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Drivers to lead one lap in win
By Staff Report | Published: April 25, 2022 22
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Ross Chastain nabbed his second career win by leading just one lap at Talladega -- the last one. There are 21 such instances of drivers winning with one lap led in NASCAR's Modern Era (1972-present). Read on to see the full list.
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Geoff Bodine, 1989
Date: Oct. 15
Track: North Wilkesboro Speedway
Note: Bodine was the first driver in the Modern Era to lead one lap in a win. He passed Dale Earnhardt on the final lap following a late caution.
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Jimmy Spencer, 1994
Date: July 2
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Note: This was Spencer's first Cup Series victory. At the time, his .008-second margin of victory over Ernie Irvan was the fifth-closest finish of all time.
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Ricky Craven, 2003
Date: March 16
Track: Darlington Raceway
Note: This served as the closest -- and perhaps best -- finish in NASCAR history.
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Darrell Ingham | Getty Images
Bobby Labonte, 2003
Date: Nov. 16
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Note: This victory in the 2003 season finale served as the final victory of Labonte's career.
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Warren Wimmer | Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson, 2006
Date: March 12
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Note: Johnson's last-lap pass came out of Turn 4, using his momentum on the outside lane to stun Kenseth.
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Donald Miralle | Getty Images
Jeff Burton, 2007
Date: April 15
Track: Texas Motor Speedway
Note: In addition to this one-lap-led-win, Burton has won two races by leading exactly two laps ... and he also won in 2000 at New Hampshire by leading every lap.
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Jason Smith | Getty Images
Jeff Gordon, 2007
Date: Oct. 7
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Note: This was Gordon's historic 80th career win, a victory he wrested away from teammate Jimmie Johnson on the final lap.
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Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, 2009
Date: April 26
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Note: Brad Keselowski sent Carl Edwards into the catchfence coming to the start/finish line, but earned his first career Cup Series win.
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Ezra Shaw | Getty Images
Mark Martin, 2009
Date: June 14
Track: Michigan International Speedway
Note: Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson dueled ahead of him, but neither had enough fuel to make it to the end. Martin did, pulling off the strategic win.
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Todd Warshaw | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick, 2011
Date: March 27
Track: Auto Club Speedway
Note: Harvick used the high line over a frenetic final lap, running the fence to close the gap out of Turn 2 and then making the pass in Turn 4.
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Doug Pensinger | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, 2015
Date: March 22
Track: Auto Club Speedway
Note: A green-white-checkered finish set the scene, and Brad Keselowski stole the show. He went from third to first on the final two laps, passing Kurt Busch after the white flag.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Joey Logano, 2015
Date: Aug. 9
Track: Watkins Glen International
Note: Kevin Harvick ran dry on the final lap, giving Joey Logano the opportunity to pass for the win. This had been the most recent one-lap winner on a non-superspeedway before Busch's dirt victory.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kurt Busch, 2017
Date: Feb. 26
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Note: Busch's first Daytona 500 victory came as multiple drivers in front of him ran dry on fuel in the closing laps.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
Austin Dillon, 2018
Date: Feb. 18
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Note: Dillon ran Aric Almirola up the track and into the fence as he threw a block, then held off Bubba Wallace.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
Erik Jones, 2018
Date: July 7
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Note: This was the first career win for Erik Jones and the third consecutive one-lap win to occur at Daytona.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Aric Almirola, 2018
Date: Oct. 14
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Note:Almirola's second career win automatically qualified him for the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Justin Haley, 2019
Date: July 7
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Note: A strategy play saw Haley stay on the track under caution, and the rain rolled in shortly thereafter.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Michael McDowell, 2021
Date: Feb. 14
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Note: Teammates Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano wrecking from the lead sent another Ford -- Michael McDowell -- into Victory Lane.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, 2021
Date: April 25
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Note: This was Keselowski's third career one-lap win, and his second at Talladega.
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Logan Riely | Getty Images
Kyle Busch, 2022
Date: April 17
Track: Bristol Dirt Track
Note: Busch wasn't super close to the final-laps battle between Tyler Reddick and Chase Briscoe, but he was close enough. An errant slidejob attempt from Briscoe wiped out both cars, and Busch passed Reddick just before the start/finish line for his 60th career Cup Series win.
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
Ross Chastain, 2022
Date: April 24
Track:Talladega Superspeedway
Note:Could it have been any more perfect for Chastain? As the leaders tangled in the tri-oval, the No. 1 slingshotted down the inside line to the lead at the checkered flag for his second career win.