# 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 2024, 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, or 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 | Date |
| 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 |
| 2 | 2011 Aaron's 499 | 0.002 | 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 |
| 6 | 2007 Pepsi 400 | 0.005 | Jamie McMurray | Kyle Busch | Daytona International Speedway | July 7, 2007 |
| 6 | 2011 Gatorade Duel 2* | 0.005 | Jeff Burton | Clint Bowyer | Daytona International Speedway | February 17, 2011 |
| 9 | 2001 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 | 0.006 | Kevin Harvick | Jeff Gordon | Atlanta Motor Speedway | March 11, 2001 |
| 9 | 2010 Gatorade Duel 1* | 0.006 | Jimmie Johnson | Kevin Harvick | Daytona International Speedway | February 11, 2010 |
| 9 | 2024 Daytona 500 | 0.006 | William Byron | Alex Bowman | Daytona International Speedway | February 18, 2024 |
| 9 | 2024 YellaWood 500 | 0.006 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Brad Keselowski | Talladega Superspeedway | October 6, 2024 |
| 13 | 2019 1000Bulbs.com 500 | 0.007 | Ryan Blaney | Ryan Newman | Talladega Superspeedway | October 14, 2019 |
| 13 | 2020 GEICO 500 | 0.007 | Ryan Blaney | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Talladega Superspeedway | June 22, 2020 |
| 15 | 1994 Pepsi 400 | 0.008 | Jimmy Spencer | Ernie Irvan | Daytona International Speedway | July 2, 1994 |
| 16 | 2000 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 | 0.010 | Dale Earnhardt | Bobby Labonte | Atlanta Motor Speedway | March 12, 2000 |
| 16 | 2004 Subway 400 | 0.010 | Matt Kenseth | Kasey Kahne | North Carolina Speedway | February 22, 2004 |
| 16 | 2016 Daytona 500 | 0.010 | Denny Hamlin | Martin Truex Jr. | Daytona International Speedway | February 21, 2016 |
| 16 | 2016 Good Sam 500 | 0.010 | Kevin Harvick | Carl Edwards | Phoenix International Raceway | March 13, 2016 |
| 20 | 2010 Aaron's 499 | 0.011 | Kevin Harvick | Jamie McMurray | Talladega Superspeedway | April 25, 2010 |
| 21 | 2023 YellaWood 500 | 0.012 | Ryan Blaney | William Byron | Talladega Superspeedway | October 1, 2023 |
| 22 | 2012 Budweiser Shootout* | 0.013 | Kyle Busch | Tony Stewart | Daytona International Speedway | February 18, 2012 |
| 23 | 2010 Gatorade Duel 2* | 0.014 | Kasey Kahne | Tony Stewart | Daytona International Speedway | February 11, 2010 |
| 23 | 2020 Daytona 500 | 0.014 | Denny Hamlin | Ryan Blaney | Daytona International Speedway | February 17, 2020 |
| 25 | 2016 Sprint Showdown* | 0.015 | Kyle Larson | Chase Elliott | Charlotte Motor Speedway | May 20, 2016 |
| 26 | 2005 Ford 400 | 0.017 | Greg Biffle | Mark Martin | Homestead-Miami Speedway | November 20, 2005 |
| 27 | 2011 Good Sam Club 500 | 0.018 | Clint Bowyer | Jeff Burton | Talladega Superspeedway | October 23, 2011 |
| 28 | 2007 Daytona 500 | 0.020 | Kevin Harvick | Mark Martin | Daytona International Speedway | February 18, 2007 |
| 29 | 2014 Budweiser Duel 1* | 0.022 | Matt Kenseth | Kasey Kahne | Daytona International Speedway | February 20, 2014 |
| 30 | 1994 Diehard 500 | 0.025 | Jimmy Spencer | Bill Elliott | Talladega Superspeedway | July 24, 1994 |
| 31 | 2005 Coca-Cola 600 | 0.027 | Jimmie Johnson | Bobby Labonte | Lowe's Motor Speedway | May 29, 2005 |
| 32 | 2004 Samsung/Radio Shack 500 | 0.028 | Elliott Sadler | Kasey Kahne | Texas Motor Speedway | April 5, 2004 |
| 32 | 2005 Golden Corral 500 | 0.028 | Carl Edwards | Jimmie Johnson | Atlanta Motor Speedway | March 20, 2005 |
| 34 | 1997 Pepsi 400 | 0.029 | John Andretti | Terry Labonte | Daytona International Speedway | July 5, 1997 |
| 35 | 2005 Gatorade Duel 1* | 0.030 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Daytona International Speedway | February 17, 2005 |
| 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 | 2024 Bluegreen Vacations Duel #1* | 0.056 | Tyler Reddick | Chase Elliott | Daytona International Speedway | February 15, 2024 |
| 46 | 2021 Bluegreen Vacations Duel #2* | 0.057 | Austin Dillon | Bubba Wallace | Daytona International Speedway | February 11, 2021 |
| 47 | 2011 Budweiser Shootout* | 0.058 | Kurt Busch | Jamie McMurray | Daytona International Speedway | February 12, 2011 |
| 48 | 2011 Coke Zero 400 | 0.059 | David Ragan | Matt Kenseth | Daytona International Speedway | July 2, 2011 |
| 49 | 2002 Aaron's 499 | 0.060 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Michael Waltrip | Talladega Superspeedway | April 21, 2002 |
| 50 | 2007 Food City 500 | 0.064 | Kyle Busch | Jeff Burton | Bristol Motor Speedway | March 25, 2007 |
| 51 | 2007 Goody's Cool Orange 500 | 0.065 | Jimmie Johnson | Jeff Gordon | Martinsville Speedway | April 1, 2007 |
| 51 | 2011 Gatorade Duel 1* | 0.065 | Kurt Busch | Regan Smith | Daytona International Speedway | February 17, 2011 |
| 53 | 2007 UAW-Ford 500 | 0.066 | Jeff Gordon | Jimmie Johnson | Talladega Superspeedway | October 7, 2007 |
| 54 | 1994 Winston Select 500 | 0.067 | Dale Earnhardt | Ernie Irvan | Talladega Superspeedway | May 1, 1994 |
| 55 | 2007 Lenox Industrial Tools 300 | 0.068 | Denny Hamlin | Jeff Gordon | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | July 1, 2007 |
| 2024 Ally 400 | 0.068 | Joey Logano | Zane Smith | Nashville Superspeedway | June 30, 2024 |
| 57 | 2019 Quaker State 400 | 0.076 | Kurt Busch | Kyle Busch | Kentucky Speedway | July 13, 2019 |
| 58 | 2021 FireKeepers Casino 400 | 0.077 | Ryan Blaney | William Byron | Michigan International Speedway | August 22, 2021 |
| 59 | 2005 MBNA NASCAR RacePoints 400 | 0.080 | Jimmie Johnson | Kyle Busch | Dover International Speedway | September 25, 2005 |
| 60 | 2004 Banquet 400 | 0.081 | Joe Nemechek | Ricky Rudd | Kansas Speedway | October 10, 2004 |
| 61 | 2023 South Point 400 | 0.082 | Kyle Larson | Christopher Bell | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | October 15, 2023 |
| 61 | 2025 The Duel at Daytona #1* | 0.082 | Bubba Wallace | William Byron | Daytona International Speedway | February 13, 2025 |
| 63 | 2001 Kmart 400 | 0.085 | Jeff Gordon | Ricky Rudd | Michigan International Speedway | June 10, 2001 |
| 64 | 2020 Yellawood 500 | 0.086 | Denny Hamlin | Erik Jones | Talladega Superspeedway | October 4, 2020 |
| 65 | 2008 Daytona 500 | 0.092 | Ryan Newman | Kurt Busch | Daytona International Speedway | February 17, 2008 |
| 65 | 2010 Coke Zero 400 | 0.092 | Kevin Harvick | Kasey Kahne | Daytona International Speedway | July 3, 2010 |
| 67 | 2020 Consumers Energy 400 | 0.093 | Kevin Harvick | Denny Hamlin | Michigan International Speedway | August 9, 2020 |
| 68 | 2003 EA Sports 500 | 0.095 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Talladega Superspeedway | September 28, 2003 |
| 68 | 2017 GEICO 500 | 0.095 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Jamie McMurray | Talladega Superspeedway | May 7, 2017 |
| 70 | 2009 Sharpie 500 | 0.098 | Kyle Busch | Mark Martin | Bristol Motor Speedway | August 22, 2009 |
| 70 | 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400 | 0.098 | Chris Buescher | Brad Keselowski | Daytona International Speedway | August 26, 2023 |