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List of the closest NASCAR Cup Series finishes

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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 2025, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series is 0.001 seconds at the 2024 AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, as Kyle Larson crossed the finish line inches ahead of Chris Buescher.

History

Prior to the introduction of integrated electronic scoring in May 1993, margins of victory were scored in laps, car lengths, feet, or inches, using handheld stopwatches or analog timing clocks. 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.

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.

Closest finishes

*	Event was not part of the regular season

NASCAR Cup Series closest finishes	Rank	Race	Margin	Winner	2nd Place	Track
1	2024 AdventHealth 400	0.001	Kyle Larson	Chris Buescher	Kansas Speedway	May 5, 2024
2	2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400	0.002	Ricky Craven	Kurt Busch	Darlington Raceway	March 16, 2003
2011 Aaron's 499	Jimmie Johnson	Clint Bowyer	Talladega Superspeedway	April 17, 2011
4	2024 Ambetter Health 400	0.003	Daniel Suárez	Ryan Blaney	Atlanta Motor Speedway	February 25, 2024
5	2001 Gatorade Duel 2*	0.004	Mike Skinner	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Daytona International Speedway	February 15, 2001
6	1993 DieHard 500	0.005	Dale Earnhardt	Ernie Irvan	Talladega Superspeedway	July 25, 1993
2007 Pepsi 400	Jamie McMurray	Kyle Busch	Daytona International Speedway	July 7, 2007
2010 Gatorade Duel 1*	Jimmie Johnson	Kevin Harvick	Daytona International Speedway	February 11, 2010
2011 Gatorade Duel 2*	Jeff Burton	Clint Bowyer	Daytona International Speedway	February 17, 2011
10	2001 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500	0.006	Kevin Harvick	Jeff Gordon	Atlanta Motor Speedway	March 11, 2001
2024 YellaWood 500	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Brad Keselowski	Talladega Superspeedway	October 6, 2024
12	2019 1000Bulbs.com 500	0.007	Ryan Blaney	Ryan Newman	Talladega Superspeedway	October 14, 2019
2020 GEICO 500	Ryan Blaney	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Talladega Superspeedway	June 22, 2020
14	1994 Pepsi 400	0.008	Jimmy Spencer	Ernie Irvan	Daytona International Speedway	July 2, 1994
15	2000 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500	0.010	Dale Earnhardt	Bobby Labonte	Atlanta Motor Speedway	March 12, 2000
2004 Subway 400	Matt Kenseth	Kasey Kahne	North Carolina Speedway	February 22, 2004
2016 Daytona 500	Denny Hamlin	Martin Truex Jr.	Daytona International Speedway	February 21, 2016
2016 Good Sam 500	Kevin Harvick	Carl Edwards	Phoenix International Raceway	March 13, 2016
19	2010 Aaron's 499	0.011	Kevin Harvick	Jamie McMurray	Talladega Superspeedway	April 25, 2010
20	2012 Budweiser Shootout*	0.013	Kyle Busch	Tony Stewart	Daytona International Speedway	February 18, 2012
22	2010 Gatorade Duel 2*	0.014	Kasey Kahne	Tony Stewart	Daytona International Speedway	February 11, 2010
2020 Daytona 500	Denny Hamlin	Ryan Blaney	Daytona International Speedway	February 17, 2020
23	2016 Sprint Showdown*	0.015	Kyle Larson	Chase Elliott	Charlotte Motor Speedway	May 20, 2016
24	2005 Ford 400	0.017	Greg Biffle	Mark Martin	Homestead-Miami Speedway	November 20, 2005
26	2011 Good Sam Club 500	0.018	Clint Bowyer	Jeff Burton	Talladega Superspeedway	October 23, 2011
2023 Bluegreen Vacations Duel #1*	Joey Logano	Christopher Bell	Daytona International Speedway	February 16, 2023
27	2007 Daytona 500	0.020	Kevin Harvick	Mark Martin	Daytona International Speedway	February 18, 2007
28	2014 Budweiser Duel 1*	0.022	Matt Kenseth	Kasey Kahne	Daytona International Speedway	February 20, 2014
29	1994 Diehard 500	0.025	Jimmy Spencer	Bill Elliott	Talladega Superspeedway	July 24, 1994
30	2005 Coca-Cola 600	0.027	Jimmie Johnson	Bobby Labonte	Lowe's Motor Speedway	May 29, 2005
31	2004 Samsung/Radio Shack 500	0.028	Elliott Sadler	Kasey Kahne	Texas Motor Speedway	April 5, 2004
2005 Golden Corral 500	Carl Edwards	Jimmie Johnson	Atlanta Motor Speedway	March 20, 2005
33	1997 Pepsi 400	0.029	John Andretti	Terry Labonte	Daytona International Speedway	July 5, 1997
34	2005 Gatorade Duel 1*	0.030	Michael Waltrip	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Daytona International Speedway	February 17, 2005
35	2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400	0.031	Ryan Blaney	Daniel Suárez	Daytona International Speedway	August 23, 2025
36	2022 Daytona 500	0.036	Austin Cindric	Bubba Wallace	Daytona International Speedway	February 20, 2022
37	2021 Bluegreen Vacations Duel #1*	0.041	Aric Almirola	Christopher Bell	Daytona International Speedway	February 11, 2021
38	2006 UAW Daimler-Chrysler 400	0.045	Jimmie Johnson	Matt Kenseth	Las Vegas Motor Speedway	March 12, 2006
39	2022 YellaWood 500	0.046	Chase Elliott	Ryan Blaney	Talladega Superspeedway	October 2, 2022
40	2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400	0.047	Harrison Burton	Kyle Busch	Daytona International Speedway	August 24, 2024
41	2025 Shriners Children's 500	0.049	Christopher Bell	Denny Hamlin	Phoenix Raceway	March 9, 2025
42	1995 Diehard 500	0.050	Sterling Marlin	Dale Jarrett	Talladega Superspeedway	July 23, 1995
43	1998 Exide Select Batteries 400	0.051	Jeff Burton	Jeff Gordon	Richmond International Raceway	September 12, 1998
44	2008 Amp Energy 500	0.052	Tony Stewart	Paul Menard	Talladega Superspeedway	October 5, 2008
45	Bluegreen Vacations Duel #1*	0.056	Tyler Reddick	Chase Elliott	Daytona International Speedway	February 15, 2024
2025 Jack Link's 500	Austin Cindric	Kyle Larson	Talladega Superspeedway	April 27, 2025
47	2021 Bluegreen Vacations Duel #2*	0.057	Austin Dillon	Bubba Wallace	Daytona International Speedway	February 11, 2021
48	2011 Budweiser Shootout*	0.058	Kurt Busch	Jamie McMurray	Daytona International Speedway	February 12, 2011
49	1994 AC Delco 500*	0.06	Dale Earnhardt	Rick Mast	Rockingham Speedway	October 23, 1994
2002 Aaron's 499	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Michael Waltrip	Talladega Superspeedway	April 21, 2002
2014 Budweiser Duel 1*	Matt Kenseth	Kasey Kahne	Daytona International Speedway	February 20, 2014
52	2023 YellaWood 500	0.061	Ryan Blaney	William Byron	Talladega Superspeedway	October 1, 2023
53	2007 Food City 500	0.064	Kyle Busch	Jeff Burton	Bristol Motor Speedway	March 25, 2007
54	2007 Goody's Cool Orange 500	0.065	Jimmie Johnson	Jeff Gordon	Martinsville Speedway	April 1, 2007
2011 Gatorade Duel 1*	Kurt Busch	Regan Smith	Daytona International Speedway	February 17, 2011
56	2007 UAW-Ford 500	0.066	Jeff Gordon	Jimmie Johnson	Talladega Superspeedway	October 7, 2007
57	1994 Winston Select 500	0.067	Dale Earnhardt	Ernie Irvan	May 1, 1994
58	2025 Hollywood Casino 400	0.069	Chase Elliott	Denny Hamlin	Kansas Speedway	September 28, 2025
59	2007 Lenox Industrial Tools 300	0.068	Denny Hamlin	Jeff Gordon	New Hampshire Motor Speedway	July 1, 2007
2024 Ally 400	Joey Logano	Zane Smith	Nashville Superspeedway	June 30, 2024
60	2019 Quaker State 400	0.076	Kurt Busch	Kyle Busch	Kentucky Speedway	July 13, 2019
61	2021 FireKeepers Casino 400	0.077	Ryan Blaney	William Byron	Michigan International Speedway	August 22, 2021
62	1995 Busch Clash*	0.080	Dale Earnhardt	Sterling Marlin	Daytona International Speedway	February 12, 1995
2005 MBNA NASCAR RacePoints 400	Jimmie Johnson	Kyle Busch	Dover Motor Speedway	September 25, 2005
64	2004 Banquet 400	0.081	Joe Nemechek	Ricky Rudd	Kansas Speedway	October 10, 2004
2018 Can-Am Duel #2*	Chase Elliott	Kevin Harvick	Daytona International Speedway	February 15, 2018
66	2023 South Point 400	0.082	Kyle Larson	Christopher Bell	Las Vegas Motor Speedway	October 15, 2023
2025 The Duel at Daytona #1*	Bubba Wallace	William Byron	Daytona International Speedway	February 13, 2025
68	2001 Kmart 400	0.085	Jeff Gordon	Ricky Rudd	Michigan International Speedway	June 10, 2001
69	2020 Yellawood 500	0.086	Denny Hamlin	Erik Jones	Talladega Superspeedway	October 4, 2020
70	1996 Gatorade Twin 125 #2*	0.090	Ernie Irvan	Ken Schrader	Daytona International Speedway	February 15, 1996
71	1997 Miller 500	0.091	Ricky Rudd	Mark Martin	Dover Motor Speedway	June 1, 1997
2008 Gatorade Duel #2	Denny Hamlin	Tony Stewart	Daytona International Speedway	February 14, 2008
73	2008 Daytona 500	0.092	Ryan Newman	Kurt Busch	Daytona International Speedway	February 17, 2008
2010 Coke Zero 400	Kevin Harvick	Kasey Kahne	Daytona International Speedway	July 3, 2010
75	2013 Budweiser Duel #2*	0.093	Kyle Busch	Kasey Kahne	Daytona International Speedway	February 21, 2013
2020 Consumers Energy 400	Kevin Harvick	Denny Hamlin	Michigan International Speedway	August 9, 2020
77	2002 Gatorade 125 #2*	0.094	Michael Waltrip	Tony Stewart	Daytona International Speedway	February 14, 2002
78	2003 EA Sports 500	0.095	Michael Waltrip	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Talladega Superspeedway	September 28, 2003
2017 GEICO 500	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Jamie McMurray	Talladega Superspeedway	May 7, 2017
80	2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race	0.097	Ryan Blaney	Brad Keselowski	Phoenix Raceway	November 9, 2025
82	2009 Sharpie 500	0.098	Kyle Busch	Mark Martin	Bristol Motor Speedway	August 22, 2009
2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400	Chris Buescher	Brad Keselowski	Daytona International Speedway	August 26, 2023
84	1994 Gatorade Twin 125 #2*	0.100	Dale Earnhardt	Sterling Marlin	Daytona International Speedway	February 17, 1994
1995 Goody's 500	Terry Labonte	Dale Earnhardt	Bristol Motor Speedway	August 26, 1995
1996 Miller 400	Ernie Irvan	Jeff Gordon	Richmond Raceway	September 7, 1996
86	1997 Goody's Headache Powder 500	0.102	Dale Jarret	Mark Martin	Bristol Motor Speedway	August 23, 1997
2018 Advance Auto Parts Clash*	Brad Keselowski	Joey Logano	Daytona International Speedway	February 11, 2018
2021 GEICO 500	Brad Keselowski	William Byron	Talladega Superspeedway	April 25, 2021
88	2001 Gatorade 125 #1	0.103	Sterling Marlin	Jerry Nadeau	Daytona International Speedway	February 15, 2001
90	2018 1000Bulbs.com 500	0.105	Aric Almirola	Clint Bowyer	Talladega Superspeedway	October 14, 2018
2022 GEICO 500	Ross Chastain	Austin Dillon	Talladega Superspeedway	April 24, 2022
92	2013 Coke Zero 400	0.107	Jimmie Johnson	Tony Stewart	Daytona International Speedway	July 6, 2013
2018 First Data 500	Joey Logano	Denny Hamlin	Martinsville Speedway	October 28, 2018
94	2009 Coke Zero 400	0.110	Tony Stewart	Jimmie Johnson	Daytona International Speedway	July 4, 2009
95	2014 5-hour Energy 400	0.112	Jeff Gordon	Kevin Harvick	Kansas Speedway	May 10, 2014
96	2024 Bluegreens Vacation Duel #2*	0.113	Christopher Bell	Austin Cindric	Daytona International Speedway	February 15, 2024
2025 Daytona 500	William Byron	Tyler Reddick	Daytona International Speedway	February 16, 2025
98	1999 Winston 500	0.114	Dale Earnhardt	Dale Jarrett	Talladega Superspeedway	October 17, 1999
2005 Nextel Open	Brian Vickers	Mike Bliss	Charlotte Motor Speedway	May 21, 2005
100	2004 EA Sports 500	0.117	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Kevin Harvick	Talladega Superspeedway	October 3, 2004
2020 Bluegreens Vacation Duel #2*	William Byron	Jimmie Johnson	Daytona International Speedway	February 13, 2020

Notes

References

(May 5, 2024). "Kyle Larson beats Chris Buescher to line at Kansas; scores second win of 2024".
[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/sports/othersports/22auto.html?_r=1&oref=slogin NASCAR's Analysis Shows Competition Has Become Closer]
[http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/gallery/classic-photos-controversial-first-daytona-500-1959-122916-010717 Classic photos from controversial first Daytona 500 in 1959]
[http://racing-reference.info/race/1993_Save_Mart_Supermarkets_300K/W 1993 Save Mart Supermarkets 300K Results]
(February 22, 2016). "Denny Hamlin edges Martin Truex Jr. by inches to win Daytona 500". ESPN.com.
(March 13, 2016). "Harvick Edges Edwards for Thrilling Phoenix Victory". NASCAR.com.

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