Skip to content

Official Site Of NASCAR

Home Click to view NASCAR Cup Series NewsNASCAR Cup Series News Click to view NASCAR Xfinity Series NewsNASCAR Xfinity Series News Click to view NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NewsNASCAR Camping World Truck Series News Click to view eNASCAReNASCAR Click to view NASCAR RootsNASCAR Roots Videos Photo Galleries Results Standings Weekend Schedule Click to view DriversDrivers Click to view Driver StatsDriver Stats Historic Results Click to view Buy TicketsBuy Tickets Click to view Camping InfoCamping Info Click to view Fantasy LiveFantasy Live Click to view BetCenterBetCenter Click to view Mobile AppMobile App Click to view NASCAR PodcastsNASCAR Podcasts Click to view NASCAR ShopNASCAR Shop Click to view My ProfileMy Profile
  • Most Recent
  • Power Rankings
  • Paint Scheme Preview
  • Fantasy Fastlane
  • XMost Recent@nascarcasmDriver WinseNascarFantasy FastlaneLineup GalleryMemorable MomentsNASCAR CompetitionPaint Scheme PreviewPower RankingsThrough the YearsTrack Winners
X

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

By Staff Report | Thursday, November 12, 2020
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Christian Petersen | Getty Images
1 of 19
View Fullscreen
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.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
2 of 19
View Fullscreen

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.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
3 of 19
View Fullscreen

David Ragan


Career starts: 471
Final start: Feb. 16, 2020, at Daytona
Finish: Fourth
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
4 of 19
View Fullscreen

Jimmie Johnson


Career starts: 686
Final start: Nov. 8, 2020, at Phoenix
Finish: Fifth
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
5 of 19
View Fullscreen

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.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Robert Laberge | Getty Images
6 of 19
View Fullscreen

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.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Cliff Hawkins | Getty Images
7 of 19
View Fullscreen

Michael Waltrip


Career starts: 784
Final start: Feb. 26, 2017, at Daytona
Finish: Eighth
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
8 of 19
View Fullscreen

David Pearson


Career starts: 574
Final start: Aug. 17, 1986, at Michigan
Finish: 10th
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
9 of 19
View Fullscreen

Cale Yarborough


Career starts: 562
Final start: Nov. 20, 1988, at Atlanta
Finish: 10th
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Racing Photo Archives/Getty Images
10 of 19
View Fullscreen

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.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
11 of 19
View Fullscreen

Wendell Scott


Career starts: 495
Final start: Oct. 7, 1973, at Charlotte
Finish: 12th
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Darrell Ingham | Getty Images
12 of 19
View Fullscreen

Rusty Wallace


Career starts: 706
Final start: Nov. 20, 2005, at Miami
Finish: 13th
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
13 of 19
View Fullscreen

Clint Bowyer


Career starts: 541
Final start: Nov. 8, 2020, at Phoenix
Finish: 14th
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Ronald C. Modra | Getty Images
14 of 19
View Fullscreen

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.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
15 of 19
View Fullscreen

Tony Stewart


Career starts: 618
Final start: Nov. 20, 2016, at Miami
Finish: 22nd
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
16 of 19
View Fullscreen

Dale Earnhardt Jr.


Career starts: 631
Final start: Nov. 19, 2017, at Miami
Finish: 25th
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
17 of 19
View Fullscreen

Matt Kenseth


Career starts: 697
Final start: Nov. 8, 2020, at Phoenix
Finish: 25th
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Chris Trotman | Getty Images
18 of 19
View Fullscreen

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.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images
19 of 19
View Fullscreen

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.
Presented By:
Leaderboard
Leaderboard
NASCAR Drive
Live Cameras
NASCAR Mobile Download
Download APP
 
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

INFORMATION

  • Help/Contact Us
  • About NASCAR
  • Careers
  • Official Sponsors
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Accessibility
  • Site Map
  • AdChoices
  • NDM Advertising
  • Sponsorship

PRODUCTS

  • Follow Live
  • NASCAR Mobile
  • Scanner
  • Drive
  • Fantasy Live
  • NASCAR Finish Line
  • NASCAR Shop

INITIATIVES

  • NASCAR Green
  • NASCAR Foundation
  • NASCAR Diversity
  • NASCAR Fan Council

MORE SITES

  • IMSA
  • TrackPass™
  • eNASCAR
  • Acceleration Nation
  • NASCAR Hall of Fame
  • Official NASCAR Members Club
  • NASCAR Foundation Auction
  • Monster Energy
  • Coca-Cola

NASCAR® and its marks are trademarks of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Copyright © 2021 NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

NASCAR Logo Home
Schedule
Race Center
Standings
NASCAR Fantasy Live Logo Fantasy