List of the closest NASCAR Cup Series finishes

NASCAR's premier racing division, the NASCAR Cup Series, has seen many close finishes since the electronic scoring system was instituted in May during the 1993 season. As of 2020, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series is 0.002 seconds. This first occurred during the 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Speedway, as Ricky Craven crossed the finish line inches ahead of Kurt Busch.

Ricky Craven (No. 32) edges out Kurt Busch (No. 97) at the line in the 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400.

History

Prior to the introduction of integrated electronic scoring in May 1993, margins of victory were scored in laps, car lengths, or feet, using handheld stopwatches or analog timing clocks.[1] This occasionally led to controversy, such as occurred in the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959. Initially, NASCAR declared the race won by Johnny Beauchamp, but many observers felt that Lee Petty had won. It took 61 hours before video evidence established Petty as the winner.[2]

Beginning with the 1993 Save Mart Supermarkets 300K, scoring was standardized to the thousandth of a second using transponders located on the vehicles and timing lines around the track. Geoff Bodine won the first event using this electronic scoring, finishing 0.53 seconds ahead of Ernie Irvan.[3]

Closest finishes
*Event was not part of the regular season


NASCAR Cup Series closest finishes
Rank Race Margin Winner 2nd Place Track Date
1 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 0.002 Ricky Craven Kurt Busch Darlington Raceway March 16, 2003
1 2011 Aaron's 499 0.002 Jimmie Johnson Clint Bowyer Talladega Superspeedway April 17, 2011
3 2001 Gatorade Duel 2* 0.004 Mike Skinner Dale Earnhardt Jr. Daytona International Speedway February 15, 2001
4 1993 DieHard 500 0.005 Dale Earnhardt Ernie Irvan Talladega Superspeedway July 25, 1993
4 2007 Pepsi 400 0.005 Jamie McMurray Kyle Busch Daytona International Speedway July 7, 2007
4 2011 Gatorade Duel 2* 0.005 Jeff Burton Clint Bowyer Daytona International Speedway February 17, 2011
7 2001 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 0.006 Kevin Harvick Jeff Gordon Atlanta Motor Speedway March 11, 2001
7 2010 Gatorade Duel 1* 0.006 Jimmie Johnson Kevin Harvick Daytona International Speedway February 11, 2010
9 2019 1000Bulbs.com 500 0.007 Ryan Blaney Ryan Newman Talladega Superspeedway October 14, 2019
9 2020 GEICO 500 0.007 Ryan Blaney Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Talladega Superspeedway June 22, 2020
11 1994 Pepsi 400 0.008 Jimmy Spencer Ernie Irvan Daytona International Speedway July 2, 1994
12 2000 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 0.010 Dale Earnhardt Bobby Labonte Atlanta Motor Speedway March 12, 2000
12 2004 Subway 400 0.010 Matt Kenseth Kasey Kahne North Carolina Speedway February 22, 2004
12 2012 Budweiser Shootout* 0.010 Kyle Busch Tony Stewart Daytona International Speedway February 18, 2012
12 2016 Daytona 500[4] 0.010 Denny Hamlin Martin Truex, Jr. Daytona International Speedway February 21, 2016
12 2016 Good Sam 500[5] 0.010 Kevin Harvick Carl Edwards Phoenix International Raceway March 13, 2016
17 2010 Aaron's 499 0.011 Kevin Harvick Jamie McMurray Talladega Superspeedway April 25, 2010
18 2010 Gatorade Duel 2* 0.014 Kasey Kahne Tony Stewart Daytona International Speedway February 11, 2010
18 2020 Daytona 500 0.014 Denny Hamlin Ryan Blaney Daytona International Speedway February 17, 2020
20 2016 Sprint Showdown* 0.015 Kyle Larson Chase Elliott Charlotte Motor Speedway May 20, 2016
21 2005 Ford 400 0.017 Greg Biffle Mark Martin Homestead-Miami Speedway November 20, 2005
22 2011 Good Sam Club 500 0.018 Clint Bowyer Jeff Burton Talladega Superspeedway October 23, 2011
23 2007 Daytona 500 0.020 Kevin Harvick Mark Martin Daytona International Speedway February 18, 2007
24 2014 Budweiser Duel 1* 0.022 Matt Kenseth Kasey Kahne Daytona International Speedway February 20, 2014
25 2020 Yellawood 500 0.023 Denny Hamlin Matt DiBenedetto[N 1] Talladega Superspeedway October 4, 2020
26 1994 Diehard 500 0.025 Jimmy Spencer Bill Elliott Talladega Superspeedway July 24, 1994
27 2005 Coca-Cola 600 0.027 Jimmie Johnson Bobby Labonte Lowe's Motor Speedway May 29, 2005
28 2004 Samsung/Radio Shack 500 0.028 Elliott Sadler Kasey Kahne Texas Motor Speedway April 5, 2004
28 2005 Golden Corral 500 0.028 Carl Edwards Jimmie Johnson Atlanta Motor Speedway March 20, 2005
30 1997 Pepsi 400 0.029 John Andretti Terry Labonte Daytona International Speedway July 5, 1997
31 2005 Gatorade Duel 1* 0.030 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt Jr. Daytona International Speedway February 17, 2005
32 2006 UAW Daimler-Chrysler 400 0.045 Jimmie Johnson Matt Kenseth Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 12, 2006
33 1995 Diehard 500 0.050 Sterling Marlin Dale Jarrett Talladega Superspeedway July 23, 1995
34 1998 Exide Select Batteries 400 0.051 Jeff Burton Jeff Gordon Richmond International Raceway September 12, 1998
35 2008 Amp Energy 500 0.052 Tony Stewart Paul Menard Talladega Superspeedway October 5, 2008
36 2011 Budweiser Shootout* 0.058 Kurt Busch Jamie McMurray Daytona International Speedway February 12, 2011
37 2011 Coke Zero 400 0.059 David Ragan Matt Kenseth Daytona International Speedway July 2, 2011
38 2002 Aaron's 499 0.060 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Michael Waltrip Talladega Superspeedway April 21, 2002
39 2007 Food City 500 0.064 Kyle Busch Jeff Burton Bristol Motor Speedway March 25, 2007
40 2007 Goody's Cool Orange 500 0.065 Jimmie Johnson Jeff Gordon Martinsville Speedway April 1, 2007
40 2011 Gatorade Duel 1* 0.065 Kurt Busch Regan Smith Daytona International Speedway February 17, 2011
42 2007 UAW-Ford 500 0.066 Jeff Gordon Jimmie Johnson Talladega Superspeedway October 7, 2007
43 1994 Winston Select 500 0.067 Dale Earnhardt Ernie Irvan Talladega Superspeedway May 1, 1994
44 2007 Lenox Industrial Tools 300 0.068 Denny Hamlin Jeff Gordon New Hampshire Motor Speedway July 1, 2007
45 2019 Quaker State 400 0.076 Kurt Busch Kyle Busch Kentucky Speedway July 13, 2019
46 2005 MBNA NASCAR RacePoints 400 0.080 Jimmie Johnson Kyle Busch Dover International Speedway September 25, 2005
47 2004 Banquet 400 0.081 Joe Nemechek Ricky Rudd Kansas Speedway October 10, 2004
48 2001 Kmart 400 0.085 Jeff Gordon Ricky Rudd Michigan International Speedway June 10, 2001
49 2008 Daytona 500 0.092 Ryan Newman Kurt Busch Daytona International Speedway February 17, 2008
49 2010 Coke Zero 400 0.092 Kevin Harvick Kasey Kahne Daytona International Speedway July 3, 2010
51 2020 Consumers Energy 400 0.093 Kevin Harvick Denny Hamlin Michigan International Speedway August 9, 2020

See also

Notes
  1. Although Dibenedetto crossed the line second, he was officially credited 21st due to forcing William Byron below the double yellow line on the last lap.

References
  1. NASCAR's Analysis Shows Competition Has Become Closer
  2. Classic photos from controversial first Daytona 500 in 1959
  3. 1993 Save Mart Supermarkets 300K Results
  4. "Denny Hamlin edges Martin Truex Jr. by inches to win Daytona 500". ESPN.com. February 22, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  5. Spencer, Reid (March 13, 2016). "Harvick Edges Edwards for Thrilling Phoenix Victory". NASCAR.com. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
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