Tomac Makes History at Daytona: Breaks All-Time Win Record at Iconic Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 28, 2026) – Eli Tomac of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing etched his name into the history books at Round 8 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship by securing his eighth AMA Supercross Championship win at Daytona International Speedway. This victory positions Tomac as the most decorated athlete in the venue’s 67-year history, surpassing NASCAR legend Richard Petty’s record of seven Daytona 500 victories.
The 450SMX Class Main Event commenced with Tomac starting in fourth, trailing key title rivals. Hunter Lawrence of Honda HRC Progressive grabbed the holeshot but was quickly overtaken by Ken Roczen from Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki. Defending champion Cooper Webb of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing settled into third, setting the stage for an intense battle among the elite.
As the race unfolded on the challenging sandy track, Tomac maneuvered past Webb early, establishing himself in third before launching an offensive. Midway through the race, he decisively passed Lawrence to secure second place, then overtook Roczen to seize the lead with just over 12 minutes remaining.
Once in front, Tomac quickly extended his lead by several seconds, with Roczen maintaining second until Lawrence closed in, reducing the gap to three seconds in the closing minutes. Despite a valiant effort from Lawrence, Tomac’s strong performance ultimately secured his historic win.
Tomac’s strategy and adaptability were key to his success in the dynamic conditions of the race. Post-race, he acknowledged the significance of the achievement, stating, “It’s an incredible honor to be recognized in a place with so much history.”
As the championship progresses, Tomac looks well-positioned to defend his title, with momentum firmly on his side following this landmark victory.
