Eli Tomac Makes History at Daytona, Despite Post-Victory Mishap

Daytona Beach, FL – Eli Tomac cemented his legacy as the most decorated racer in Daytona International Speedway history on Saturday, February 28, 2026, securing his record-breaking eighth Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship win at the iconic venue. However, the celebration took an unexpected turn when the trophy itself caused a minor injury.

A Historic Eighth Victory

Tomac’s win surpassed NASCAR legend Richard Petty’s seven Daytona 500 victories, making him the most successful athlete in the speedway’s 67-year history. Riding for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Tomac overcame a fourth-place start in the 450SMX Class Main Event to take the win. Speedway Media reports that Hunter Lawrence initially grabbed the holeshot, but was quickly overtaken by Ken Roczen, with defending champion Cooper Webb slotting into third before Tomac began his ascent.

A Painful Celebration

The victory celebration was momentarily marred when Tomac was struck in the face by the base of the trophy, resulting in a lost tooth. “It’s nice to beat him,” Tomac said, referring to Petty. “But apparently eight gives you a cracked tooth. I popped my tooth out lifting the trophy up — my front tooth. I’m looking like a pretty good hillbilly right now so I’m trying not to smile.”

Tomac’s Supercross Dominance

Tomac expressed his gratitude and connection to the Daytona track, stating, “I’m counting my blessings. To get eight here — it’s hard to believe. So, counting my blessings on that. It just fits me, fits my riding style. It must be something with the soil and maybe what I grew up on with the sand and whatnot, and just being able to kind of open the throttle up and spray those sandy berms. Eight is great, it’s good.”

Throughout his Supercross career, Tomac has amassed an impressive 57 wins in the 450cc class and 32 in Motocross, totaling over 100 wins across all AMA divisions. He has secured four Motocross titles and two Supercross titles between 2017 and 2022, and added the FIM World Supercross crown to his accolades in 2024. Racer X Online provides further details on his career achievements.

Hammaker As well Secures Victory

Adding to the night’s success, Seth Hammaker also secured a dominant win in the 250SMX Class. Speedway Media reported that Hammaker went wire-to-wire for the victory.