Checkered Countdown: Top-Five Bristol Finishes

No. 3 Terry Labonte goes to victory lane with a wrecked car (1995).

The first of two famous “episodes” of the Labonte-Earnhardt Bristol saga took place in 1995. Towards the end of the race Labonte had a huge lead over Dale Earnhardt but the usual lapped traffic was allowing the Man in Black to close in on him. Labonte caught a massive group of slow cars on the backstretch of the final lap and Earnhardt dove to the inside of him in turns three and four knowing that it would be his only chance to win.

They made contact, the leader stayed on the gas to not lose position and eventually lost control of the vehicle coming to the checkered flag. He crossed the finish line sideways and then crashed heavily in the outside wall. He had to go to victory lane with a destroyed car.

Next: 1990