The 2010 Daytona 500 was the first stock car race of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The 52nd annual running of the Daytona 500, it was held on February 14, 2010, in Daytona Beach, Florida, at Daytona International Speedway, before a crowd of about 175,000 attendees. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver Jamie McMurray won the 208-lap race from the thirteenth position. Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Hendrick Motorsports finished in second, and Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle came in third.

Mark Martin, who had the pole position (the oldest pole winner in Daytona 500 history at 51 years and 27 days), led the opening four laps before he was passed by Kasey Kahne on lap five, before he retook it two laps later. The race lead changed 52 times amongst a then record-breaking 21 different drivers during the course of the race, with Kevin Harvick leading the most laps (41). It was twice stopped because a large pothole had developed between turns one and two, because of moisture, cold weather temperatures, and all the heavy cars scraping the tarmac surface, as they ran low to the ground for better aerodynamic efficiency. Harvick led on the 206th lap, until McMurray passed him a lap later. McMurray held it for the final lap to claim his first Daytona 500 victory, his second at Daytona International Speedway, and the fourth of his career.

Because this was the first race of the season, McMurray led the Drivers' Championship with 195 points, followed by Earnhardt in second place who had 175 points and Biffle in third with 170 points. Clint Bowyer and Harvick were fourth and fifth with 165 and 155 points, respectively. In the Manufacturers' Championship, Chevrolet led with nine points, ahead of Ford in second place with six points. Toyota was in third with four points, and Dodge completed the top four with three points with thirty-five races left in the season.