Memorable NASCAR moments at Atlanta
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Getty Images
1 of 12
With NASCAR hitting Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, we take a look back at some of the sport's top moments at the 1.54-mile facility.
Kevin C. Cox | Getty Images
2 of 12
2018
Kevin Harvick paid tribute to Dale Earnhardt following his victory at Atlanta -- his first win there since winning there in 2001 when he was just a handful of starts into his Cup career.
Getty Images
3 of 12
2016
Jimmie Johnson picked up his 76th premier series win to tie Dale Earnhardt for seventh in all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins. Dale Jr. congratulated his teammate in Victory Lane.
Getty Images
4 of 12
2011
NASCAR President Mike Helton presented a framed piece of artwork to Jeff Gordon after Gordon's 85th career win moved him into third place all-time.
Getty Images
5 of 12
2008
Kyle Busch became the first driver to win a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in the same weekend.
Getty Images
6 of 12
2005
The birth of the backflip -- Carl Edwards' first premier series win came at Atlanta in 2005. He would go on to win again at the track in the fall.
Getty Images
7 of 12
2001
Kevin Harvick's first premier series win comes as a replacement driver three races after Dale Earnhardt's death.
Getty Images
8 of 12
2000
A fierce battle over the final 20 laps ends with Dale Earnhardt nipping Bobby Labonte at the line for his 75th career premier series win.
Getty Images
9 of 12
1992
In one of the most iconic races in NASCAR history, Richard Petty drove in his final premier series start, Jeff Gordon drove in his first premier series start and Alan Kulwicki won an unlikely championship.
Getty Images
10 of 12
1986
Bill Elliott won the All-Star Race, the only time the event wasn't held at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Getty Images
11 of 12
1969
Cale Yarborough and the Wood Brothers mastered Atlanta in the late 1960s. Here, Yarborough won his third consecutive race at the track.
Getty Images
12 of 12
1966
Richard Petty won this event, but the talk was about Fred Lorenzen's Ford. The infamous 'yellow banana,' a machine built by Junior Johnson, had several questionable aerodynamic modifications and would only run once in NASCAR. This race.
