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The three closest finishes in NASCAR Cup Series history. (NASCAR Photos/David Moulthrop Photo)
NASCAR Cup Series

Welcome, Atlanta: The Three Closest Finishes In Cup Series History

February 26, 2024

The margin of victory for Daniel Suarez over Ryan Blaney on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a mere .003 seconds.

That places the Ambetter Health 400 as the third closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history.

For a refresher, let’s take a look at the top-three closest finishes, including Sunday’s Cup Series race.

Third: 2024 Atlanta Motor Speedway Spring

In what turned into an all-time classic, Suarez made the outside lane work by the slimmest of margins to outduel Blaney and Kyle Busch by a combined .007 seconds at the 1.5-mile oval.

It was Suarez’s second career Cup Series victory, and his first on an oval. 

T-First: 2003 Darlington Raceway Spring

The battle between Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch still lives on strong, even if it’s closing in on 21 years since the great duel.

After the two competitors fought in the closing laps, it came down to the two clashing on the Darlington (S.C.) Raceway frontstretch, where Craven’s No. 32 Pontiac narrowly beat Busch’s No. 97 Ford by .002 seconds.

T-First: 2011 Talladega Superspeedway Spring

Back when tandem drafting was the way to prevail on superspeedways, a last-lap push from teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. vaulted Jimmie Johnson to the victory at the 2.66-mile oval over Clint Bowyer by .002 seconds, tied for the closest finish in Cup Series history.

The electrifying finish also included a three-wide finish like Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400, with Jeff Gordon crossing the finish line in third place.