If there was one near-constant throughout a generally unpredictable 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, it was that an edge-of-your-seat battle to the checkered flag could potentially be around every corner.
This isn’t limited to the top-of-mind, three-wide-at-the-line, closest-finish-ever fare, either. Plenty of races over the course of ’24 came down to the wire on all different varieties of tracks, with a dash or two of chaos and controversy mixed in from time to time.
The finish of the Daytona 500 to start the season left many divided on how they felt about a caution ending the race, but one week later, pseudo-superspeedway Atlanta Motor Speedway gave viewers a sight to behold: a three-wide finish, the likes of which really hadn’t been seen since the spring race at Talladega Superspeedway in 2011.
Rare is it that we see three-wide work out for laps on end at a nontraditional superspeedway, but that’s exactly what happened under the lights in late February: three drivers, all holding their line for nearly half a lap, emulating the Cars photo finish as they looked for their first win of the year.
Daniel Suarez was declared the winner as he nosed out Kyle Busch and Ryan Blaney by .003 seconds. This was the first installment of photo finishes in 2024, and three of the sport’s current eight closest margins of victory happened throughout the season.
Motorsports viewers were spoiled this year. Flash forward just over two months later to Kansas Speedway, which has truly delivered in recent years after being just another date on the calendar for some time.
Chris Buescher appeared to have things well in hand, though his mirror was full of Kyle Larson when — surprise — Larson full-sent his No. 5 on the high side entering the final corner. Clean, hard racing ensued as each driver tried to take momentum off the other coming to the flag.
The result? The closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history, at .001 seconds.
It would be a disservice to not mention that both Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. were right on the pair’s heels crossing the line, too. A four-wide finish at Kansas seems damn near unbelievable.
While not a photo finish, Buescher had another shot at a win a week later at Darlington Raceway, but contact from Tyler Reddick with 10 laps to go ended both drivers’ chances at a…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at …