2013 Daytona 500
The 2013 Daytona 500, the 55th running of the event, was held on February 24, 2013 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida over 200 laps and on the 2.5-mile (4 km) asphalt tri-oval. It was the first race of the 2013 Sprint Cup season. Danica Patrick won the pole for the race, becoming the first female to earn a pole position in NASCAR's highest division. She also had the best-ever finish by a woman at the Daytona 500, finishing 8th. Jimmie Johnson, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won the race, making this his first win of the season and his second win in the "Great American Race" and his first since the 2006 race. His teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 2nd while Mark Martin, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Newman rounded out the Top 5.