The finish to the spring 2024 NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway was both spectacular and dynamic as it was simultaneously the third and ninth-closest finish in Cup Series history.
That’s because the margin from first place Daniel Suarez to Ryan Blaney was 0.003 but the margin from Suarez to third place Kyle Busch, 0.007, would have been amongst the closest in the history of the premier division, too.
But where does it stand in motorsports history? Quite high based on all available records.
1986 Spanish Grand Prix, Jerez, 0.014
Ayrton Senna had a 20 second lead when Nigel Mansell pitted with 10 laps remaining and proceeded to eat into the margin at a rate of two seconds per lap. Mansell was there by the final hairpin but just couldn’t overtake the Lotus in his Williams.
1971 Italian Grand Prix, Monza, 0.01
In addition to being the closest finish in Formula 1 history, the 1971 race at Monza was also one of the most spectacular races of all time with an average speed of 150 mph, 25 lead changes and the photo finish.
2024 Ambetter Health 400, Atlanta, 0.003
It’s only NASCAR’s third closest finish but it might be its most spectacular with Daniel Suarez running side-by-side-by-side with Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch for an entire half-lap around the third-year low horsepower, high downforce track layout.
2006 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix, Estoril, 0.002
Toni Elias has just one MotoGP to his credit but he made it count against one of the all-time greats in Valentino Rossi, and his second most 115. Elias was third taking the white flag with his Honda, and on an expiring contract, riding with all he haf. He dove under Rossi and Kenny Roberts into Turn 1, made it stick, but it left him exposed to Rossi to retake the lead. Elias wouldn’t be denied and barely beat Rossi to the line.
2011 Aaron’s 499, Talladega, 0.002
This finish was a byproduct of NASCAR’s tandem racing era at Talladega and Daytona where two cars linked-up bumper-to-bumper would go faster than a pack of cars drafting. Jimmie Johnson just barely edged out Clint Bowyer with Jeff Gordon fading after taking the white flag as Mark Martin tried to block Johnson.
2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, Darlington, 0.0026
What made this finish so spectacular beyond the margin of victory was just how Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch contested the battle. Both drivers were on old tires on a track notorious for abusing Goodyear rubber and they were sliding across the surface and bouncing off the wall before ultimately bouncing off each other at the line.
2013 Firestone Freedom 100, Indianapolis, 0.0026
Arguably the most thrilling finish in the traditional Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway didn’t even take place in the Indianapolis 500. It was a four-wide finish where Peter Dempsey sniffed a draft off the three-wide battle ahead of him, the trio of Gabby Chavez, Carlos Muñoz and Sage Karam. The momentum carried him to the win over Chavez.
2002 IRL Indy 300, Chicagoland, 0.0033
The second closest finish in what is now the history of the IndyCar Series was so close that the immediate timing monitor in the tower was wrong. It showed Scott Dixon had won because it defaulted to the previous lap because the timing mechanism was too close to call. After photo evidence was reviewed, Helio Castroneves was awarded the win. The IRL always delivered on ovals despite its polarizing pack racing rules package. Castroneves won the race ahead of Dixon, but Dixon won the championship ahead of Castroneves.
2008 IRL Indy 300, Chicagoland, 0.0024
The closest finish in IndyCar history also took place at Chicagoland. It’s Sam Hornish Jr. and Al Unser Jr. in the closest finish in IndyCar Series history.
Indy Pro Series Chicago 100, Chicagoland, 0.0005
Guinness World Records recognises this as the closest margin of victory in any car race and it was in a junior category between IndyCar hopefuls Alex Lloyd, then a 23 year old Brit, versus American 19 year old, Logan Gomez.