The 1989 Daytona 500, the 31st running of the event, was held February 19, 1989, at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Darrell Waltrip won the race after Ken Schrader won the pole for the second time in a row.
In the last 53 laps without a pit stop and on a nearing empty tank, Darrell Waltrip took his #17 Chevrolet Monte Carlo to victory lane in the race. As his only chance at victory, Waltrip and his Hendrick Racing decided to use fuel strategy, being the only car not to pit in the closing laps.