Great racing dominated 2016, from multiple tracks records for most passes in a single race to two of the closest finishes in NASCAR history.
In the deep freeze of the offseason, and with the holidays here, it seems an appropriate time for reflection, NASCAR-style.
So fire up the popcorn kettle, sit back and enjoy these full-race replays of some of the top races of the season.
Schedule:
Dec. 23: Daytona
Dec. 26: Phoenix spring race
Dec. 27: California
Dec. 28: Dover spring race
Dec. 29: Sonoma
Dec. 30: Miami
Miami
In the highly-anticipated season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag to earn his record-tying seventh championship.
Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Joey Logano completed the championship-contending quartet and the four put on quite the show — from swapping positions on the track to creating some fiery wrecks.
Johnson’s first win at the Miami track marked his 80th victory in NASCAR’s premier series.
Sonoma
Sonoma Raceway has given us plenty of action over the years — but how about action and history?
The June race at the road course had arguably the best finish of the season, seeing recently-retired and likely future NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart bulldoze former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin out of the way into the outside wall in Turn 11 to execute a last-lap pass for the victory.
The Stewart-Haas Racing driver came into the race riding an 84-start winless streak, and the victory proved to be his 49th and final one to close out an illustrious career that saw three Sprint Cup Series titles, to boot.
Dover spring race
NASCAR’s now met its future in the AAA 400 Drive For Autism at Dover International Raceway in May. On a restart with 45 laps to go, a game-changing caution occurred when an accident involving 18 cars resulted in a pileup on the frontstretch that took out some strong race-win contenders. That left the three cars of Matt Kenseth, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott as the prime candidates for the victory. At the time, Larson and Elliott were in search of their first premier series wins — Larson later got his first premier win at Michigan in August — and both youngings were giving Kenseth all he could handle.
In the end though, Kenseth, the JGR veteran was able to navigate his way to Victory Lane for his first of two wins in 2016. The victory was also part of a stretch from the Martinsville race in April to the Coca-Cola 600 over Memorial Day weekend that saw Toyota win seven of eight premier series point races.
Auto Club
Jimmie Johnson had several factors going for him in March in his home state, not the least of which was a special Superman paint scheme. With a Man of Steel persona working its mojo, Johnson rocketed from third place on an overtime restart to hold off Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin in the Auto Club 400.
Johnson — who fittingly donned a cape in Victory Lane — notched the 77th victory of his career, pushing him past NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt on the premier series’ all-time win list. The milestone capped a packed day of 26 lead changes, with drivers slipping and sliding on the worn California asphalt.
Phoenix spring race
The spring race at Phoenix International Raceway saw the closest finish in track history, with Kevin Harvick edging Carl Edwards by 0.010 seconds across the start-finish line.
Fresh Goodyear tires allowed Edwards to reach leader Harvick by the final lap to contend from the win — and that’s where the excitement reached its pinnacle. Edwards dove to the inside of Harvick, bumping the No. 4 Chevrolet and edging slightly in front. Harvick gave it right back to the No. 19 Toyota, as the pair crossed the start-finish line inches apart from one another. Harvick was declared the victor, earning his first win thus far of the 2016 season.
Daytona 500
The biggest race of the year never disappoints, and this one had it all. There was a rookie starting on the pole in a historic number. There was a late charge — and wreck — from Dale Earnhardt Jr., sending “Amelia” back to the shop for good. And there was a photo finish that came after Denny Hamlin knocked teammate Matt Kenseth out of the way, then held off Martin Truex Jr. at the strip. It was as good as it gets.
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