The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a flyover prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service

Today marks 20 days before the NASCAR Cup Series drivers suit up for the biggest race of the year, the 2025 DAYTONA 500, and the number “20” has an interesting history with the race – winning only a single time in its storied 67-year history. Marvin Panch won the third running of the DAYTONA 500 in 1961 in the No. 20 Pontiac Catalina; tuned by the legendary Smokey Yunick. Panch was out front only the final 13 laps inheriting the lead when his teammate Fireball Roberts’ car blew an engine after pacing the field for 170 of the 200 laps. Of Panch’s 17 NASCAR Cup Series victories, his 1961 DAYTONA 500 win was his only career victory at Daytona International Speedway.

Tune-in to the 2025 DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.