It’s been nearly 80 years since NASCAR was founded, meaning there are plenty of memorable races within the sport to rank. As this motorsports organization continues to evolve with modern technology, drivers are finding new methods and strategies to use to their advantage.

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Driver Richard Petty remains the most highly decorated winner in NASCAR history, having recorded 200 total wins during his 15-year run as a seven-time NASCAR champion from 1964 to 1979. In the midst of Petty’s dominance, one of the best all-time NASCAR races occurred at the 1976 Rebel 500, held at Darlington Raceway.

Petty was battling David Pearson at the 1976 CRC Chemicals Rebel 500, attempting to pass him in the closing laps. His maneuvering resulted in a collision, which led to Pearson’s car suffering the most damage. Driving with his car on fire, NASCAR’s second all-time winner, Pearson, beat Petty to the finish line, adding to the legend of their rivalry during the 1970s.

Three years later, back at Darlington Raceway during the 1979 CRC Chemicals Rebel 500, Petty was once again involved in a thrilling finish. He was unable to secure the win, though, despite going on to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship for the seventh and final time in 1979.

Multiple lead changes occurred during the final lap. Petty, along with two other drivers, lost to Darrell Waltrip, who claimed one of his 84 career victories in epic fashion.

During Jeff Gordon’s early breakout, he cemented his legacy with an iconic win at the 1997 Food City 500 at Bristol Night Race. The legendary Hendrick Motorsports driver managed to beat Rusty Wallace in an aggressive finish, bumping each other while racing on one of the shortest tracks in NASCAR.

There’s nothing quite like a photo finish in motorsports. That’s exactly what happened during the 2019 Daytona 500, when Denny Hamlin beat Kyle Busch. This marked Hamlin’s second win on NASCAR’s most prestigious race track.

Daytona has been the site for plenty of great NASCAR races. Another happened in 2010, when driver Greg Biffle kept Dale Earnhardt Jr. from passing him on the final lap, leading to Biffle’s first win at the Daytona 500.

Many more NASCAR races with exciting moments have been excluded, but these five races stand out as the best all-time based on the drivers involved, raceways, and their finishes.

Ranked fifth is Greg Biffle’s Daytona 500 win, barely beating one of the most popular drivers at the time, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

At number four is David Pearson’s 1976 Rebel 500 victory. Beating rival Richard Petty, the all-time wins leader in the sport, while his own car was on fire, deserves recognition nearly 50 years later.

Darlington was also the site for the third-best NASCAR race of all time. The 1979 Rebel 500 once again saw Petty in the mix late, exchanging positions with a few other drivers on the final laps, ultimately losing to Darrell Waltrip.

Jeff Gordon’s narrow win over Rusty Wallace at the 1997 Food City 500 is ranked second amongst NASCAR’s all-time races. The physical nature of this win, combined with a high-profile driver like Gordon, elevates this race over the other three that have already been ranked.

That leaves the memorable photo finish at the 2019 Daytona 500 ranked as the number one all-time NASCAR race. Denny Hamlin, who remains one of the sport’s most dominant drivers in 2025, despite zero NASCAR Cup Series championship titles, beat teammate Kyle Busch in a photo finish during NASCAR’s most popular race.