Tomac Makes History with Eighth Supercross Win at Daytona
Eli Tomac of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing achieved a historic eighth Monster Energy AMA Supercross victory at Daytona International Speedway, setting a new record for the most wins by any athlete at the venue. This win breaks his tie with NASCAR legend Richard Petty and solidifies his place in Daytona's 67-year history. The Colorado native's dominant performance saw him overcome strong competition to secure the top spot.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Eli Tomac has etched his name into the history books at Daytona International Speedway, securing his record-breaking eighth Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship win at the iconic venue. This monumental achievement places Tomac above NASCAR legend Richard Petty, who held seven Daytona 500 victories, as the most decorated athlete in the speedway's 67-year history.
The path to victory was not without its challenges for Tomac in the 450SMX Class Main Event. Starting in fourth, he quickly began his ascent, first passing defending series champion Cooper Webb. The early lead was held by Honda HRC Progressive's Hunter Lawrence, who took the holeshot, before Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki's Ken Roczen moved into the lead. The top three riders — Roczen, Lawrence, and Tomac — maintained a tight battle, often within 1.5 seconds of each other, navigating the rutted, technical, and sandy track.
As the race approached its halfway point, Tomac made his decisive move. Utilizing sections of the track where he excelled, he first passed Lawrence for second. On the very next lap, he executed an assertive pass on Roczen by railing the outside of an option lane, seizing the lead with approximately 12:30 remaining on the clock. Tomac then quickly opened up a significant margin, demonstrating the skill and determination that led to his historic eighth victory at Daytona.