NASCAR in 1992: Key story lines, moments of the season

The 1992 NASCAR Cup Series season was one for the ages: Richard Petty's final season, Jeff Gordon's first race, the one-and-only Alan Kulwicki championship -- and plenty of highlights in between. Take a look at some of the best moments from the standout year.

In the season-opening Daytona 500, teammates Bill Elliott and Sterling Martin qualified 1-2, but when Ernie Irvan made it three-wide on Lap 92, all three lost control and triggered the "Big One." Fourteen cars were eliminated by the wreck. Davey Allison escaped unscathed, though, led 95 of the final 100 laps and won his first Daytona 500.

Bill Elliott -- shown here with car owner Junior Johnson -- added his name to the record book in the Darlington TransSouth 500 in March when he logged his fourth straight victory. Elliott had to outduel Harry Gant -- who had just won four straight six months earlier -- to claim the trophy.

Lights were installed at Charlotte Motor Speedway, allowing for the first nighttime NASCAR All-Star Race -- which turned into the famous "One Hot Night." In the final 10-lap shootout, Dale Earnhardt led Kyle Petty and Davey Allison. As the cars entered the last lap, Petty nudged Earnhardt, spinning him out in Turn 3. Petty took the lead in Turn 4, but Allison pulled alongside him, and the two cars touched as they crossed the finish line -- with Allison just edging Petty for the win. The contact sent Allison hard into the outside wall, and he spent the night in the hospital.

Dale Earnhardt, shown here with sons Dale Jr. and Kerry, won the Coca-Cola 600 -- his only victory of the season. The trying 1992 season marked just the second time the seven-time champion finished outside the top 10 in his career.

President George H.W. Bush was on hand at Daytona International Speedway in July to honor Richard Petty's final race at the track and serve as grand marshal. Buoyed by the support, Petty led the first five laps ... then fell behind. Ernie Irvan held off a furious charge by Sterling Marlin and Dale Jarrett to capture the checkered flag.

Davey Allison led 115 of the first 139 laps of the Pocono Miller Genuine Draft 500, but on Lap 150 he made contact with Darrell Waltrip and went spinning into the grass exiting the Tunnel Turn. Allison's car flipped 11 times -- this photo was the result -- and Allison suffered a skull fracture and a broken wrist. Waltrip went on to win, but the first thing he asked was whether Allison was OK.



A week later, Allison started the DieHard 500 at Talladega, and his replacement driver, Bobby Hillin Jr., challenged for the win before settling for third.

All eyes were on Davey Allison in Darlington, as he still was recovering from injury and eligible for the "Winston Million" -- awarded to a driver who won three of the four crown jewels. But Allison pitted on Lap 286 of the 367-lap race, second-place driver Sterling Marlin pitted on Lap 289 -- and as Darrell Waltrip assumed the lead, rain began to pour on Lap 295. The red flag came out on Lap 298, and the race was official soon after. Is this where Waltrip's famous "Vortex Theory" was born?

A 21-year-old driver named Jeff Gordon started his first Cup Series race in the final event of the 1992 season, the Hooters 500 at Atlanta. Gordon started 21st and finished 31st after crashing out in his debut.

Richard Petty's final race of his career didn't end with victory or glory -- but with this fiery wreck on Lap 95 of the Hooters 500. The blaze was extinguished, Petty was unhurt and he finished 35th.

Six drivers entered the final race of the season with a mathematical chance of winning the Cup Series championship, and it ended up going to the driver who led the most laps in the race -- Alan Kulwicki. Bill Elliott actually won the race and led 102 laps, but Kulwicki led 103, sealing the title by just 10 points.

Richard Petty's crew was able to patch up his No. 43 enough for him to run the final two laps of the Hooters 500 -- so he could say one final goodbye to NASCAR.