
2003- 4:17
2004- 5:00
2005- 5:43
2006- 6:40
2007- 7:07
2008- 7:42
2009- 8:34
2010- 9:14
2011- 10:08
2012- 11:26
2013- 12:52
2014- 13:31
2015- 14:27
2016- 15:17
2017- 15:41
2018- 16:28
2019- 17:44
2020- 18:32
2021- 19:31
2022- 20:24
2023- 21:05
Video concept and thumbnail inspired by Set the Edge
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Credits: NASCAR, NASCAR on NBC, NASCAR on FOX, Motorsports on NBC, NascarAllOut, nascarman History, BURGER KING, yacinemomo, Meme Page, Black Flags Matter, and eazyone83.

[@run045]

The booth with Mike Joy, Larry Mac, & DW. Is the most memorable commentary. The booth felt ripe with emotion.

[@PhantomTrap26]

Yea

[@Jordym9288]

I remember watching races with them in the booth and they would get me so incredibly hyped. So sad what the fox booth is now.

[@tharandomjok3408]

The Daytona 500, good or not, is most of the time memorable, unless you're the 2000 one.

[@RawGator]

so true

[@Tobytony65]

Yep

[@bungieman2810]

Don't forget 2013

[@tharandomjok3408]

@@bungieman2810 I did, lol

[@Tobytony65]

@@tharandomjok3408 and 2021

[@raptorhardmind6186]

A tier for 2023, no commercials here in Brazil, but not in S tier since Kyle didn't Win.

[@Homeless_Pigeon_History]

Your so lucky to not get commercials

[@michigan__railfan]

Bro you lucky as hell for no commercials, I REALLY hope Busch can finish it off next year

[@dantheboss998]

In Romania is also wtih no commercials

[@MasterChris3606]

No commercials on UK Television either. Kinda wonder how bad they really are on US TV's

[@that_one_black_dude69]

@@MasterChris3606 you got no idea

[@Darius.Aviation]

This year's daytona 500 was the commercial 500 tbh💀

[@RadRoy42]

They probably played 500 of them😑

[@bracelety]

“AND BURGER KING WINS THE COMMERCIAL 500, ON YOUR TV!”

[@Darius.Aviation]

It's always a good day when rawgator uploads

[@RawGator]

it's always a good day when you watch these uploads

[@Darius.Aviation]

​@@RawGator lol

[@chasebriscoefan14]

I agree

[@usaa9999]

True

[@KadenOliver5952]

A fact about the 2011 Daytona 500 is that the drivers could talk to each other on the radio during the race and that is how some drivers paired together.

[@Isaac_Arango]

They were in a videogame league using Discord😂

[@cjsnascarrecaps9429]

DW: “ let’s go racing you bunch of hotdogs”

[@SAVINGEZRA]

The 2007 Daytona 500 was the very first NASCAR race I ever watched. I remember my dad and I watching together and seeing the finish and looked we looked at each other like “if this is NASCAR, we’re watching for the rest of our lives.” It’s what got me into not just NASCAR, but motorsports in general. When anyone asks me what got me into racing, I point to the 2007 Daytona 500 and that whole NASCAR season in general. Ever since then I haven’t stopped watching. And while some races and Daytona 500s since have been disappointing, I’ve come to appreciate the special moments. But man that finish with Kevin Harvick and Mark Martin with the huge crash behind them and Clint Bowyer crossing the finish line on his roof, I will NEVER forget that. The only thing I regret is not being there in person for it. The ONE Daytona 500 I finally got to go to was 2020, and well we all know how that went. I feel like it’s a hit or miss when it comes to rained out races. Hopefully one day I’ll go to a Daytona 500 that isn’t rained out.

[@stopmotionisthebestofmotio1550]

I started watching around 2011, but I really wish I watched the 2007 one live. That race just seemed perfect especially the finish with two cars side by side and cameras flashing as the field wrecks behind them.

[@DaytonaPrototypes]

It was epic. I've seen most of them since 2001 and its still my favorite by far. 2005 was good too.

[@moparyota]

It was my first 500 in person. I’ll never forget that Jack Daniels 07 on its lid.

[@nicks1169]

It was awesome to watch. 24 now but watched it when I was 8.

[@demonracer2]

Still waiting for the day we get a clear shot of 15:02 . There was one time I saw the shot from the old grandstand Larson’s huge hit on the inside wall on race hub in a crash reel highlight a few years later but never again since then and it’s been almost eight years

[@ChasingChampionships]

Call 7 year old me an asshole but I laughed my ass off when Montoya hit the jet dryer

[@Pen2ke]

2011, 2012 and 2019 are CRIMINALLY LOW.

[@ryandoherty5808]

15:24 - 15:29 Lightning Mqueen delivered the command

[@moparyota]

Weird question, but why so much emphasis on the grand marshal/starting commands? Never seen anyone really talk about it or care all that much. Kinda distracting from the rest of the video.

[@Jake_Innes]

2022 I think was really good because 1. It was my first time experiencing a Daytona 500 and 2. With all of the concerns about the parts shortages with the next gen on how it would race, I thought we got a good surprise on the product for the Daytona 500 because nobody back off and went single file most of the race. It was like the 2022 Coke Zero 400 without the huge wrecks that wiped out everyone

[@teddyobrien4801]

2005 deserves to be S tier

[@MasterChris3606]

The 2019 Daytona 500 was my first ever NASCAR race I seen live on TV so it'll always be the most memorable Daytona 500 for me. That was the race I became a fan of Hamlin and JGR.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Wow and I remember seeing it live too.

[@TJ_youtube]

I remember being there

[@blobert62]

Man I just want Kyle to win one. You have no idea how upset I was when Suarez spun out this year.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

No

[@r3dn3ck774c]

I think ranking all 65 would be awesome lol

[@softwave1662]

If it weren't for tragedy the 2001 Daytona 500 would be S-tier for me as, racing-wise, it's to me the most exciting race, combined with a great telecast, an amazing package, and a first time winner. The loss of Dale Earnhardt takes it down to F tier though.

[@liamgriffin218]

Confession time: The 2020 Daytona 500 was the first race I purposefully sat down and watched start to finish. I didn't have a favourite driver so I just random chose the 6 of Newman to root for... let's just say there's a reason I don't take my vacations in Vegas

[@tomashernandez3076]

12:28 Cheers to Franco for calling out Danica and the clear danger she posed behind the wheel

[@Colonel_Sanders_]

“They turned nascar Winston cup racing and made it some of the sorriest racing”. God imagine what he would think of nascar in its current state

[@DennyDeliversYT]

the Daytona 500s that Denny Hamlin wins is W. every other race he doesn’t win is mid.

[@user-ed1yx2fq7l]

You’re putting way too much weight on the command to start engines it’s not even important to a race

[@easiazyy]

He's joking lmfao

[@Breadering-kl9gk]

Naw it is the most IMPORTANT part of a race

[@stephenpuglisi2946]

W. I agree with pretty much everything. My favorite is 2005...because, I kid you not, it was the first race i ever attended...as a 9 year old die hard Gordon fan...and he made the winning pass directly in front of me, overtaking my least favorite driver at the time (Earnhardt Jr., more because of his fans than anything else) To say that it was an absolutely surreal experience would be an understatement. I could never bring myself to go to another race he was in because I knew it could never be topped

[@RetroRacer48]

Rip Johnson and Kyle busch should have won

[@Dougie1969]

So every start command played except President Trump???? What gives ?

[@Anth0nyAndersonn]

i think you should do a talladega version

[@athleticgeek8997]

Why the sort of ehh reaction to Wars Burton winning? I know Ward wasn’t a super popular driver but part of the mystique of the Daytona 500 is underdog wins & legends missing this one from their trophy case. I love that Ward won in 02

[@Stux_28]

As a Byron fan, I can conform that Daytona will be his akelius heel

[@racerlord2329]

I hope 2024 might be the lucky year but it probably won’t be

[@envix133]

Achilles?

[@julessaviour5931]

Akelius?

[@aangoz5041]

“Jeff Gordon’s replacement” LMAO

[@PaperBanjo64]

Poor Chase😢

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

3:08 Darrel celebrating his brother's first win but looking back with grave concern about Earnhardt's crash. 2002 was also a BS finish when the field on the restart with a few laps to go gapped the leader Jeff Gordon so the Sterling could make a run on him. Thank God Sterling f'd his car up. The top 500's will always be Richard Petty winning his 200th with Reagan watching, seeing Jeff Gordon hold off the field from going a lap down to win, and both Earnhardt's first win.

[@Videofinder09]

2007 500 is my most favorite 500 of all time I always rewatch it from the dvd at my me,me’s but I forgot the name of the dvd don’t judge by my siblings call our grandma that because it makes her feel old even though she’s 65😂😂😂

[@rjartrup1930]

“He got to race with machine guns” 😂😂😂 I was like wait that’s transformers 😂

[@nikkigeiger6403]

18:24 William took it personally for the 2024 Daytona 500

[@markymarc12]

2020 was the most hyped up I've seen (I've been watching NASCAR since the 2004 Daytona 500). And seeing President Trump and his motorcade drive around on the track made it super!

[@kramnull8962]

There was something overwhelming hearing in 2016 that Trump had a car in the field. Not sure on all the details, just remembered them talking about it before the race. Also why I hate going to bars to see a race. Cannot ever hear the important things most often.

[@nitroxylictv]

Trumps entrance, the massive wreck and the decent competition was what we needed during the covid ordeal. I think 2020 at least deserves A tier.

[@dylankane7665]

William Byron’s luck came back for ‘24

[@JohnSmith-mk5jt]

I knew I wasn't the only one who thought the 2004 Daytona 500 was mid lol

[@nascarandrc8296]

Nope 98 04 14 are the best

[@JohnSmith-mk5jt]

@@nascarandrc8296 Hey, I know you. Formerly RC RACER 88?

[@Ktaurus26]

Only because redneck Jesus won. It was terrible imo.

[@nascarandrc8296]

@@Ktaurus26 nope it was great

[@rockingchair3458]

I’m biased because it’s my favorite, but I would put 2010 in s tier. The racing was really good. The red flag was really good, and the track coming apart is iconic. Also, Scott Speed actually led some laps, when everyone doubted him

[@jaydenmielke4371]

I was at the 2014 500. My dad and I just slept in our car for 6 hours waiting for the race to resume. Such a great race after the delay. Dale Jr dominated the last third of the race. A tier worthy.

[@IAmVeryVenus]

You should rank the playoffs from when the format started to this year. And rank each race in a individual rank. So like 2018 has its own rank for its playoff races. Also do one on just seasons. Rank all the races in each season 2000 to 2022 that would be cool

[@elijah2119]

2014 is my personal favorite, I remember 11 year old me told my parents two weeks before the 500 started that Dale Jr was gonna win it all. I’m a Dale fan so you can imagine the jubilation I had when he crossed the line to win the race and my parents in utter shock that I predicted the race.

[@nascarandrc8296]

I was at the 2014 Daytona 500 and I'm also a Dale jr fan

[@mukundsadasivan6872]

I subbed to you

[@NickyvMLP]

The only good thing about the 2000 Daytona 500 was Johnny Benson Jr finally having a good run, but with an underfunded team.

[@kylebusch4528]

2022 is underrated and should be in A imo

[@nuckekoregaming]

I was so happy for Jimmie's return wished he could've finished

[@djbrown5012]

The 2021 Daytona 500 should be in C tier. The "big one" early on was exciting and the finish was super memorable. The single- file racing gets boring but an underdog win is always great. I think it's also neat thet 2001, 2011 and 2021 all had underdog winners (setting aside '22 and '23) This may even make it to B tier but the lack of excitement throughout the race wouldn't quite get it.

[@MrLolx2u]

2013 ONLY had one notable event and that's just one meme of a century... "Danica Patrick, pole". Imagine being in F1 back in 2021 and you hear "Nikita Mazepin! POLE POSITION!" kinda shocking.

[@PhantomTrap26]

Waltrip's win reminds me of stendhouse wining the 500 after 6 years of racing

[@haydenrivers4363]

I watched a quarter of the 2023, The commentary people are like "Why are we still in pace car formation??? i wanna see some action!" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jimmygrimm2679]

If I may I want to share a personal story in this comment. I can still remember the events of the 2001 500 as I was about 3 and a half (not quite old enought for full convos but I could repeat what I had heard), it had come the end of the race last lap, Dale got turned. My grandpa (papa) being diehard Earnhardt was mad obviously. When Darrel Waltrip said "How about Dale is he okay?" The look in papa's eyes gave me that uneasy feeling. Papa had watched all the races almost since he could, and had seen everything so I knew a legend on commentary seeing another legend not out of the car yet meant something. When Darrel said "I guess he's allright isn't he?" I watched a tear roll down my grandpa's face. I knew then something was going on. When they broke the news later in the day my whole family was in tears because Dale meant so much to our family. Making it to stardom from nothing in a small town. It felt like losing a family member. Just to add on. I will never forget this until my dying breath when they announced Dale had passed, the cry out my grandpa let go. My grandpa was the one who could never show emotion to that extent but he could not hold it back on that day. When they announced that we lost Dale Earnhardt my grandpa had to leave the room, I looked at him when he came back and asked " What do they mean we lost Dale papa?" He just held me. He told me "Bub you won't understand now but one day you will" I have held onto that every day since then. People think it's dumbasses driving in circles. To alot of us they are apart of our lives. They would understand what we do to make ends meet. They start to feel like family after a point... Just something that I figured was worth sharing, if you made it to the end. Thank you. Please live well

[@kramnull8962]

I've not really heard of anyone playing a race pool after that.

[@thecoxsays1]

12:15 can’t really fault the Woods for that command, it was actually supposed to be Kate Upton before the race got pushed to Monday

[@GuesterYTMotorsports]

7:29 you gotta love D.W

[@AM19NI]

Here after 2024, Byron has luck now I guess

[@PaxtonCooperMotorsports]

Where’s the one that Kevin James did the call

[@imr991]

That was the 2007 Pepsi 400.

[@CCSRacing1808]

Back in my day, FOX had good NASCAR coverage

[@nebular7100]

the 2001 would've went god mode if dale and mikey had a photo finish

[@kramnull8962]

All in all Dale just put the #3 in the wall.

[@maximusmeridius3519]

Honestly I wouldn't put the 2001 on a list, it's honestly just too tragic

[@officialAtticusDuty]

Gentlemen, start your engines - A very mean George Bush

[@parkerwalsh3340]

The more I watched, the more I realized Byron has no luck at the 500 lol

[@joshdrumheller4920]

Can't stand Hamlin. He has let those 3 Daytona 500 wins eat his ego aluve.

[@sirpapps]

idk why but CHOO CHOO TRAIN RACING killed me

[@a_goblue2023]

2024 Daytona 500 was S tier minus the ending

[@AddictedToPrime]

2005 start ur engines WAS 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@haydenrivers4363]

It's said that to thi day, byron hasn't bought a single brake.

[@MVRowner]

Welcome back, missed watching your content.

[@Videofinder09]

Btw I love the 2023 500 just let fox be fox ☠️☠️☠️

[@wyattconn5386]

2023 should have been S tier, because I was there

[@GravePrower_VT]

2001 is either F or D Mainly cause of tho Goat’s death But you also have Waltrip’s win and DEI being top 3 that counteracts it

[@AndThenThereWasBeanus]

I was at the 2020 Daytona 500, and I got a front-row view of Newman's horrifying crash. Besides that, I wish people would at least notice the finish. Too bad Hamlin had to win another instead of Blaney winning his first. I'd change the 2000 race from F tier to the Shadow Realm.

[@michigan__railfan]

1000nth view!!!!!!!

[@loganb.1984]

I guess I’m a Hamlin fan, but 2020 was an easy A tier

[@felipehartmann5083]

Not a Hamlin fan, but I agree with you, 2020 is a very underrated race, it deserves more than a B tier

[@Huge_pato_oward_fan]

You should do this again but with Indy 500’s

[@Athleticduck]

Blaney deserves to win a Daytona 500 more than any one

[@kyle57688]

The amount of last lap crashes KB has been in while in the top 5 is ridiculous

[@PoweroftheP00f]

I'm so glad there is a forum to discuss how excellent Matthew McConaughey's command to start was in 2005. It runs through my mind all the time. Golden Standard imo.

[@racerlord2329]

Can we get a F in the chat for this race being the bane of Byron existance

[@copocopocopocopo]

The 2010 Daytona 500 was actually the first ever NASCAR race I attended. I CERTAINLY enjoyed it!

[@titanicgaming1148]

2010 will always be my favorite season. Jamie McMurray had a great season.

[@BocoProductions189]

now call me sterotypical.... but the 2001 shouldve been F... I'm sure anyone with a brain and is in the fan community for nascar would understand why

[@railfanwithrailwaylex8768]

9:41 imagine jimmie driving that car to win

[@kura00skyline48]

I always thought 2006 was so underrated from watching it back then. From being so overcast to where it should be the Misty 500 (Lol) sure you had the field spread out a little bit, but when it came down to late in the race that's when the racing really picked up at crunch time and the first 500 to end at night. I would've had it in mid B tier, but that's just me.

[@Be.authentic_]

The 2001 and 2002 races were in fact NOT similar. 2001 had 49 lead changes and it was easier to pass the leader get runs and run side by side vs 2002. Also the middle lane did not work as it did in 2001. The only way to really pass was on restarts in 2002. Been a fan since 1999 and I saw both those races and if the big one doesn't happen or sterling getting out his car the race was very similar to the 2000 package more than anything even if it wasn't as single file as 2000 race was. Just too hard to pass the leader in 2002.

[@ryanscott717]

"Drivers and Danica" LOL

[@Walker_41279]

International Broadcast for the 2023 Daytona 500 was great, not that many almost none commercials unless there was a Caution. A-Tier Race for me. Not S since Rowdy didn't won it.

[@billfeld5883]

@about 5:45 fox has nothing to do with the race!!! The driver is the main person in auto racing!!! And they have control over just one steering wheel!!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@aidanw9378]

I love how Franco said 'drivers and Danica' as if she isn't a driver.

[@dxrkfire22]

Love your videos

[@masonmoriarty2788]

no WAY bro gave 2019 a C

[@tarakoch5977]

2007 was my favorie

[@cameronbowshlagger2722]

Carl was my Favorite driver too. Really was Gordon at first bc of my Dad. Then switched to Roush as a whole and developed into just Carl. Suarez has been a frustrating replacement as a new favorite driver for me, but I still like him. Fitting he hopped in the 19, then bounced all the way around to the 99 and seems to be finding a great fit in at Trackhouse.

[@BigBennyBoy]

Do the Pepsi 400s and Coke Zero Sugar 400s next please!

[@nascardrawings7700]

There’s something about that 2017 finish that just makes it the best one. The remaining 15 or so cars in the lead pack went single file with 20 laps to go. They stayed that way for 17 LAPS until chase ran out of gas. The suspense during those 17 laps was insane. You could not take your eyes off the screen because you were waiting to see who had the guts to pull out of line. The 24 coughed and then it was on. Larson, Busch and Truex were diving and dodging around the track for that win. And there wasn’t any race ending heartbreaking crashes at the very end to ruin anyone’s day. It was all down to skill. It’s my favorite race to watch.

[@Tomsbananacakes]

19:30 2021 really sucked for me because it was also the same day my gf dumped me and it just so happened to be on valentine's day :/

[@drumline17]

Those early/mid-2000s races...man, where did nascar go wrong?

[@codyC423]

Jeff Gordon's 2000 Daytona 500 car looked really slick

[@douglashayes3167]

I watched the 2023 for about 8-10 minutes... the 27 seconds of racing I seen still sucked....

[@ArianaEstefania]

Do it with talladega too

[@Adamwinters]

@14:39 Bruce Buffer or Michael “Let’s Get Ready 2 Rumble” Buffer?

[@resyrum5301]

You did not just call Ward Burton mid

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Yes he's mid