Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon, others chime in on their top NASCAR races
RELATED: NASCAR.com's four NASCAR Majors
The PGA's prestigious U.S. Open takes place this weekend at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Washington. Regarded as one of professional golf's most important events, the U.S. Open accompanies the PGA Championship, the British Open and the Masters Tournament as the four Majors of the sport.
So, what are the four NASCAR Majors -- the top four races in NASCAR? We polled several top drivers from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Jeff Gordon to Erik Jones to find out just what races they consider top-notch. And while some of their answers were expected, others were a bit more surprising.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: "The Daytona 500, the 600 at Charlotte, the 400 at Indy. That fourth event, I think you could plug in pretty much any other race. A short track at Bristol, maybe because of the uniqueness of that particular track. Talladega, Michigan. You know, all the other races sort of fit that criteria. But those are the big three I think, that stand out above the rest. The (Daytona) 500, (Coca-Cola) 600, 400 at Indy are the three most important events. The fourth one could be any of the rest of the events on the schedule.”
Kevin Harvick: Daytona 500, Southern 500, Brickyard 400 and Coca-Cola 600.
Jeff Gordon: "So you've got the (Daytona) 500, the Brickyard (400), the (Coca-Cola) 600. The question is what's the last one? I would have typically said the Southern 500, I guess. Probably be the easiest answer. But I'm such a huge fan of Bristol, I would probably throw a Bristol race in there.”
Tony Stewart: Brickyard 400, Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500 and Daytona 500.
Erik Jones: Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Snowball Derby and Winchester 400.
Chase Elliott: "For me, I would pick the Bristol night race, I feel like it's a Major. Darlington/the Southern 500 would be one. I think the Coke 600, the Brickyard. The Daytona 500 would have to be one. I think Homestead's a cool race, I think Homestead would be one."
Jimmie Johnson: Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500.
Austin Dillon: "I'd say Daytona (500), Coke 600, Indy and probably the Southern 500, Darlington ... I just think they're big, long and prestigious. (Changed his mind after a minute) Bristol, the night race."
Kasey Kahne: Coca-Cola 600, Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500.
Kyle Busch: Daytona 500, Southern 500, Brickyard 400 and Coca-Cola 600
Kyle Larson: Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Southern 500 and Bristol night race.
Darrell Wallace Jr.: Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Martinsville and NSCS Championship at Homestead (added Bristol as a substitute). On Homestead: "Championship weekend it is all down to the finals, so we have our championship weekend, so it is just who is going to get it."