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Power Rankings: Top 10 races from 2021
By Pat DeCola | Sunday, December 12, 2021
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NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the top 10 NASCAR Cup Series races from a thrilling 2021 season that culminated in Kyle Larson's first career championship.
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
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Honorable mentions:
— Martinsville Speedway-1 (won by Martin Truex Jr.)
— Pocono Raceway-1 (won by Alex Bowman)
— Daytona Road Course (won by Christopher Bell)
— Martinsville Speedway-1 (won by Martin Truex Jr.)
— Pocono Raceway-1 (won by Alex Bowman)
— Daytona Road Course (won by Christopher Bell)
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
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10. Race: Jockey Made in America 250 presented by Kwik Trip
Track: Road America
Winner: Chase Elliott
Comment: An Elliott road-course win with a 5.705-second margin of victory — seems relatively straightforward, right? Well, Elliott failed to get a qualifying lap in on time for this one, relegating him to the back of the pack at the start. And he still whooped everyone, reclaiming his road-course prowess after his soon-to-be champion teammate usurped him at Sonoma Raceway a few weeks prior. The race was also the Cup Series' first at the Wisconsin track since *1956* and marked a major transition from the sport's typical Fourth of July weekend of racing at Daytona International Speedway.
Track: Road America
Winner: Chase Elliott
Comment: An Elliott road-course win with a 5.705-second margin of victory — seems relatively straightforward, right? Well, Elliott failed to get a qualifying lap in on time for this one, relegating him to the back of the pack at the start. And he still whooped everyone, reclaiming his road-course prowess after his soon-to-be champion teammate usurped him at Sonoma Raceway a few weeks prior. The race was also the Cup Series' first at the Wisconsin track since *1956* and marked a major transition from the sport's typical Fourth of July weekend of racing at Daytona International Speedway.
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
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9. Race: Food City Dirt Race
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway (but, you know, covered in dirt)
Winner: Joey Logano
Comment: As far as pure spectacle, not much could top one of the sport's most notorious tracks covered in dirt and raced on by stock cars. Even with some of the weather-related challenges the weekend presented, Logano's victory — he held off a hard-charging Denny Hamlin to lead the final 61 laps and claim the win — was edge-of-your-seat dramatic from start to finish. With another go at it on tap for 2022, it wouldn't surprise me to see this race sneak into the top five next year.
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway (but, you know, covered in dirt)
Winner: Joey Logano
Comment: As far as pure spectacle, not much could top one of the sport's most notorious tracks covered in dirt and raced on by stock cars. Even with some of the weather-related challenges the weekend presented, Logano's victory — he held off a hard-charging Denny Hamlin to lead the final 61 laps and claim the win — was edge-of-your-seat dramatic from start to finish. With another go at it on tap for 2022, it wouldn't surprise me to see this race sneak into the top five next year.
James Gilbert | Getty Images
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8. Race: Foxwoods Resort Casino 301
Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Winner: Aric Almirola
Comment: The season started with a jaw-dropper when Michael McDowell won his first career Cup race ... in the Daytona 500. I'd argue Almirola's win was even more of a surprise. While it wasn't his first series win, the Bacon Man's first lobster was only his third top 10 of the season — in the 22nd race. The event was shortened due to darkness and began with Kyle Busch crashing out from the lead due to wet conditions, throwing the whole afternoon for a loop. This was an entertaining one all-around. Magical, even.
Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Winner: Aric Almirola
Comment: The season started with a jaw-dropper when Michael McDowell won his first career Cup race ... in the Daytona 500. I'd argue Almirola's win was even more of a surprise. While it wasn't his first series win, the Bacon Man's first lobster was only his third top 10 of the season — in the 22nd race. The event was shortened due to darkness and began with Kyle Busch crashing out from the lead due to wet conditions, throwing the whole afternoon for a loop. This was an entertaining one all-around. Magical, even.
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
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7. Race: Pennzoil 400
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Comment: Ah, the race that started it all. Little did we know at the time Larson had another nine wins to come after this, along with the championship and an All-Star Race victory for good measure. The race itself was thrilling, seeing 27 lead changes among 12 different drivers, with five leading 20 or more laps.
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Comment: Ah, the race that started it all. Little did we know at the time Larson had another nine wins to come after this, along with the championship and an All-Star Race victory for good measure. The race itself was thrilling, seeing 27 lead changes among 12 different drivers, with five leading 20 or more laps.
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
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6. Race: Southern 500
Track: Darlington Raceway
Winner: Denny Hamlin
Comment: Hamlin was one of 2021's two best drivers. It was then surprising, of course, to see him enter the playoffs winless after a seven-win season a year prior. This was largely a contest between these two, with the pair combining for 302 of 367 laps led, and one of the most supremely thrilling final laps of the year. For real. Go back and watch it.
Track: Darlington Raceway
Winner: Denny Hamlin
Comment: Hamlin was one of 2021's two best drivers. It was then surprising, of course, to see him enter the playoffs winless after a seven-win season a year prior. This was largely a contest between these two, with the pair combining for 302 of 367 laps led, and one of the most supremely thrilling final laps of the year. For real. Go back and watch it.
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
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5. Race: Yellawood 500
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Winner: Bubba Wallace
Comment: How about that for a full-circle moment? The skies opened up under caution right after Wallace took the lead, a little more than a year after the sport came together to support him following the death of George Floyd and the garage-stall incident. Mother Nature didn't allow the race to resume, turning Wallace into the first Black driver to win a race in NASCAR’s premier series since Hall of Famer Wendell Scott took the checkered flag at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 1, 1963.
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Winner: Bubba Wallace
Comment: How about that for a full-circle moment? The skies opened up under caution right after Wallace took the lead, a little more than a year after the sport came together to support him following the death of George Floyd and the garage-stall incident. Mother Nature didn't allow the race to resume, turning Wallace into the first Black driver to win a race in NASCAR’s premier series since Hall of Famer Wendell Scott took the checkered flag at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 1, 1963.
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
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4. Race: NASCAR Cup Series Championship
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Comment: As easy as he made it look at times in 2021, this one was a fight to the finish with all four Championship 4 contenders looking stout toward the end. It all came down to the final restart — and really, the final pit stop that put Larson out front — to decide the outcome in a memorable championship race in the desert. The victory was Larson's 10th of the season, and none bigger.
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Comment: As easy as he made it look at times in 2021, this one was a fight to the finish with all four Championship 4 contenders looking stout toward the end. It all came down to the final restart — and really, the final pit stop that put Larson out front — to decide the outcome in a memorable championship race in the desert. The victory was Larson's 10th of the season, and none bigger.
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
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3. Race: Bank of America Roval 400
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Comment: FACT: Larson became the first driver to win a race after his crew needed to change the battery and alternator belt on his car ... during Stage 2. That is a completely ridiculous show of teamwork and driver skill. Combine that with Kevin Harvick being ousted from the playoffs in the Round of 12 a year after winning nine races — due to driving with his rearview mirror and failing to make a turn with a certain No. 9 behind him — and the Roval delivered, as it always does.
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Comment: FACT: Larson became the first driver to win a race after his crew needed to change the battery and alternator belt on his car ... during Stage 2. That is a completely ridiculous show of teamwork and driver skill. Combine that with Kevin Harvick being ousted from the playoffs in the Round of 12 a year after winning nine races — due to driving with his rearview mirror and failing to make a turn with a certain No. 9 behind him — and the Roval delivered, as it always does.
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
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2. Race: Xfinity 500
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Winner: Alex Bowman
Comment: There's a reason Martinsville has settled in as the race to set the Championship 4, and it was on full display this past fall. A non-playoff driver won the race, and yet it was the most memorable victory burnout of the season ... because Denny Hamlin completed his full-fledged heel turn and interrupted it to show his displeasure with how he was raced by The Showman. There were even t-shirts! #Hack
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Winner: Alex Bowman
Comment: There's a reason Martinsville has settled in as the race to set the Championship 4, and it was on full display this past fall. A non-playoff driver won the race, and yet it was the most memorable victory burnout of the season ... because Denny Hamlin completed his full-fledged heel turn and interrupted it to show his displeasure with how he was raced by The Showman. There were even t-shirts! #Hack
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
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1. Race: Bristol Night Race
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Comment: In a way, it's almost easy to forget Larson won this race. One, because he won so much in 2021 they kind of all blur together. And two, because if there's one particular image that stands out from the 2021 season, it's the one above. Arguably the spiciest feud we've seen in years, Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick not backing down from each other before taking a trip to discuss things further in the No. 9 hauler will be etched in our memories all offseason. The best part? This one is still simmering.
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Comment: In a way, it's almost easy to forget Larson won this race. One, because he won so much in 2021 they kind of all blur together. And two, because if there's one particular image that stands out from the 2021 season, it's the one above. Arguably the spiciest feud we've seen in years, Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick not backing down from each other before taking a trip to discuss things further in the No. 9 hauler will be etched in our memories all offseason. The best part? This one is still simmering.
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