Which driver became the first woman to lead laps in the Daytona 500 in 2013?

Danica Patrick became the first woman to lead laps in the Daytona 500 in 2013.

Patrick achieved the milestone on February 24, 2013, during the 55th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Driving the No. 10 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing, she passed Michael Waltrip on lap 90 after a restart and led three separate times for five laps in total.

The accomplishment was part of an extraordinary weekend. Patrick had already become the first woman to win a pole position in NASCAR’s premier series, and she ultimately finished eighth—the best Daytona 500 result by a woman at that time. Jimmie Johnson won the race, while Patrick stayed near the front for much of the afternoon.

The distinction is specific to the Daytona 500. Other women, including Janet Guthrie and Shawna Robinson, had already competed in NASCAR’s top division, but none had previously led a lap in this particular race. Patrick’s result was a milestone, not a victory: she did not win the 2013 Daytona 500.