Photo – ARCA

Here are the races that just missed the cut in my ARCA Countdown of the Top-Five Best Daytona ARCA Races. Watch throughout the week for my Top-Five Countdown.

Keep in mind; these are the best ARCA races, not moments.

1979 – Kyle Petty, in his father Richard’s 1978 Dodge Magnum, wins in his only ARCA start, holding off pole-sitter and 1980 winner John Rezek.

1990 – Jimmy Horton passes Ken Ragan with five laps to go to win his first of a record five consecutive superspeedway races that season. Horton also won the race in 1992.

2000 – David Keith holds off Bobby Gerhart and Bob Strait for the win.  He is also the last driver to sweep both races at Daytona and Talladega in the same season.

2001 – Ryan Newman, driving an ARCA, Busch, and Cup (ABC) schedule for Penske Racing, takes the victory at Daytona.  Rick Hendrick’s son, Ricky, led the most laps (38), but spun the tires on a late restart while leading and wound up finishing ninth.  Bob Strait, who battled with Newman at Pocono in July 2000, finishes runner-up.

2005 – I kicked this race around the top five, but in the end, it wasn’t a race.  It was more of a wreck fest.  Bobby Gerhart held off Frank Kimmel and J.J. Yeley as 12 out of 41 cars finished the race.  There is a massive crash with two laps to go, resulting in Todd Kluever going end over end.