There are plenty of exciting NASCAR races that have contributed to the sport becoming as popular as it is today. The most impactful ones featured some of the biggest moments in NASCAR history and played a pivotal role in transforming the league into its current form. With all of that in mind, here are the top six most influential races of all time.
6. 2011 Ford 400
The Ford 400, which took place on November 20, 2011, at Homestead-Miami Speedway is famous for having the wildest finale of a NASCAR season. This race was the last race of the season and the championship battle between Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards both of whom had the same points at the end of the championship.
Stewart was declared the champion in a tie-break situation since he had more race wins in the season than Edwards. His sensational win came after he had to start the race in the 36th position and had to make some pit stops to repair his car proving that anything can happen in NASCAR races.
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5. 2001 Daytona 500
The 2001 Daytona 500 race which took place on February 18th, is considered one of the most dramatic NASCAR races in history, for the combination of spectacular moments and a terrible accident. Michael Waltrip got his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series win after almost 500 starts and the race ended with a tragic last-lap accident that took the life of the beloved and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt.
This terrible event had many repercussions concerning safety, including the widespread use of HANS devices, SAFER barriers, and better-designed cars to protect drivers.
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4. 1992 Hooters 500
The Hooters 500 in November 1992, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, is among the most famous NASCAR races ever because of the rivalry between the drivers and its historical importance. This race was also the last for Richard Petty. The man with 200 wins, and seven championships to his name. It also included the career start for one of the greatest NASCAR drivers ever, Jeff Gordon.
The race was also one of the most exciting championship races in the history of the Cup Series, between six drivers with Kulwicki securing his first and only championship in the Cup Series by beating Elliott by just ten points.
3. 1984 Firecracker 400
The Firecracker 400 race in 1984, at the Daytona International Speedway featured the last Cup Series win of Richard Petty. The race became even more significant as then-United States President Ronald Reagan attended, making him the first sitting president to attend a NASCAR race. Petty’s victory and Regan’s appearances showed that NASCAR was rising as a part of American culture.
2. 1979 Daytona 500
The 1979 Daytona 500 became the first 500-mile NASCAR race to be broadcast live on a major network (CBS). This event brought millions of fans to the world of stock car racing, partly because a snowstorm kept everyone in the northeast US home to watch the race.
It ended with a spectacular crash on the last lap between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison, and a live post-race fistfight between Yarborough and the Allison brothers that made it one of the most memorable races that showed the intensity of the sport.
1. The 1959 Daytona 500
The very first Daytona 500 in 1959, is the most influential NASCAR race of all time. It was the first 500-mile race at Daytona International Speedway and can be considered as the start of major history with this track. The race was NASCAR’s first to use a photo finish and Lee Petty was declared the winner three days after the event, having just edged out Johnny Beauchamp and Joe Weatherly.
At an average speed of over 135 mph it presented the high-speed thrills of stock car racing, endeared itself to the spectators, and made Daytona a part of NASCAR history.
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