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NASCAR: The Top-Five Clash At Daytona Finishes

By Christopher Olmstead

Feb 13, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brian Vickers (14) and Kyle Larson (42) race side by side during The Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brian Vickers (14) and Kyle Larson (42) race side by side during The Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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2012 Budweiser Shootout

The 2012 Bud Shootout receives my vote for the top Sprint Unlimited/Bud Shootout/Busch Clash finish of all time. While NASCAR was trying to diminish tandem racing with a certain rules package for the restrictor-plate tracks that season, cars still had the ability to pair-up in short sprints to the finish. This was the case in this edition of the race as Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart sprinted away from the field for a spectacular finish.

The race featured 26 lead changes but was marred with 5 cautions and three major accidents. The final of those cautions was a major incident involving Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and others, and saw Gordon go tumbling over and over on the front straightaway. This set up a green-white-checkered finish in which the tandem of Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart would surge past the field and pull away.

Must Read: 2017 Clash at Daytona Entry List

Coming to checkers, Kyle Busch surged past the reigning champion Stewart in the final 100 yards and barely beat him to the line. With a final margin of victory of just .013 seconds, it was the closest finish in Sprint Unlimited history.

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