Kansas
The Kansas Speedway NASCAR Cup Series finish as Kyle Larson (5) edged out Chris Buescher. (HHP/David Graham)
NASCAR Cup Series

History Made, Again: A New Closest Finish In Cup Series History

May 5, 2024

Less than three months after the third-closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway surpassed it.

With Kyle Larson’s hair-raising victory over Chris Buescher, the margin between triumph and defeat was an astonishing 0.001 seconds – making it the closest finish in Cup Series history.

Now that the leaderboard has changed in the record books, let’s take a look at the updated closest finishes, which includes Sunday’s race at Kansas.

Fourth: 2024 Atlanta Motor Speedway Spring

In what turned into an all-time classic, Daniel Suarez made the outside lane work by the slimmest of margins to outduel Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch by a combined .007 seconds at the 1.5-mile oval in February at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

It was Suarez’s second career Cup Series victory, and his first on an oval. 

T-Second: 2003 Darlington Raceway Spring

The battle between Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch still lives on strong, even if it’s been 21 years since the great duel.

After the two competitors fought in the closing laps, it came down to the two clashing on the Darlington (S.C.) Raceway frontstretch, where Craven’s No. 32 Pontiac narrowly beat Busch’s No. 97 Ford by .002 seconds.

T-Second: 2011 Talladega Superspeedway Spring

Back when tandem drafting was the way to prevail on superspeedways, a last-lap push from teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. vaulted Jimmie Johnson to the victory at the 2.66-mile oval over Clint Bowyer by .002 seconds, tied for the second closest finish in Cup Series history.

First: 2024 Kansas Speedway Spring

Coming off turn four with the checkered flag waving, Larson bullied his way to the outside of Buescher. Despite getting a slap by Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet, Buescher remained even with Larson as they approached the checkered flag.

While Buescher and his No. 17 RFK Racing team initially thought they won the race, it was Larson who was declared the winner after review.