Only 16 days stand in the way of 40 cars on the 2.5 mile oval at Daytona. The number 16 car has had a great history in the sport of NASCAR, just not at the Daytona 500. Let’s take a look at what this iconic number has done throughout the years.
Glen Wood
Glen Wood wasn’t the first driver of the car number, but he was able to get it it’s first career win. Wood’s inaugural year in the car seat was 1959. In 1960, Wood was able to pilot the number 16 car into victory lane for the first time in the cars history. That same year, Wood was able to collect two more victories at the same track he won his first race; Winston-Salem. Wood would only drive the car for those two years, but he was able to put it on the map in NASCAR.
Dale Dieringer
A few years after Glen Wood stepped out of car number 16, Darel Dieringer took over. In his four-year career behind the 16 wheel, Dieringer was able to capture 5 victories. His biggest win came in ’66 when he was able to fight off Richard Petty, the eventual NASCAR Champion that year, at Darlington.
Bobby Allison
Number 16 was able to have an eventual Hall of Famer grace the seat in 1967. Bobby Allison had a short stint in ’67 with the 16 car but was able to get back behind the wheel in ’74 and ’75. The latter year is where he was able to get his only three victories in the 16 Coca-Cola AMC. Of those few wins, Allison was able to sweep the races at Darlington.
Greg Biffle
A star was born when Jack Roush signed Greg Biffle to be the pilot of the number 16 Grainger Ford in 2003. Biffle had some growing pains, however, he was able to put the car in Victory Lane at the summer race in Daytona. Over his career, Biffle was able to compile 19 wins, the most wins in the history of number 16.
This offseason he parted ways with Roush Fenway Racing, making him a free agent immediately. The news was shocking as the 15-year veteran had only raced for that one team.
Other Notable Drivers
Other notable drivers for this number are Ted Musgrave, Wally Dalenbach Jr, Kevin Lepage and Ralph Earnhardt.
No Daytona 500 This Year
As noted earlier, number 16 hasn’t had much success at the Daytona 500. In fact, the number has never been in Victory Lane for the Great American Race. Due to the seat being vacant for this car number, the streak will continue in 16 days at Daytona.
