Superstore
AUCTIONS
Bobby Allison shares in the post-race celebration with son Davey after winning the 1988 Daytona 500.

Your Voice: Sound off on the "50 Greatest Races"

By NASCAR.COM
January 8, 2009
02:03 PM EST
Save Article Email Article Print Article RSS
type size: + -

NASCAR Media Group has compiled a list of the sport's 50 greatest races. Now is your chance to weigh in and vote for No. 1.

With races dating from the Aug. 26, 1956, event at Darlington -- a victory by the legendary Curtis Turner -- to Juan Montoya's win on June 24, 2007, at Sonoma, the list encompasses six decades of great racing.

NASCAR.COM will reveal the Top 10 during Speedweeks, beginning Feb. 2. The fans' top choice will be unveiled on Feb. 13.

Check out the list below, then vote in the poll on the right-hand side of the page:

NASCAR's 50 Greatest Races

Date Track Significance
8/26/56 Darlington C. Turner wins; 14 lead changes among seven drivers.
7/4/62 Daytona F. Roberts wraps sweep of every major event at Daytona in 1962.
2/24/63 Daytona T. Lund wins as a replacement driver for M. Panch.
6/2/63 Charlotte F. Lorenzen beats J. Johnson, who blows tire with four laps to go.
9/6/65 Darlington N. Jarrett wins by 14 laps, record for margin of victory on superspeedway.
10/31/65 Rockingham C. Turner wins inaugural race at Rockingham; his final career win.
7/4/74 Daytona D. Pearson passes R. Petty on final lap to win.
2/15/76 Daytona Pearson vs. Petty: Crash in Turn 4; Pearson wins.
2/20/77 Daytona J. Guthrie is the first woman to compete in the Daytona 500.
2/18/79 Daytona The Fight: D. Allison vs. C. Yarbrough; R. Petty wins race.
4/8/79 Darlington D. Waltrip beats R. Petty in thriller with four lead changes on final lap.
2/15/81 Daytona R. Petty makes last-second pit stop to win seventh Daytona 500.
7/4/84 Daytona R. Petty's 200th win; President Reagan on hand.
7/29/84 Talladega A whopping 68 lead changes; D. Earnhardt wins.
5/5/85 Talladega B. Elliott comes from two laps down to win.
9/1/85 Darlington B. Elliott wins the Winston Million.
2/23/86 Richmond Crash between D. Earnhardt and D. Waltrip gives K. Petty first win.
5/25/87 Charlotte Pass in the Grass: D. Earnhardt holds off B. Elliott in The Winston.
6/14/87 Pocono T. Richmond wins in his comeback race after recovery from illness.
2/14/88 Daytona Bobby and Davey Allison finish 1-2.
11/6/88 Phoenix A. Kulwicki wins, does a Polish Victory Lap.
2/19/89 Daytona D. Waltrip wins Daytona 500 in his 17th try.
5/21/89 Charlotte R. Wallace spins D. Waltrip to win The Winston.
10/15/89 N. Wilkesboro R. Rudd and D. Earnhardt feud gives win to G. Bodine.
8/18/91 Michigan D. Jarrett takes first career win with 10-inch margin over D. Allison.
9/22/91 Martinsville "Mr. September" H. Gant wins fourth consecutive race.
11/15/92 Atlanta A. Kulwicki wins championship; R. Petty's final race.
2/14/93 Daytona Dale and Dale Show: Jarrett beats Earnhardt in the Daytona 500.
5/30/93 Charlotte D. Earnhardt overcomes penalties for rough driving, speeding on pit road, too many crew members over the wall to win.
5/29/94 Charlotte J. Gordon comes of age, gets first win at Charlotte.
8/6/94 Indianapolis J. Gordon wins inaugural Brickyard 400.
10/23/94 Rockingham D. Earnhardt wins his seventh Cup championship.
5/28/95 Charlotte Bobby Labonte bests brother Terry to win Coca-Cola 600.
8/26/95 Bristol T. Labonte wins backwards after tap from Dale Earnhardt.
8/31/97 Darlington J. Gordon wins second Winston Million.
2/15/98 Daytona D. Earnhardt wins Daytona 500 in 19th attempt.
8/28/99 Bristol D. Earnhardt wins by spinning out T. Labonte.
3/12/00 Atlanta Dale Earnhardt beats B. Labonte by .01 seconds.
10/15/00 Talladega D. Earnhardt's final win, moves from 17th to first in final six laps.
2/16/01 Rockingham S. Park wins for DEI following Dale Earnhardt's death.
7/7/01 Daytona Dale Jr. wins first Daytona race since D. Earnhardt's death.
3/11/01 Atlanta K. Harvick wins for RCR following D. Earnhardt's death.
3/16/03 Darlington R. Craven holds off Ku. Busch to win by .002 seconds.
11/21/04 Homestead Ku. Busch wins first Chase championship.
3/20/05 Atlanta First Cup "flip": C. Edwards defeats J. Johnson by 0.028 seconds.
9/4/05 California Ky. Busch's first win makes him youngest-ever winner of a Cup race.
3/26/06 Bristol Ku. Busch wins Bristol, makes Snow Angels on banking.
2/18/07 Daytona K. Harvick wins over M. Martin by .02 seconds.
4/21/07 Phoenix J. Gordon ties D. Earnhardt on all-time wins list.
6/24/07 Sonoma J. Montoya wins his first Cup Series race.
Community.jpg

You know NMG's choices, but is your greatest race on the list?
• Your Voice: Join the discussion!external link

Shop: Greatest Races DVDs

The End

Also

POPULAR ALERTS
or Create Your Own

Poll

Which is the greatest race?
8/26/56 -- Darlington
7/4/62 -- Daytona
2/24/63 -- Daytona
6/2/63 -- Charlotte
9/6/65 -- Darlington
10/31/65 -- Rockingham
7/4/74 -- Daytona
2/15/76 -- Daytona
2/20/77 -- Daytona
2/18/79 -- Daytona
4/8/79 -- Darlington
2/15/81 -- Daytona
7/4/84 -- Daytona
7/29/84 -- Talladega
5/5/85 -- Talladega
9/1/85 -- Darlington
2/23/86 -- Richmond
5/25/87 -- Charlotte
6/14/87 -- Pocono
2/14/88 -- Daytona
11/6/88 -- Phoenix
2/19/89 -- Daytona
5/21/89 -- Charlotte
10/15/89 -- N. Wilkesboro
8/18/91 -- Michigan
9/22/91 -- Martinsville
11/15/92 -- Atlanta
2/14/93 -- Daytona
5/30/93 -- Charlotte
5/29/94 -- Charlotte
8/6/94 -- Indianapolis
10/23/94 -- Rockingham
5/28/95 -- Charlotte
8/26/95 -- Bristol
8/31/97 -- Darlington
2/15/98 -- Daytona
8/28/99 -- Bristol
3/12/00 -- Atlanta
10/15/00 -- Talladega
2/16/01 -- Rockingham
7/7/01 -- Daytona
3/11/01 -- Atlanta
3/16/03 -- Darlington
11/21/04 -- Homestead
3/20/05 -- Atlanta
9/4/05 -- California
3/26/06 -- Bristol
2/18/07 -- Daytona
4/21/07 -- Phoenix
6/24/07 -- Sonoma
view results

Remember To Check Out

All External sites will open in a new browser window. NASCAR.COM does not endorse external sites.
© 2001-2009 NASCAR | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Turner Entertainment Digital Network NASCAR.COM is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.