| Entry List | Practice 2 | Duel 2 Starting Lineup | Practice 3 | Driver Standings |
| Qualifying | Duel 1 Starting Lineup | Duel 2 Results | Practice 4 | Rookie Standings |
| Practice 1 | Duel 1 Results | Starting Lineup | Race Results |
2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race 1 of 36
Sunday, February 20, 2005, at Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
203 laps/507.500 miles on a 2.5-mile superspeedway
(race extended from 200 laps to 203 laps due to green-white-checker finish)
Time of Race: 3 hours, 45 minutes, 16 seconds
Average Speed: 135.173 mph
Cautions: 11 for 45 laps
Lead Changes: 22 among 12 drivers
Margin of Victory: 0.158 seconds
Attendance: 200,000
| Fin | St | Driver | Car | Team | Laps | Diff | Pts | Led | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Jeff Gordon | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports DuPont Chevrolet | 203 | 185 | 29 | Running | |
| 2 | 13 | Kurt Busch | 97 | Roush Racing Sharpie / IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford | 203 | 0.158 | 170 | 0 | Running |
| 3 | 5 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Inc. Budweiser Chevrolet | 203 | -- | 170 | 2 | Running |
| 4 | 12 | Scott Riggs | 10 | MB2 Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet | 203 | -- | 160 | 0 | Running |
| 5 | 2 | Jimmie Johnson | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports Lowe's Chevrolet | 203 | -- | 160 | 3 | Running |
| 6 | 32 | Mark Martin | 6 | Roush Racing Viagra Ford | 203 | -- | 150 | 0 | Running |
| 7 | 4 | Tony Stewart | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing The Home Depot Chevrolet | 203 | -- | 156 | 107 | Running |
| 8 | 18 | Sterling Marlin | 40 | Chip Ganassi Racing Coors Light Dodge | 203 | -- | 142 | 0 | Running |
| 9 | 8 | Kevin Lepage | 37 | R&J Racing Patron Tequila Dodge | 203 | -- | 138 | 0 | Running |
| 10 | 36 | Rusty Wallace | 2 | Penske Racing Miller Lite Dodge | 203 | -- | 134 | 0 | Running |
| 11 | 39 | Elliott Sadler | 38 | Robert Yates Racing M&M's Ford | 203 | -- | 130 | 0 | Running |
| 12 | 27 | Carl Edwards | 99 | Roush Racing Scotts Ford | 203 | -- | 127 | 0 | Running |
| 13 | 34 | Joe Nemechek | 01 | MB2 Motorsports U.S. Army Chevrolet | 203 | -- | 129 | 2 | Running |
| 14 | 38 | Dave Blaney | 07 | Richard Childress Racing Jack Daniel's Chevrolet | 203 | -- | 121 | 0 | Running |
| 15 | 1 | Dale Jarrett | 88 | Robert Yates Racing UPS Ford | 203 | -- | 118 | 0 | Running |
| 16 | 26 | Jeff Green | 43 | Petty Enerprises Cheerios / Betty Crocker Dodge | 203 | -- | 115 | 0 | Running |
| 17 | 33 | Kyle Petty | 45 | Petty Enerprises Georgia-Pacific / Brawny Dodge | 203 | -- | 117 | 1 | Running |
| 18 | 35 | Mike Bliss | 0 | Haas CNC Racing NetZero / Best Buy Chevrolet | 203 | -- | 109 | 0 | Running |
| 19 | 25 | Travis Kvapil # | 77 | Penske-Jasper Racing Kodak / Jasper Engines & Transmissions Dodge | 203 | -- | 106 | 0 | Running |
| 20 | 9 | Ryan Newman | 12 | Penske Racing ALLTEL Dodge | 203 | -- | 108 | 1 | Running |
| 21 | 28 | Brian Vickers | 25 | Hendrick Motorsports GMAC Chevrolet | 203 | -- | 100 | 0 | Running |
| 22 | 37 | Kasey Kahne | 9 | Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dealers / UAW Dodge | 203 | -- | 97 | 0 | Running |
| 23 | 24 | Jeremy Mayfield | 19 | Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dealers / UAW Dodge | 203 | -- | 99 | 1 | Running |
| 24 | 11 | Ricky Rudd | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing Motorcraft Quality Parts Ford | 202 | 1 lap | 66 | 0 | Running |
| 25 | 23 | Greg Biffle | 16 | Roush Racing National Guard Ford | 201 | 2 laps | 88 | 0 | Running |
| 26 | 29 | Casey Mears | 41 | Chip Ganassi Racing Target Dodge | 199 | 4 laps | 85 | 0 | Running |
| 27 | 41 | Boris Said | 36 | MB2 Motorsports Centrix Financial Chevrolet | 198 | 5 laps | 82 | 0 | Running |
| 28 | 30 | Kevin Harvick | 29 | Richard Childress Racing GM Goodwrench Chevrolet | 198 | 5 laps | 84 | 1 | Running |
| 29 | 6 | Jeff Burton | 31 | Richard Childress Racing Cingular Wireless Chevrolet | 194 | 9 laps | 81 | 6 | Running |
| 30 | 7 | Mike Skinner | 23 | Bill Davis Racing Dodge | 187 | 16 laps | 73 | 0 | Accident |
| 31 | 42 | John Andretti | 14 | Ppc Racing VB / Aplus at Sunoco Ford | 187 | 16 laps | 70 | 0 | Accident |
| 32 | 17 | Jamie McMurray | 42 | Chip Ganassi Racing Texaco / Havoline Dodge | 184 | 19 laps | 67 | 0 | Accident |
| 33 | 16 | Scott Wimmer | 22 | Bill Davis Racing Caterpillar Dodge | 182 | 21 laps | 69 | 8 | Accident |
| 34 | 10 | Martin Truex Jr. | 1 | Dale Earnhardt Inc. Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet | 178 | 25 laps | 61 | 0 | Engine |
| 35 | 22 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | 32 | PPI Motorsports Tide Coldwater Chevrolet | 173 | 30 laps | 58 | 0 | Running |
| 36 | 40 | Jason Leffler | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing FedEx Express Chevrolet | 168 | 35 laps | 55 | 0 | Accident |
| 37 | 3 | Michael Waltrip | 15 | Dale Earnhardt Inc. NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet | 161 | 42 laps | 57 | 42 | Engine |
| 38 | 19 | Kyle Busch # | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports Kellogg's Chevrolet | 148 | 55 laps | 49 | 0 | Running |
| 39 | 31 | Ken Schrader | 49 | BAM Racing Schwan's Home Service Dodge | 120 | 83 laps | 46 | 0 | Engine |
| 40 | 21 | Kenny Wallace | 00 | Michael Waltrip Racing Aaron's Chevrolet | 39 | 164 laps | 43 | 0 | Engine |
| 41 | 43 | Mike Wallace | 4 | Morgan-McClure Motorsports Lucas Oil Chevrolet | 35 | 168 laps | 40 | 0 | Overheating |
| 42 | 14 | Matt Kenseth | 17 | Roush Racing DeWalt Power Tools Ford | 34 | 169 laps | 37 | 0 | Engine |
| 43 | 20 | Bobby Labonte | 18 | Joe Gibbs Racing Interstate Batteries Chevrolet | 14 | 189 laps | 34 | 0 | Engine |
# indicates Rookie of the Year contender
| Driver | Car | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Nemechek | 01 | Backup Car |
| Rusty Wallace | 2 | Backup Car |
| Dave Blaney | 07 | Backup Car |
| Kasey Kahne | 9 | Backup Car |
| Kevin Harvick | 29 | Backup Car |
| Bobby Hamilton Jr. | 32 | Transmission Change |
| Qual Pos | Driver | Car | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Kerry Earnhardt | 33 | Richard Childress Racing Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet |
| 45 | Robby Gordon | 7 | Robby Gordon Motorsports Jim Beam Chevrolet |
| 46 | Johnny Sauter | 09 | Phoenix Racing Miccosukee Resort Dodge |
| 47 | Kirk Shelmerdine | 27 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing GoldenPalace.com Ford |
| 48 | Hermie Sadler | 66 | Peak Fitness Racing Peak Fitness Ford |
| 49 | Morgan Shepherd | 89 | Shepherd Racing Ventures Victory in Jesus / Red Line Oil Dodge |
| 50 | Eric McClure # | 73 | Raabe Racing Enterprises ARC Dehooker / RFA Chevrolet |
| 51 | Greg Sacks | 13 | Sacks Motorsports Dodge |
| 52 | Stanton Barrett | 92 | Front Row Motorsports First Trust Portfolios Chevrolet |
| 53 | Derrike Cope | 55 | SWAT Racing S.W.A.T. Fitness Chevrolet |
| 54 | Randy LaJoie | 34 | Mach 1 Motorsports Mach 1 Inc. Chevrolet |
| 55 | Larry Gunselman | 52 | Rick Ware Racing RPO30.com / Sakai / EPH Ford |
| 56 | Andy Belmont | 80 | Hover Motorsports Bootie Lager Ford |
| 57 | Geoffrey Bodine | 93 | GIC-Mixon Motorsports Chevrolet |
| Caution No. | From Lap | To Lap | Laps | Reason | Free Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | 18 | 4 | Oil on Track | -- |
| 2 | 27 | 30 | 4 | 4, 5, 21, 36, 38 incident Turn 4 | 01 |
| 3 | 86 | 89 | 4 | Debris | 38 |
| 4 | 105 | 108 | 4 | Debris | 16 |
| 5 | 144 | 147 | 4 | Debris | 25 |
| 6 | 155 | 158 | 4 | Debris | 41 |
| 7 | 162 | 165 | 4 | Oil on Track | 36 |
| 8 | 169 | 172 | 4 | 11, 14, 17 incident Turn 4 | 37 |
| 9 | 184 | 187 | 4 | 2, 9, 10, 16, 19, 22, 25, 29, 41, 42 incident Turn 4 | 21 |
| 10 | 189 | 194 | 6 | 0, 9, 12, 14, 23, 77, 88, 99 incident Frontstretch | 21 |
| 11 | 199 | 201 | 3 | Debris | -- |
| Lead Change | Driver | Car | From Lap | To Lap | Total Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pole | Dale Jarrett | 88 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 48 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | Tony Stewart | 20 | 4 | 15 | 12 |
| 3 | Kyle Petty | 45 | 16 | 16 | 1 |
| 4 | Scott Wimmer | 22 | 17 | 19 | 3 |
| 5 | Michael Waltrip | 15 | 20 | 61 | 42 |
| 6 | Scott Wimmer | 22 | 62 | 63 | 2 |
| 7 | Jeff Gordon | 24 | 64 | 86 | 23 |
| 8 | Jeremy Mayfield | 19 | 87 | 87 | 1 |
| 9 | Tony Stewart | 20 | 88 | 105 | 18 |
| 10 | Scott Wimmer | 22 | 106 | 108 | 3 |
| 11 | Tony Stewart | 20 | 109 | 135 | 27 |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | 12 | 136 | 136 | 1 |
| 13 | Joe Nemechek | 01 | 137 | 138 | 2 |
| 14 | Tony Stewart | 20 | 139 | 155 | 17 |
| 15 | Jeff Burton | 31 | 156 | 161 | 6 |
| 16 | Tony Stewart | 20 | 162 | 162 | 1 |
| 17 | Kevin Harvick | 29 | 163 | 163 | 1 |
| 18 | Tony Stewart | 20 | 164 | 194 | 31 |
| 19 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 8 | 195 | 195 | 1 |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | 20 | 196 | 196 | 1 |
| 21 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 8 | 197 | 197 | 1 |
| 22 | Jeff Gordon | 24 | 198 | 203 | 6 |
| Driver | Car | Team | Penalty | Driver Pts Deducted | Owner Pts Deducted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robby Gordon | 7 | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Unapproved intake manifold in initial Daytona 500 inspection | 0 | 25 |
| Ricky Rudd | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing | Unapproved spoiler adjustment after pre-race inspection of Gatorade Duel qualifying race. | 25 | 25 |
Bud Pole Award: Dale Jarrett (188.312 mph)
Commit to Win Award: Jimmie Johnson
Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award: Tony Stewart
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award: Tony Stewart
Mobil 1 Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Raybestos Rookie of the Race: Travis Kvapil #
USG Improving the Finish Award: Elliott Sadler
WIX Lap-Leader Award: Tony Stewart
