The 1990 Daytona 500 was a Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup) event held at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 1990. It was the season opener. Dale Earnhardt appeared well on his way to victory, but in a shocking finish, lost a left rear tire on the last lap. While Earnhardt limped to 5th, upset driver Derrike Cope cruised onto his first career victory, by far the biggest upset in the race's history. Stats
| 1990 Daytona 500 | |
| General info | |
|---|---|
| Series | Winston Cup Series |
| Location | Daytona International Speedway |
| Date | February 18, 1990 |
| Qualifying | |
| Pole Sitter | Ken Schrader |
| Pole Speed | 196.515 mph |
| Race Data | |
| Winner | Derrike Cope |
| Margin of Victory | 1.5 car lengths |
| Average Speed | 165.761 mph |
| Cautions | 3 for 15 laps |
| Points Leader | Derrike Cope (+5) |