Sunday 26th February 1961

Marvin Panch took the lead when Fireball Roberts dropped out with 13 laps left and went on to win the third Daytona 500. Panch was running nearly a lap behind teammate Fireball Roberts when Roberts’ Pontiac limped to the pits trailing smoke. Panch crossed the line 16 seconds ahead of Joe Weatherly with Paul Goldsmith third, as Pontiacs finished 1-2-3. Panch averaged 149.601 mph in the caution free race.