Iconic moments from the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season

NASCAR celebrated its 75th anniversary this past season, leaving us with so many memorable moments. Take a look back at these 10 iconic moments from the 2023 season.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. kicked off the season by winning the longest Daytona 500 in NASCAR history and beat out Joey Logano to the checkered flag in the race's second overtime.

The Cup Series went to the Auto Club Speedway for one last five-wide ride around the speedway oval at Fontana. 

Dirt-track aficionado Christopher Bell became the first driver with a dirt background to win the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The race additionally concluded a three-year run on the dirt layout, which began in 2021.

For the first time since 1996, the Cup Series visited a revamped North Wilkesboro Speedway, this time to take on NASCAR's All-Star Race. Kyle Larson dominated the event, taking the lead on lap 18 and never looking back.

After numerous weather delays, the Coca-Cola 600 produced one of the most action-packed races of the year with 16 cautions. Ryan Blaney would be the best of the field, giving team owner Roger Penske his first same-year sweep of IndyCar and NASCAR's crown jewel races. 

For the first time in the sport's history, NASCAR took to the streets of Chicago for a showdown in the city. Shane van Gisbergen, a three-time Supercars champion, made his Cup Series debut and won, joining Johnny Rutherford as the only drivers to win on their first start. 

The playoffs opened with Kyle Larson putting together a masterclass performance at Darlington Raceway. After starting the race in 18th, Larson held off a hounding Tyler Reddick by 0.477 of a second.  

Denny Hamlin dominated at Bristol Motor Speedway to close out the Round of 16. He led the final 135 laps around the famous short track and made sure to let the crowd know that he beat their favorite driver...all of them.

AJ Allmendinger stole a win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course, nabbing his first Cup win since 2021.

Before the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, legendary drivers Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Labonte, and Kurt Bucsh gave the race command with young aspiring drivers.