Best finishes of 2018

The bump-and-run. Slide job. The closest finish in NASCAR history. The 2018 season has had it all, some of the best finishes that we can remember in all three national series. Take a look at some of our favorites.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Feb. 18: Daytona 500 -- Austin Dillon vs. Aric Almirola


The season started with an instant classic as Aric Almirola, in his first race with Stewart-Haas Racing, took the white flag in the Daytona 500 and appeared on his way to the checkered. Austin Dillon caught up with the No. 10 Ford, though, locked bumpers in Turn 3 and sent Almirola into the wall as Dillon collected the trophy.

July 1: Chicago -- Kyle Busch vs. Kyle Larson


A last-lap battle included a Kyle Larson "Slide job!" that nudged Kyle Busch into the wall, and opened the door for Busch to execute a bump-and-run on Larson and cross the finish line first. "That's got to be one of the best NASCAR finishes of all time," Larson said afterward. "I know I'm on the short end of the stick again, but it was fun."

July 7: Daytona -- Erik Jones vs. Martin Truex Jr.


Erik Jones led one lap of the Daytona summer race -- the last one. In a wreck-filled race, Jones lined up alongside Martin Truex Jr. for one final overtime restart, and surged ahead for his first career victory.

July 22: New Hampshire -- Kevin Harvick vs. Kyle Busch


With seven laps remaining in New Hampshire, Kevin Harvick caught up to Kyle Busch, nudged him from behind and went on to win. The bump-and-run earned Harvick his sixth victory of the season.

Sept. 10: Indianapolis -- Brad Keselowski vs. Denny Hamlin


Denny Hamlin led a race-high 37 laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but was foiled by a late-race caution that set up a final restart. Brad Keselowski caught up to Hamlin with two laps to go on his fresher tires, bumping and banging until he took the lead -- securing Keselowski’s second of three straight wins.

Sept. 30: Charlotte road course -- Jimmie Johnson vs. Martin Truex Jr. (with Ryan Blaney winning)


On the final lap of the debut of the Charlotte Road Course, Jimmie Johnson went for the win while trying to catch Martin Truex Jr. just before the finish line. Johnson ended up spinning both Truex and himself -- and Ryan Blaney snuck by for the win.

Oct. 28: Martinsville – Joey Logano vs. Martin Truex Jr.


After stalking leader Joey Logano over the closing laps, Martin Truex Jr. finally passed the No. 22 Ford as the white flag flew at Martinsville Speedway. Logano wasn't done, though, as he drew even, then pulled a bump-and-run in Turns 3 and 4, knocking Truex's No. 78 Toyota out of the way as he scooted across the finish line first.

Xfinity Series

Feb. 17: Daytona -- Tyler Reddick vs. Elliott Sadler


After five overtimes, Tyler Reddick beat Elliott Sadler to the finish line by 0.0004 seconds -- the closest margin of victory in NASCAR history. Officially, the margin of victory was initially displayed as 0.000 seconds because NASCAR doesn't record time beyond the thousandth of a second.

July 28: Iowa -- Justin Allgaier vs. Christopher Bell


On a final double-overtime restart at the July Iowa race, Christopher Bell found a way to bang and then squeeze past Justin Allgaier after the white flag flew. Allgaier took issue with Bell's aggressive driving in the end. "He lifted me up at the start and lifted me off of Turn 2 and then tried to put me in the fence," Allgaier said. "Yeah, I'm salty."

Camping World Truck Series

May 4: Dover -- Johnny Sauter vs. Noah Gragson


Noah Gragson was racing Johnny Sauter side-by-side with two laps to go when Gragson's No. 18 Toyota spiraled down and hit the wall hard after a failed attempt at side-drafting Sauter's No. 21. Gragson was dejected after what he called a "wreckers or checkers" moment.

June 16: Iowa -- Brett Moffitt vs. Noah Gragson


Brett Moffitt had to hold off a late charge from Noah Gragson, who dove to the inside of Moffitt on Turn 3 but then crashed into the outside wall when carried by his momentum. Moffitt cut back under Gragson and crossed the finish line first.

July 18: Eldora -- Chase Briscoe vs. Grant Enfinger


Chase Briscoe and ThorSport Racing teammate Grant Enfinger raced side-by-side over the final two laps, banging and shoving until Briscoe led by a hair at the finish line and emerged as the dirt-track winner.

Aug. 11: Michigan -- Brett Moffitt vs. Johnny Sauter


Becoming a master at last-lap passes, Brett Moffitt passed Johnny Sauter in the last corner of the last lap at Michigan International Speedway and edged Sauter at the finish line by 0.025 seconds.

Aug. 26: Canadian Tire -- Noah Gragson vs. Todd Gilliland (with Justin Haley winning)


Noah Gragson made a bold move in an attempt to pass Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Todd Gilliland on the final turn at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and both collided as Justin Haley squeezed by for the win. "I'd go fight him right now, but I can't," Gilliland said afterward. "I just need to get my emotions in check and go talk to him. But I'm extremely mad."