8 Most Dramatic Finishes in NASCAR History

NASCAR has some of the most exciting and dramatic finishes ever seen in racing. These range from the most thrilling races that required a photo finish to the races that touched the hearts of the drivers and the fans. Here are some of the dramatic finishes in NASCAR history.

8. 2011 Daytona 500

Trevor Bayne, a relative unknown and not expected to have much going for him in that race, emerged victorious in the 2011 Daytona 500. The young driver was 20 years old and only competing in the Cup Series for the second time, but still managed to leave his more experienced colleagues behind and take the win. He pulled off an upset in the race and proved that anything can happen in NASCAR on Sunday, including a relative unknown driver winning the race.

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7. 2001 Cracker Barrel 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Kevin Harvick won his first Cup Series race at the 2001 Cracker Barrel 500, moments after sitting in the No. 3 car in place of Dale Earnhardt. Harvick won by an astonishing 0.006 seconds, slightly edging out Jeff Gordon in a very emotional and memorable finish. It was a perfect end to the race and a spectacular tribute to Earnhardt for fans and the racing community.

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6. 2007 Daytona 500

Kevin Harvick won the dramatic 2007 Daytona 500 by just 0.020 seconds over Mark Martin. The final stages of the race were capped by a spectacular crash by Clint Bowyer, whose car ultimately crossed the checkered flag resting on its roof. Harvick’s victory, plus the astonishing sequence of events and intensity at the end, made this possibly one of the most infamous and sensational final moments of a NASCAR race ever.

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5. 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway

This is one of the close NASCAR finishes where Ricky Craven beat Kurt Busch by just 0.002 seconds. In the closing stages of the race, Craven and Busch raced hard in a thrilling side-by-side battle. This finish is usually highlighted for the intensity shown during the race and the excellent performances of both drivers. It is a great example of how exciting NASCAR racing can be.

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4. 2011 Ford 400

In the final race of the 2011 season at the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards battled for the championship. Stewart had to overcome many obstacles, suffered damage and had to make pit stops. However, thanks to his incredible drive, he was able to win the race. Both drivers had the same number of points at the end of the season, but Stewart won on countback and was declared the 2011 champion.

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3. 1976 Daytona 500

Perhaps one of the most exciting and memorable final laps in NASCAR history, the 1976 Daytona 500 featured a great duel between Richard Petty and David Pearson. On the final lap, as the two drivers battled each other, they crashed and spun. Pearson, limping along, was barely able to get his car across the finish line to capture one of the most dramatic victories of all time.

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2. 2000 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway

Dale Earnhardt’s final Cup Series victory was a pure demonstration of driving skill. Starting from 17th with just a few laps to go, Earnhardt fought his way through the field to take the lead and the race win. His incredible come-from-behind to take the lead in such a short time showed his great skill and racing spirit, and for that reason this race will go down as one of the most exciting in NASCAR history.

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1. 1998 Daytona 500

The 1998 Daytona 500 was very significant because it marked Dale Earnhardt’s victory, ending his two-decade struggle to win this race. Earnhardt was known for dominating other race tracks, but he had come close to winning at Daytona many times. It was not only a victory, a race win for him, but it was also an emotional event for the fans and everyone in the NASCAR organization. It was such a heartbreaking culmination of his 20-year streak.

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