Most memorable NASCAR upsets of all time

Ten years ago, Chris Buescher pulled off one of the most significant upset victories in NASCAR history, winning a rain-shortened NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway for the first win of his career. 

As the Cup Series returns to Pennsylvania on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Prime Video, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), see some of the most memorable NASCAR upsets.

Harrison Burton, 2024, Daytona

In NASCAR Overtime, Burton outlasted Kyle Busch to win the summer NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona, earning his first career victory and doubling as the 100th for Wood Brothers Racing. 

Michael McDowell, 2021, Daytona

Team Penske drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano crashed while battling for the win in the 2021 Daytona 500, leaving an open gap for Michael McDowell to score his first Cup Series win in 358th start. 

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 Speedway.

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.

Jeremy Clements, 2017, Road America (NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series)

Clements etched his name in NASCAR history after earning his first career NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts 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.

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.

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.

John King, 2012, Daytona

John King shocked the racing world by winning the season-opening NASCAR Craftsman 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kevin Harvick, 2001, Atlanta

Making only his third career start with the premier series at EchoPark 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.