updated 1:19 a.m. ET Feb. 16, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Pete Hamilton, Derrike Cope, Ernie Irvan, Sterling Marlin, Ward Burton, Michael Waltrip — not exactly a NASCAR Hall of Fame roster.

But every one of these journeyman drivers has done something some of the sport's biggest stars never accomplished: Win the Daytona 500.

To a man, they say winning stock car racing's most important event was the highlight of their careers.

Cope, who won only twice in 408 races over a 24-year career, got his first victory in the 1990 Daytona 500, a race dominated by Dale Earnhardt and considered one of NASCAR's great upsets.

Cope was in second place when Earnhardt, who led 155 of 200 laps, ran over a piece of metal and cut down a tire halfway through the final lap.

"When Dale moved up the track, I didn't really understand what was happening,'' said Cope, who had never finished better than sixth in his first 71 starts in NASCAR's top series. "I just drove by. The next thing you know I'm in Victory Lane, and everything is happening. It's still kind of a daze when I think back on it.

"It means everything to me and my family.''

It's a win that sticks with a driver.

In 1970, Pete Hamilton came out of the Northeast to win in a Petty Enterprises car, beating David Pearson, one of the sport's biggest stars. Hamilton won only four more times in a brief, six-year career, retiring at the age of 30.

"The Daytona 500 is one race that has stayed with me over the years,'' he said. "People still say, 'Oh, that Pete Hamilton.' I'm very proud of that win.''

Two-time winner Waltrip will get another shot at a victory in Sunday's 50th edition of The Great American Race.

Before winning the 2001 race, he went 462 races over 10 years without a Cup win and was horribly overshadowed by his big brother Darrell, 16 years his senior and a three-time Cup champion.

But it took Darrell Waltrip 17 tries to win NASCAR's Super Bowl.

"I guess winning this race sooner than he did and winning it twice are about the only things I've got over him,'' Michael Waltrip said, grinning.

His first win was tempered by the death of his car owner and friend, Dale Earnhardt, in a last-lap crash of that 2001 race. Waltrip's second 500 win in 2003 came in a rain-shortened race.

"A win in the Daytona 500 defines your career,'' said Waltrip, an owner-driver who has just two other Cup victories. "When I'm introduced, it's usually 'Two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip.' That's an incredible thing. And it's opened plenty of doors for me.''

Marlin, who failed to qualify for this year's race, is another two-time winner who got his first career victory at Daytona.

"I was fortunate enough after a short time — 18 years — I finally won the Daytona 500,'' said Marlin, who won in 1994 and 1995.

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Whether a career lasts decades or just a few years, drivers are forever linked to their performances at Daytona.

"I think the biggest thing is being part of the history,'' said Burton, the older brother of current Cup driver Jeff Burton. "The other thing, as time passes, it becomes bigger. ... As time goes on, the sport makes the day more special, more meaningful than it ... really was.''

Perhaps that's because it can be so tough to win.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. watched his late father deal with incredible bad luck, including the 1990 race won by Cope, before finally winning in 1998 on his 20th try. He understands not only what it takes to win but what it costs when the wins don't come.

"You've got to have a fast car, but circumstances and variables throughout the race dictate who's going to be around at the end with a shot to win,'' said Earnhardt Jr., who won the 2004 race and is one of the favorites Sunday. "It's real intimidating. It's just a crazy feeling to be in that field, let alone win the race. Winning it is just pot luck, mainly.''

The long-shot winners know that all too well.

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