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 2026, 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.NASCAR's Analysis Shows Competition Has Become Closer 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.Classic photos from controversial first Daytona 500 in 1959

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.1993 Save Mart Supermarkets 300K Results

Closest finishes * Event was not part of the regular season

NASCAR Cup Series closest finishesRankRaceWinner2nd PlaceTrackDate1 2024 AdventHealth 400 0.001 Kyle Larson Chris Buescher Kansas Speedway May 5, 20242 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, 20114 2024 Ambetter Health 400 0.003 Daniel Suárez Ryan Blaney Atlanta Motor Speedway February 25, 20245 2001 Gatorade Duel 2* 0.004 Mike Skinner Dale Earnhardt Jr. Daytona International Speedway February 15, 20016 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, 20117 2001 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 0.006 Kevin Harvick Jeff Gordon Atlanta Motor Speedway March 11, 20012024 YellaWood 500Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Brad KeselowskiTalladega SuperspeedwayOctober 6, 202412 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, 202014 1994 Pepsi 400 0.008 Jimmy Spencer Ernie Irvan Daytona International Speedway July 2, 199415 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, 201619 2010 Aaron's 499 0.011 Kevin Harvick Jamie McMurray Talladega Superspeedway April 25, 201020 2012 Budweiser Shootout* 0.013 Kyle Busch Tony Stewart Daytona International Speedway February 18, 201222 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, 202023 2016 Sprint Showdown* 0.015 Kyle Larson Chase Elliott Charlotte Motor Speedway May 20, 201624 2005 Ford 400 0.017 Greg Biffle Mark Martin Homestead-Miami Speedway November 20, 200526 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, 202327 2007 Daytona 500 0.020 Kevin Harvick Mark Martin Daytona International Speedway February 18, 200728 2014 Budweiser Duel 1* 0.022 Matt Kenseth Kasey Kahne Daytona International Speedway February 20, 201429 1994 Diehard 500 0.025 Jimmy Spencer Bill Elliott Talladega Superspeedway July 24, 199430 2005 Coca-Cola 600 0.027 Jimmie Johnson Bobby Labonte Lowe's Motor Speedway May 29, 200531 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, 200533 1997 Pepsi 400 0.029 John Andretti Terry Labonte Daytona International Speedway July 5, 199734 2005 Gatorade Duel 1* 0.030 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt Jr. Daytona International Speedway February 17, 200535 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 0.031 Ryan Blaney Daniel Suárez Daytona International Speedway August 23, 202536 2022 Daytona 500 0.036 Austin Cindric Bubba Wallace Daytona International Speedway February 20, 202237 2021 Bluegreen Vacations Duel #1* 0.041 Aric Almirola Christopher Bell Daytona International Speedway February 11, 202138 2006 UAW Daimler-Chrysler 400 0.045 Jimmie Johnson Matt Kenseth Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 12, 200639 2022 YellaWood 500 0.046 Chase Elliott Ryan Blaney Talladega Superspeedway October 2, 202240 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400 0.047 Harrison Burton Kyle Busch Daytona International Speedway August 24, 202441 2025 Shriners Children's 500 0.049 Christopher Bell Denny Hamlin Phoenix Raceway March 9, 202542 1995 Diehard 500 0.050 Sterling Marlin Dale Jarrett Talladega Superspeedway July 23, 199543 1998 Exide Select Batteries 400 0.051 Jeff Burton Jeff Gordon Richmond International Raceway September 12, 199844 2008 Amp Energy 500 0.052 Tony Stewart Paul Menard Talladega Superspeedway October 5, 200845 2026 Food City 500 0.055 Ty Gibbs Ryan Blaney Bristol Motor Speedway April 12, 202646 Bluegreen Vacations Duel #1* 0.056 Tyler Reddick Chase Elliott Daytona International SpeedwayFebruary 15, 2024 2025 Jack Link's 500 Austin Cindric Kyle Larson Talladega Superspeedway April 27, 202548 2021 Bluegreen Vacations Duel #2* 0.057 Austin Dillon Bubba Wallace Daytona International Speedway February 11, 202149 2011 Budweiser Shootout* 0.058 Kurt Busch Jamie McMurray Daytona International Speedway February 12, 201150 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, 201453 2023 YellaWood 500 0.061 Ryan Blaney William Byron Talladega Superspeedway October 1, 202354 2007 Food City 500 0.064 Kyle Busch Jeff Burton Bristol Motor Speedway March 25, 200755 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 2026 America 250 Florida Duel at Daytona Duel 2* Chase Elliott Carson Hocevar February 12, 202658 2007 UAW-Ford 500 0.066 Jeff Gordon Jimmie Johnson Talladega Superspeedway October 7, 200759 1994 Winston Select 500 0.067 Dale Earnhardt Ernie Irvan May 1, 199460 2007 Lenox Industrial Tools 300 0.068 Denny Hamlin Jeff Gordon New Hampshire Motor Speedway July 1, 2007 2026 Quaker State 400 Ryan Blaney Christopher Bell EchoPark Speedway July 12–13, 2026 2024 Ally 400 Joey Logano Zane Smith Nashville Superspeedway June 30, 202463 2025 Hollywood Casino 400 0.069 Chase Elliott Denny Hamlin Kansas Speedway September 28, 202564 2019 Quaker State 400 0.076 Kurt Busch Kyle Busch Kentucky Speedway July 13, 201965 2021 FireKeepers Casino 400 0.077 Ryan Blaney William Byron Michigan International Speedway August 22, 202166 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, 200568 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, 2018692023 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, 202571 2001 Kmart 400 0.085 Jeff Gordon Ricky Rudd Michigan International Speedway June 10, 200172 2020 Yellawood 500 0.086 Denny Hamlin Erik Jones Talladega Superspeedway October 4, 202073 1996 Gatorade Twin 125 #2* 0.090 Ernie Irvan Ken Schrader Daytona International Speedway February 15, 199674 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, 200876 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, 201078 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, 202080 2002 Gatorade 125 #2* 0.094 Michael Waltrip Tony Stewart Daytona International Speedway February 14, 200281 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, 201783 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race 0.097 Ryan Blaney Brad Keselowski Phoenix Raceway November 9, 202584 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, 202386 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, 199689 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, 202192 2001 Gatorade 125 #1 0.103 Sterling Marlin Jerry Nadeau Daytona International Speedway February 15, 200193 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, 202295 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, 201897 2009 Coke Zero 400 0.110 Tony Stewart Jimmie Johnson Daytona International Speedway July 4, 200998 2014 5-hour Energy 400 0.112 Jeff Gordon Kevin Harvick Kansas Speedway May 10, 201499 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, 2025101 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 2026 Jack Link's 500 Carson Hocevar Chris Buescher Talladega Superspeedway April 26, 2026105 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

See also Photo finish List of the closest NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series finishes List of the closest NASCAR Truck Series finishes

Notes

References

External links NASCAR Cup Series closest finishes (as of 2006)