{"id":1404515,"date":"2021-08-26T18:57:38","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T22:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1404515"},"modified":"2022-01-25T23:42:06","modified_gmt":"2022-01-26T04:42:06","slug":"dale-earnhardt-sr-only-won-single-daytona-500-took-more-checkered-flags-daytona-international-speedway-than-any-racer-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/dale-earnhardt-sr-only-won-single-daytona-500-took-more-checkered-flags-daytona-international-speedway-than-any-racer-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Dale Earnhardt Sr. Only Won a Single Daytona 500 but Took More Checkered Flags at Daytona International Speedway Than Any Racer in History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NASCAR<\/a> legend Dale Earnhardt Sr.<\/a> will obviously forever be linked to Daytona International Speedway<\/a>. Sadly, one of the reasons for that is the fact that he died on the famed track in 2001 on the final lap of the Daytona 500. But we're not here to rehash that tragic tale yet again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, today we're here to focus on just how dominating he was at Daytona over the years. Okay, so maybe Earnhardt only won the Daytona 500<\/a> once in 23 tries. But what an emotional victory that was. And maybe he only won three Cup Series<\/a> points races on the 2.5-mile oval in 46 attempts. But it's not as if the Daytona 500 and the 400-mile summer race are the only races “The Intimidator” ever ran at Daytona International Speedway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was the 300-mile Busch Series (now Xfinity Series) race. There was the Busch Clash\/Bud Shootout and the Duel qualifying races. Earnhardt also took part in the now-defunct International Race of Champions (IROC) for years. And between all of those different races, “The Man in Black” took 34 checkered flags at Daytona, the most of any racer in history. We're talking stock car drivers, sportscar drivers, and motorcycle racers. More than any<\/em> racer ever<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dale Earnhardt Sr. won his first race at Daytona International Speedway in 1980<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Dale
Dale Earnhardt Sr. sits in the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway in February 2001 | Brian Cleary\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In his seventh overall start at Daytona International Speedway, Earnhardt took his first checkered flag at the home of NASCAR in 1980 at the Busch Clash, just edging out Neil Bonnett. He was the first to win the race after only leading the final lap and also the first to go on to win the Cup Series title, a feat he duplicated in 1986, 1991, and 1993. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earnhardt also took the checkered flag at the Busch Clash in 1988 and 1995. His six victories are still the most in the race's history. Four drivers are tied for second with three, while six others have two wins, including Dale Earnhardt Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His biggest win was obviously the 1998 Daytona 500<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n