Where Did He Come from? Ten Surprise Winners of the Daytona 500
"Mama always said, 'Life's like a box of chocolates. You never know what ya gonna get.'"
The same could be said about the Daytona 500.
Restrictor plate races are some of the hardest races to predict a winner. There are usually some surprises thrown in at the end.
The Daytona 500 is so unpredictable that you could pull a name out of a hat, and it would be a decent pick.
Here are 10 drivers who shocked the world when they won "Great American Race."
1986: Geoff Bodine
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Bodine was a rising star when he won the Daytona 500 in 1986. Bodine was looking to climb into the upper echelon of drivers in the 80s.
Bodine's victory was surprising because it was only his fourth career victory. Bodine would go on to win 18 races in his NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now Sprint) with his last career victory coming in his home state at Watkins Glen.
Bodine is most remembered for his near fatal Truck Series accident at Daytona in 2000. Bodine was hit by Kurt Busch, causing the front of Bodine's truck to become airborne. Bodine struck the wall and flipped many times, tearing the body off and rupturing the fuel tank. Just the roll cage was left.
Two years later, he returned to Daytona with a third place finish in the Daytona 500.
1990: Derrike Cope
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The 1990 Daytona 500 could quite possibly be one of the biggest upsets in the history of NASCAR.
Dale Earnhardt was leading on the final lap when he ran over a piece of debris, cutting down his tire. Cope drove by and won the Daytona 500 for his first career win. Cope was so overjoyed that he got lost after winning the race.
Buddy Parrott: "He don't know where victory lane is."
Cope only found it one more time throughout his career.
Cope still races for underfunded teams.
1991: Ernie Irvan
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Ernie Irvan was another rising star before his career-defining victory.
Irvan only had one career victory before the 1991 Daytona 500.
Irvan proved to be a talented driver, totaling 15 victories in his career.
He also proved to have some terrible luck. In 1994, Irvan had a near fatal crash at Michigan International Speedway when one of his tires blew, sending him head-on into the wall at over 170 mph.
Irvan did return to win his final race at Michigan in 1997. But Michigan got the better of him when another practice crash in 1999 injured Irvan, forcing him to retire.
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1993: Dale Jarrett
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Dale Jarrett is the son of NASCAR legend Ned Jarrett. Dale was hoping to be just as successful as his father.
Jarrett surprised everyone when he won at Michigan in 1991. Jarrett defeated Davey Allison in a photo finish, filling in for the injured Neil Bonnett.
Jarrett shocked the world again in 1993 when he defeated Dale Earnhardt to win the Daytona 500. This was also NFL Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs' first win as an owner.
This race is commonly referred to as "The Dale and Dale Show." Ned Jarrett coined the term when he cheered on his son to win while in the broadcast booth. To this day it is one of the greatest calls of all time.
Jarrett had a very successful career, winning 32 races, along with the 1999 Winston Cup Championship. Jarrett won three Daytona 500 races (1993, 1996, 2000). Jarrett became the second driver to win the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same year.
Jarrett retired in 2008 and now is a commentator for ESPN.
1994: Sterling Marlin
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Marlin replaced Ernie Irvan in the No. 4 car in 1993.
Marlin was a virtual unknown when he won the Daytona 500. This was Marlin's first win in Winston Cup.
What's more surprising was Marlin's second career win also came in the Daytona 500 the very next year. This vaulted Marlin as a tough competitor on restrictor plate tracks. By the end of 1996, Marlin had six career victories.
Marlin went almost five years before his next victory, the first for Dodge since its return to NASCAR. Marlin was a championship contender for most of 2002 before a neck injury at Kansas sidelined him for the rest of the season.
This season started with Marlin's gaffe at the Daytona 500. Marlin was leading under a red flag with less than 10 laps to go when he got out of his car and started pulling on his fender. He was penalized and finished eighth.
Marlin is now retired.
2001: Michael Waltrip
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The 2001 Daytona 500 was easily the most memorable race in the last 20-30 years, maybe even history.
On one hand, Michael Waltrip had gone 462 races without a career win. In his first race with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, Waltrip accomplished something most fans thought they would never see. Waltrip got his first career victory in the Daytona 500, shocking everyone viewing.
On the other hand, most fans saw something they thought and hoped they would never see. NASCAR lost a legend in the last turn on the last lap. A day of rejoicement for Waltrip's first victory turned to a day of mourning for the loss of Dale Earnhardt. Easily the darkest day in NASCAR history, many fans still hurt to think of the loss of the Intimidator.
As for Mikey, he won three more races, all on plate tracks, and now runs his own race team.
2002: Ward Burton
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The elder Burton hasn't had as much success as Jeff, but has done something that Jeff might never do.
Win the Daytona 500.
Burton had only three victories before the 2002 Daytona 500.
But this one is puzzling. What's more surprising, the fact that Burton won, or how he won?
It's a little bit of both. Burton was becoming more competitive at this point in his career. He had won one race in each of the previous two seasons. Burton was in contention at the end for the win, but luck was on his side as he was the beneficiary of Sterling Marlin pulling on his fender under a red flag.
Burton won one more race later that season for his fifth and final career victory.
Burton last raced in 2007.
2007: Kevin Harvick
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Mr. Where Did He Come From, himself.
Ok, so Harvick was more accomplished than anyone on this list before he won the Daytona 500 in 2007. He didn't surprise me.
The way he won surprised everyone.
Many believed that Mark Martin was finally going to win the Daytona 500. But Harvick seemed to pass everyone on I-95 within five seconds to take the lead going into turn three. Harvick beat Martin in a drag race in the closest finish in Daytona 500 history.
Harvick has since established himself as one of the best current plate racers.
2008: Ryan Newman
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Newman is another driver who accomplished a lot before his big win.
Newman won 12 races in the first four seasons of his career.
"The Rocket" then went winless for two full seasons. Many felt Newman wasn't and wouldn't be competitive anymore.
Then Newman rocketed up to the lead on this last lap of the 2008 Daytona 500 with teammate Kurt Busch pushing him to victory.
Newman is still looking to regain his form from 2002-2005.
2010: Jamie McMurray
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Jamie Mac wasn't sure if he was going to race in the Sprint Cup Series again after the 2009 season.
His old boss Chip Ganassi called and offered McMurray to drive for him again. McMurray made the most of his chance.
The feel-good story of 2010, McMurray won the Daytona 500 after the second attempt at green-white-checkers. McMurray later won the Brickyard 400, becoming only the third driver to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. Despite missing the Chase, McMurray won the fall race at Charlotte running away.
Prior to the 2010 season, McMurray only won three races in seven full-time seasons, with one coming as a substitute driver in 2002. Jamie Mac had a career season last year with three wins and several other races where he finished in the top five.
Daytona is notorious for unexpected heroes. Don't be surprised if a dark horse surprises the world and wins the Daytona 500.
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