DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Nearly two dozen Daytona 500 champions gathered in the same room Thursday, swapping stories to kick off NASCAR's promotion of the 50th running of the Great American Race.

Richard Petty, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Junior Johnson, Darrell Waltrip and 14 others were on hand for the star-studded event.

Current NASCAR stars Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson also took part, along with Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Ward Burton, Sterling Marlin and Bill Elliott.

"To sit there and be able to be in that group with them, that was special," two-time race winner Michael Waltrip said. "I was 8, 10 years old watching Mario Andretti race and David Pearson race. I was in their company. I don't feel like I'm in their league. I wish that everyone had the respect and admiration for that elite group that I do. To me, they paved the road for us to come here and race today."

Twenty-two of the 24 living champions were in attendance, posing for pictures, taking part in round-table discussions and sharing their favorite Daytona 500 experiences. The track will celebrate 50 years of NASCAR's biggest event in February.

"To have all of those personalities and champions and heroes of mine when I was growing up ... that was really, really cool," 2006 Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson said. "I wish I could have had some more time. I was upset in a small way that I couldn't stick around and enjoy the experience any longer."

The two past champions who couldn't make it were Cale Yarbrough and Fred Lorenzen.

"Our sport is a lot different than most other major sports," Michael Waltrip said. "The people that laid the groundwork, our pioneers and our past champions, are walking around here. ... I never will get over the fact that I can sit with those guys and be part of their fraternity."