Best races of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season

With 2025 right around the corner, it's time to take a look back at 10 of the best races from the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

1. Ambetter Health 400

Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway

Date: Feb. 25, 2024

Comment: The Ambetter Health 400 produced a finish for the ages on a day of close, intense racing throughout the field that ended under the lights. Trackhouse Racing's Daniel Suárez came out on top in a classic three-wide photo finish over Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch. The margin between Suárez and third place was 0.007 seconds.

2. AdventHealth 400

Track: Kansas Speedway

Date: May 5, 2024

Comment: In an overtime thriller, Kyle Larson edged Chris Buescher to win the Kansas spring race by 0.001 seconds. This was the closest finish in Cup Series history.

3. Straight Talk Wireless 400

Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway

Date: Oct. 27, 2024

Comment: At a track where tire wear plays a factor, 23XI Racing's Tyler Reddick defied all odds despite having more laps on his tires compared to the other frontrunners. On the final lap, he was running third, then went underneath car owner Denny Hamlin in Turn 1 to complete the pass. Then, the driver of the No. 45 Toyota carried a lot of speed down the backstretch and ripped the fence through Turns 3 and 4 to get around Ryan Blaney to win a thriller at Homestead. This punched Reddick's ticket to the Championship 4 at Phoenix.

4. Coke Zero Sugar 400

Track: Daytona International Speedway

Date: Aug. 24, 2024

Comment: Harrison Burton entered the Daytona summer race outside the top 30 in points and needed a miracle to make the playoffs. With his back against the wall and future in the Cup Series uncertain, Burton marched to the front of the field to hold off Kyle Busch to capture his first premier-series win and clinch a playoff berth. It was also a historic night for Wood Brothers Racing as the team collected its 100th win.

5. YellaWood 500

Track: Talladega Superspeedway

Date: Oct. 6, 2024

Comment: The Talladega fall race produced intense action throughout the day, with drivers making daring moves in the pack and running four-wide at various points. In a photo finish, JTG Daugherty Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. edged Brad Keselowski to put the No. 47 Chevrolet in Victory Lane at the 2.66-mile Alabama track.

6. Go Bowling at The Glen

Track: Watkins Glen International

Date: Sept. 15, 2024

Comment: On the final restart, Shane van Gisbergen made an aggressive move to clear Chris Buescher for the lead. Then, van Gisbergen clipped the wall entering the bus stop on the final lap, which slowed his speed and allowed Buescher the opportunity to repay the favor from using him up on the restart. Buescher made contact with van Gisbergen in the carousel and moved him to give the RFK Racing driver his first win of the 2024 season in a thrilling last-lap battle.

7. Goodyear 400

Track: Darlington Raceway

Date: May 12, 2024

Comment: The closing laps of the Darlington spring race produced an exhilarating battle between Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher that left both drivers heartbroken and angry. Reddick made contact with Buescher, putting the RFK Racing driver into the wall. Reddick had to pit for a flat right-rear tire, while Buescher pitted for right-side damage. This opened the door for Buescher's teammate and car owner, Brad Keselowski, to find Victory Lane for the first time as a driver/owner at RFK. After the race, Buescher confronted Reddick on pit road for the costly contact that derailed both of their days.

8. Food City 500

Track: Bristol Motor Speedway

Date: March 17, 2024

Comment: For the Bristol spring race, Goodyear provided a tire that produced high wear, forcing drivers to showcase their tire management skills. There were many comers and goers throughout the race, but in the end, Denny Hamlin managed his tires the best and took home the checkered flag in the spring race's return to concrete.

9. Daytona 500

Track: Daytona International Speedway

Date: Feb. 19, 2024

Comment: The 66th running of the Great American Race saw an intense late-race battle, with Trackhouse Racing's Ross Chastain charging to the front of the pack. However, Chastain got involved in a crash in the tri-oval coming to the white flag and spun, which ended up handing the Harley J. Earl Trophy to Hendrick Motorsports' William Byron.

10. Cook Out Southern 500

Track: Darlington Raceway

Date: Sept. 1, 2024

Comment: Entering the regular-season finale at Darlington, none of the four Stewart-Haas Racing Fords had clinched a spot in the playoffs in the organization's farewell season. Needing a win to make the playoffs, Chase Briscoe soared to the lead late in the race, and held off Kyle Busch to win one of NASCAR's crown jewels. It gave SHR a final chance to compete for a Cup title before closing its doors after the sentimental win at the classic South Carolina track.