Many times, car racing is seen as a pure test of strategy, speed, and skill. Every second counts; teams get ready diligently, and drivers practice relentlessly. Still, occasionally luck intervenes to turn everything around. Unexpected events like crashes, weather, or mechanical failures changed the result in some well-known races in rather unexpected ways. I will go over several well-known car races in this post where luck played a major part in deciding the winner.
5 Car Races Where Luck Changed the Result
1. The 1973 Daytona 500: Lucky Break by Richard Petty
One of the most well-known races in NASCAR, the 1973 Daytona 500 is a classic illustration of how chance shapes outcome. Buddy Baker led 156 laps that year, ruling the race. He seemed destined to win effortlessly. But Baker had to drop out when his engine abruptly failed with just six laps remaining.
Behind Baker, one of the best drivers ever, Richard Petty seized this unplanned opportunity. Petty prevailed by a little over two laps, which is a significant margin. Petty might not have prevailed that day without Baker’s mechanical lapse.
This race demonstrates how mechanical issues—often out of a driver’s control—may drastically affect the result. Petty was clearly talented, but luck with Baker’s misfortune helped confirm his success.
2. Justin Haley’s Rain and Crash Win at Charlotte’s 2019 NASCAR Race
Justin Haley won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona in 2019 in one of the most unusual ways. A major crash late in the race eliminated many of the top drivers. Rain was beginning to fall at the same time, perhaps ending the race.
While most teams chose to pit for new tires, Haley’s team made a bold decision: they stayed out on the track. NASCAR declared Haley the winner shortly after the race’s cancellation due to rain.
Haley’s triumph was his first in the Cup Series, and many see it as one of the luckiest ones ever. He missed the major crash and profited from the timing of the temperature. Still, I believe his team’s choice to remain out displayed wise judgment by combining luck with clever tactics.
3. The 2011 Daytona 500: Surprising Victory by Trevor Bayne
Many viewers were genuinely surprised by Trevor Bayne’s victory at the 2011 Daytona 500. Only twenty years old, Bayne had very little experience in the top NASCAR series. With just two laps remaining, the race concluded with a green-white-checkered finish, meaning a restart near the end. On the restart, Bayne received a strong push from David Ragan, his teammate, which propelled him forward above the leaders. A last-lap yellow flag then slowed the race, freezing the order and ensuring Bayne would win.
The finish was a unique triumph since it combined the timing of the yellow flag with skill, teamwork, and some luck. In this win, I think Bayne’s coolness under duress and the support of his teammate were just as crucial as luck.
4. William Byron’s opportunistic win in the 2025 Daytona 500
William Byron used a disorganized finish in the 2025 Daytona 500 to win. Many top contenders crashed in the last laps, resulting in a caution flag cutting off the race early.
During the last laps, Byron made a daring attempt to pass a rival who subsequently made a mistake and crashed. This helped Byron to take the lead.
Although Byron drove quite well, his win was mostly dependent on the timing of the crash and the caution flag. It’s an obvious illustration of how erratic racing can be and how important timing and location are.
5. The 1975 Daytona 500: Unexpected Triumph of Benny Parsons
Benny Parsons’s victory at the 1975 Daytona 500 is another tale of how chance shaped the race’s outcome. Parsons began the race far from the front in 32nd position. Leading late in the race, David Pearson spun out and lost the lead.
Parsons was drafting behind Richard Petty to catch up with Pearson. Parsons was in the right place to grab the lead and hang on for the victory as Pearson spun. The spin was caused by contact with Cale Yarborough.
This race demonstrates how patient, well-positioned, and somewhat lucky one can be to find a winning possibility from a rival’s error. Parsons’s triumph was his only one at the Daytona 500; thus, it is especially unforgettable.
Final Thoughts
Car racing combines, in my view, luck, strategy, and skill. The best drivers know how to maximize good luck when it presents itself and minimize negative luck. Sometimes, being lucky means being ready and vigilant enough to seize an unforeseen opportunity.
With this article, I hope you will be able to better appreciate how chance has shaped some of the most unforgettable car races in history. Ask if you would like further information on particular events or racing tales. You can also discuss it over at our Facebook and Twitter pages.
How luck can changed the outcome of motorcycle races? Find out here.
Sources:
- www.bleacherreport.com/articles/2844599-nascar-at-daytona-2019-results-justin-haley-gets-1st-win-in-rain-shortened-race
- www.ktvz.com/sports/cnn-sports/2025/02/16/william-byron-wins-rain-filled-daytona-500-for-second-consecutive-year/
- www.nascarhall.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/benny-parsons
- www.channelwise.co.za/rather-be-lucky-than-good/
