BACK TO GALLERIES
Most memorable NASCAR upsets of all time
By Staff Report | Published: February 15, 2021 18
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Cole Custer, 2020, Kentucky
A surge on the final restart that saw four-wide action for a brief period helped put the rookie in Victory Lane and in the playoffs with a win at Kentucky.
A surge on the final restart that saw four-wide action for a brief period helped put the rookie in Victory Lane and in the playoffs with a win at Kentucky.
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Justin Haley, 2019, Daytona
Haley celebrated indoors, but it hardly mattered. A late call to stay out as poor weather lingered when the front of the pack pitted yielded an upset for the ages -- fitting, since Haley was just 20 years old.
Haley celebrated indoors, but it hardly mattered. A late call to stay out as poor weather lingered when the front of the pack pitted yielded an upset for the ages -- fitting, since Haley was just 20 years old.
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Jeremy Clements, 2017, Road America (NASCAR Xfinity Series)
Clements etched his name in NASCAR history after earning his first career Xfinity Series win in a thriller at Road America in August of 2017. Clements took the lead away from Matt Tifft with two laps to go for the come-from-behind victory. It took 256 races, but Clements earned his first career win this day.
Clements etched his name in NASCAR history after earning his first career Xfinity Series win in a thriller at Road America in August of 2017. Clements took the lead away from Matt Tifft with two laps to go for the come-from-behind victory. It took 256 races, but Clements earned his first career win this day.
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Chris Buescher, 2016, Pocono
Chris Buescher's first NASCAR Cup Series win came on a foggy Monday at Pocono, where the Front Row Motorsports rookie and his No. 34 team played a perfect strategy with bad weather looming. He led on Lap 138 through a scheduled 160 when the race was red-flagged due to fog, and was the winner when it was declared official.
Chris Buescher's first NASCAR Cup Series win came on a foggy Monday at Pocono, where the Front Row Motorsports rookie and his No. 34 team played a perfect strategy with bad weather looming. He led on Lap 138 through a scheduled 160 when the race was red-flagged due to fog, and was the winner when it was declared official.
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David Ragan, 2013, Talladega
This was Front Row Motorsports' first win as a team, and it came in overtime as darkness descended onto the massive track. A push from teammate David Gilliland gave FRM a 1-2 finish.
This was Front Row Motorsports' first win as a team, and it came in overtime as darkness descended onto the massive track. A push from teammate David Gilliland gave FRM a 1-2 finish.
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John King, 2012, Daytona
John King shocked the racing world by winning the season-opening NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway in 2012. King had competed in just seven races in the series prior to putting the No. 7 Red Horse Racing truck in Victory Lane. It also served as a 1-2 finish for the now-defunct organization, as Timothy Peters brought the No. 17 truck home in second place.
John King shocked the racing world by winning the season-opening NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway in 2012. King had competed in just seven races in the series prior to putting the No. 7 Red Horse Racing truck in Victory Lane. It also served as a 1-2 finish for the now-defunct organization, as Timothy Peters brought the No. 17 truck home in second place.
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Regan Smith, 2011, Darlington
Smith stayed out during a late caution, then somehow held off the field on old tires for his first win -- and also the first win for Furniture Row Racing.
Smith stayed out during a late caution, then somehow held off the field on old tires for his first win -- and also the first win for Furniture Row Racing.
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Trevor Bayne, 2011, Daytona
Trevor Bayne was making just his second NASCAR Cup Series start for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team and had celebrated his 20th birthday a day earlier. Bayne held off Carl Edwards on a green-white-checkered restart, giving the sport one of its greatest Cinderella stories.
Trevor Bayne was making just his second NASCAR Cup Series start for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team and had celebrated his 20th birthday a day earlier. Bayne held off Carl Edwards on a green-white-checkered restart, giving the sport one of its greatest Cinderella stories.
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David Reutimann, 2009, Charlotte
Like Buescher's win, this one was also due to weather. Still, David Reutimann will always have that Coca-Cola 600 winner label after being out in front when the race was called after 227 of a scheduled 400 laps.
Like Buescher's win, this one was also due to weather. Still, David Reutimann will always have that Coca-Cola 600 winner label after being out in front when the race was called after 227 of a scheduled 400 laps.
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Brad Keselowski, 2009, Talladega
In only his fifth career NASCAR Cup Series start, the 25-year-old Keselowski sent Carl Edwards' car into the air on the final lap to win for owner James Finch. Keselowski led only one lap -- the final one.
In only his fifth career NASCAR Cup Series start, the 25-year-old Keselowski sent Carl Edwards' car into the air on the final lap to win for owner James Finch. Keselowski led only one lap -- the final one.
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Jamie McMurray, 2002, Charlotte
McMurray's second career NASCAR Cup Series start came as a substitute driver for Sterling Marlin. He led 96 laps to win for team owner Chip Ganassi.
McMurray's second career NASCAR Cup Series start came as a substitute driver for Sterling Marlin. He led 96 laps to win for team owner Chip Ganassi.
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Kevin Harvick, 2001, Atlanta
Making only his third career start with the premier series at Atlanta Motor Speedway and just weeks following teammate Dale Earnhardt's tragic death in the Daytona 500, Kevin Harvick beat Jeff Gordon to the line by a mere 0.006 seconds for his first career win.
Making only his third career start with the premier series at Atlanta Motor Speedway and just weeks following teammate Dale Earnhardt's tragic death in the Daytona 500, Kevin Harvick beat Jeff Gordon to the line by a mere 0.006 seconds for his first career win.
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Michael Waltrip, 2001, Daytona
Michael Waltrip's Daytona 500 win in 2001 is often forgotten in light of the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt. Waltrip had just signed with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and was set for his debut in the No. 15 ride. Working with teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. and team owner Earnhardt, Waltrip led 27 laps on the way to Victory Lane, ending a personal 462-race winless streak.
Michael Waltrip's Daytona 500 win in 2001 is often forgotten in light of the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt. Waltrip had just signed with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and was set for his debut in the No. 15 ride. Working with teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. and team owner Earnhardt, Waltrip led 27 laps on the way to Victory Lane, ending a personal 462-race winless streak.
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Derrike Cope, 1990, Daytona
Derrike Cope hadn't run a full season until 1990, much less won a race in NASCAR's premier series. Despite the odds, he was running second on the final lap when a blown tire on Dale Earnhardt's powerful No. 3 Chevrolet allowed Cope to sweep by the 'Intimidator' for the victory.
Derrike Cope hadn't run a full season until 1990, much less won a race in NASCAR's premier series. Despite the odds, he was running second on the final lap when a blown tire on Dale Earnhardt's powerful No. 3 Chevrolet allowed Cope to sweep by the 'Intimidator' for the victory.
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Greg Sacks, 1985, Daytona
The 1985 Firecracker 400 remains Greg Sacks' single career win in NASCAR's premier series. A former modified driver from New York, Sacks drove for a single-car 'R&D' team that had far less funds than its competitors. Sacks surprised everyone, beating out the dominant car of Bill Elliott and race leader Terry Labonte on the final laps.
The 1985 Firecracker 400 remains Greg Sacks' single career win in NASCAR's premier series. A former modified driver from New York, Sacks drove for a single-car 'R&D' team that had far less funds than its competitors. Sacks surprised everyone, beating out the dominant car of Bill Elliott and race leader Terry Labonte on the final laps.
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Ron Bouchard, 1981, Talladega
It was a photo finish at Talladega, with Bouchard sneaking by Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte as they battled for the lead.
It was a photo finish at Talladega, with Bouchard sneaking by Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte as they battled for the lead.
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Tiny Lund, 1963, Daytona
DeWayne 'Tiny' Lund wasn't supposed to be in this race -- he was filling in for an injured Marvin Panch. Tiny, a 6-foot-5, 270-pound part-time driver would give Wood Brothers Racing its first of five 500 wins.
DeWayne 'Tiny' Lund wasn't supposed to be in this race -- he was filling in for an injured Marvin Panch. Tiny, a 6-foot-5, 270-pound part-time driver would give Wood Brothers Racing its first of five 500 wins.
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Michael McDowell's win in the season-opening 2021 Daytona 500 was one of the bigger surprise victories of recent years. The win was McDowell's first in 358 starts. The veteran had 66-1 odds at BetMGM. Could we see another upset like that in 2021? While you ponder the answer to that question, check out the most memorable upsets of all time.