Best, most notable finishes in a driver’s final start

By Staff Report | Thursday, November 12, 2020

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Sunday's race at Phoenix Raceway marked the final full-time NASCAR Cup Series start for Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer -- and perhaps Matt Kenseth and a few others as well. NASCAR.com therefore looked back at the best finishes from a driver's final start throughout NASCAR history -- with the qualifier being we only analyzed those with more than 300 career starts. Read on for the best finishes and also some of the most memorable final races.

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Ned Jarrett

Career starts: 352
Final start: Oct. 30, 1966, at Rockingham
Finish: Third
Note: Of drivers who meet our qualifiers -- final start of any driver with at least 300 Cup Series starts -- no one finished better than Jarrett.

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David Ragan

Career starts: 471
Final start: Feb. 16, 2020, at Daytona
Finish: Fourth

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Jimmie Johnson

Career starts: 686
Final start: Nov. 8, 2020, at Phoenix
Finish: Fifth

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Junior Johnson

Career starts: 313
Final start: Oct. 30, 1966, at Rockingham
Finish: Fifth
Note: Junior Johnson's final start came in the same race as Ned Jarrett's final start -- and both finished in the top five.

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Jeff Gordon

Career starts: 805
Final start: Oct. 30, 2016, at Martinsville
Finish: Sixth
Note: Gordon was not scheduled to drive in 2016 after his retirement, but he filled in for an injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. in eight races.

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Michael Waltrip

Career starts: 784
Final start: Feb. 26, 2017, at Daytona
Finish: Eighth

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David Pearson

Career starts: 574
Final start: Aug. 17, 1986, at Michigan
Finish: 10th

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Cale Yarborough

Career starts: 562
Final start: Nov. 20, 1988, at Atlanta
Finish: 10th

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Dick Brooks

Career starts: 357
Final start: May 26, 1985, at Charlotte
Finish: 10th
Note: Brooks is the eighth and final member of this list to finish in the top 10.

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Wendell Scott

Career starts: 495
Final start: Oct. 7, 1973, at Charlotte
Finish: 12th

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Rusty Wallace

Career starts: 706
Final start: Nov. 20, 2005, at Miami
Finish: 13th

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Clint Bowyer

Career starts: 541
Final start: Nov. 8, 2020, at Phoenix
Finish: 14th

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Mark Martin

Career starts: 882
Final start: Nov. 17, 2013, at Miami
Finish: 19th
Note: Martin started the year driving the No. 55 for Michael Waltrip Racing, but moved to the No. 14 for the final stretch to fill-in for an injured Tony Stewart.

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Tony Stewart

Career starts: 618
Final start: Nov. 20, 2016, at Miami
Finish: 22nd

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Career starts: 631
Final start: Nov. 19, 2017, at Miami
Finish: 25th

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Matt Kenseth

Career starts: 697
Final start: Nov. 8, 2020, at Phoenix
Finish: 25th

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Carl Edwards

Career starts: 445
Final start: Nov. 20, 2016, at Miami
Finish: 34th
Note: Edwards was in the Championship 4 and appeared to have the best car in the field. He and Joey Logano tangled on a late-race restart, sending Edwards out of the race early. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver walked to Logano's spot on pit road and shook hands with his team. Two months later, he stunned the NASCAR world and announced his retirement.

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Richard Petty

Career starts: 1,185
Final start: Nov. 15, 1992, at Atlanta
Finish: 35th
Note: This is one of the most famous races of all time. Jeff Gordon made his first Cup Series start, and Petty made his final -- meanwhile, Alan Kulwicki went on to win the series championship. Petty exited the race early after being involved in a wreck that sent his car into flames.

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