The Elusive Triple Crown: A Look Back at Every Near-Missed Daytona 500 Three-Peat

Daytona Beach, FL – The Daytona 500, NASCAR’s most prestigious event, has a storied history dating back to 1959. While the allure of victory at the "World Center of Racing" is immense, achieving a consecutive three-peat has proven to be an almost insurmountable feat. Hendrick Motorsports, the winningest team in Daytona 500 history with ten victories, has seen its recent contender, William Byron, come agonizingly close. Byron, piloting the No. 24 Chevrolet, secured back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025, only to fall short of a historic third consecutive triumph in 2026. This pattern of near-misses is not unique to Byron; across the decades, five drivers have managed to win the iconic race in consecutive years, but none have ever managed to etch their name in the record books with a third straight victory.

William Byron: A Modern Contender’s Close Call

William Byron’s recent success at the Daytona 500 has placed him squarely in the conversation for one of NASCAR’s modern legends. After a challenging start to his career at Daytona, marked by several incidents and finishes outside the top 20 in his first six starts (including DNFs in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, and heavily damaged finishes in 2018 and 2021), Byron broke through. His 2024 victory was hard-fought, and his 2025 win was equally dramatic, both concluding with crashes among the leading contenders.

The 2026 attempt at a third consecutive win was a testament to Byron’s resilience. Forced to start 39th in a backup car after an incident in practice, his race was a continuous battle against adversity. He was involved in the opening crash of the race, requiring significant work from his Hendrick Motorsports crew to repair a bent toe link on his Chevrolet. Later, a contact with Shane van Gisbergen near the wall nearly sent him into a spin, and he narrowly avoided a larger incident when he brushed the nose of teammate Kyle Larson. A 20-car pileup at the conclusion of Stage 2 added another layer of complexity to his afternoon.

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Despite these significant setbacks, Byron demonstrated remarkable composure and skill. As the white flag waved, signaling the final lap, he had maneuvered his way into the top five. Side-by-side with eventual race winner Tyler Reddick, contact ensued as a wreck erupted among the leaders entering Turn 1. Byron found himself below the yellow line, a precarious position that, while allowing him to regain control of his car and return to the track, cost him crucial momentum. He ultimately finished 12th, eleven positions shy of achieving the unprecedented three-peat.

Denny Hamlin: The Closest to Perfection

Denny Hamlin, a celebrated superspeedway racer, has come closer than anyone else on this list to achieving the Daytona 500 three-peat. His quest for a third consecutive victory in 2021 saw him finish fifth, a remarkable achievement given the circumstances. Hamlin’s previous wins in 2019 and 2020 had established him as a dominant force at Daytona.

In the 2021 running, Hamlin started 25th but possessed a car with exceptional speed, leading an impressive 98 of the 200 laps. With 28 laps remaining, he pitted from the race lead alongside several Toyota teammates. However, the pit stop cycle shuffled his group to the rear of a single-file field, making forward progress a considerable challenge. By the final lap, Hamlin had clawed his way back to ninth place. He narrowly avoided a catastrophic crash that eliminated the race leaders, a fiery incident that brought out a caution flag and ultimately saw him scored in fifth place. This result marked the highest finish for a driver attempting a three-peat in the history of the Daytona 500.

Sterling Marlin: Mechanical Misfortune Strikes

In the mid-1990s, Sterling Marlin was a formidable presence on superspeedways, piloting the iconic yellow Kodak No. 4 Chevrolet for Larry McClure. His pursuit of a third consecutive Daytona 500 victory in 1996 began promisingly. Starting third, he remained a front-runner throughout the initial stages of the race. He took the lead for the first time on lap 77 and held it for three laps. Tragically, while leading the prestigious event, his engine suffered a catastrophic failure. The mechanical breakdown caused him to quickly fall through the field, and he was forced to limp back to the pits, ultimately retiring from the race in 40th place.

Cale Yarborough: A Champion’s Engine Woes

Cale Yarborough, a driver who had already achieved a remarkable three-peat in consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championships, was aiming to replicate his success at the Daytona 500 in 1985. He started the race from the front row and showcased his prowess by leading 32 of the first 60 laps, appearing poised to achieve the historic feat. However, much like Marlin a decade later, mechanical issues would prove to be his undoing. The race had already seen a number of engine failures among competitors. Suddenly, Yarborough began to slow on the frontstretch while running second to Bill Elliott. Despite his efforts to coax more life from his car, he was forced to pit. His team was unable to restart the engine, and he completed only 62 laps, finishing 36th.

Richard Petty: The King’s Overheating Nightmare

Richard Petty, universally recognized as "The King," holds numerous NASCAR records, including an unparalleled 200 career victories and seven Daytona 500 triumphs. Despite his legendary status, even he was unable to conquer the challenge of a Daytona 500 three-peat. In the 1975 edition of the race, Petty started fourth in his famed STP No. 43 Plymouth and was, as expected, a strong contender. He led 51 laps in the first half of the race, indicating his potential for victory. However, persistent overheating issues plagued his effort. The team resorted to unconventional methods, including running a garden hose over the engine in an attempt to cool it down. These persistent mechanical problems forced multiple pit stops, significantly hindering his race pace and ultimately taking him out of contention. Petty managed to finish seventh, eight full laps behind race winner Benny Parsons, but provided a crucial draft for Parsons across the finish line, a testament to the raw speed of his machine when functioning correctly.

The history of the Daytona 500 three-peat is a stark reminder of the immense difficulty and often unpredictable nature of motorsport. While Byron’s recent near-miss adds a contemporary chapter to this historical narrative, the stories of Hamlin, Marlin, Yarborough, and Petty underscore the recurring themes of mechanical failure, late-race incidents, and the sheer competitive intensity that defines NASCAR’s crown jewel event. The quest for consecutive victories at Daytona remains one of the sport’s most elusive and compelling challenges.

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