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Date February 17, 1985 (1985-02-17) Location Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.023 km) Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (800 km) Weather Temperatures reaching up to 73 °F (23 °C); wind speeds approaching 14 miles per hour (23 km/h) Average speed 172.265 miles per hour (277.234 km/h) | ||
The 1985 Daytona 500, the 27th running of the event, was held on February 17, 1985, at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Bill Elliott won the pole at a then-record speed of 205.114 mph. After a mediocre run in the Busch Clash, Elliott nearly lapped the field in his 125-mile qualifying race, then thoroughly dominated the Daytona 500, leading 136 of the 200 laps in his #9 Coors/Melling Ford Thunderbird. The race restarted on the last lap after a Neil Bonnett spin out with less than four laps to go; Bonnett got out of his car and was credited for a 10th-place finish. The race saw a number of engine problems, which knocked many of the contenders, including former Daytona 500 winners David Pearson, AJ Foyt, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, and two-time defending race winner Cale Yarborough, who was trying to win his third straight Daytona 500 victory.
Top 10 Results
- 9 – Bill Elliott (polesitter)
- 75 – Lake Speed
- 11 – Darrell Waltrip
- 88 – Buddy Baker
- 15 – Ricky Rudd
- 51 – Greg Sacks
- 5 – Geoffrey Bodine
- 2 – Rusty Wallace
- 8 – Bobby Hillin, Jr.
- 12 – Neil Bonnett