The 1983 Daytona 500, the 25th running of the event, was held February 20. The lead changed 58 times among 11 drivers. A total of six cautions were handed out by NASCAR officials for a duration of 36 laps.

Cale Yarborough was the first driver to run a qualifying lap of more than 200 miles per hour at the 1983 Daytona 500 in his #28 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. However, on his second of two qualifying laps, Yarborough crashed and flipped his car in turn four. Despite the crash, Yarborough drove a backup car (a Pontiac LeMans) in second-round qualifying and made the field.

On the final lap, Baker led Yarborough, Ruttman, and Elliott. Cale stormed past Baker on the backstretch and Ruttman drafted into second; Baker dove under Ruttman and Elliott snookered them both on the high side in a three-abreast photo finish for second. The win was Cale's third in the 500 and was also the first time that an in-car camera of a car went into victory lane before a national CBS Sports audience (this tradition would eventually continue into the present day).