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NASCAR: 5 fantastic Atlanta finishes in the modern era

By Marty Czekala

HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 24: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Little Hug Ford, and Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, lead the field at the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 24, 2019 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 24: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Little Hug Ford, and Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, lead the field at the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 24, 2019 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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HAMPTON, GA – OCTOBER 27: Kyle Busch (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
HAMPTON, GA – OCTOBER 27: Kyle Busch (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Motor Speedway has provided some amazing NASCAR finishes ever since its reconfiguration in 1997. Here are five of the best.

Whether it’s the pavement, the tires, the package or anything else, we have seen unbelievable, side-by-side, beating and banging, jaw-dropping moments at Atlanta Motor Speedway that make you want to hit the rewind button and watch then over and over again.

I’m going to blast to the past and look at five amazing finishes that took place in the NASCAR Cup Series and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series at Atlanta, in no particular order.

Before I do, let’s give out a few honorable mentions.

  • 2014 Oral-B USA 500 (Kasey Kahne’s win to lock into the Playoffs)
  • 2012 Advocare 500 (Denny Hamlin holding off a hard-charging Jeff Gordon)
  • 2005 World Financial Group 200 (Trucks) (Ron Hornaday holding off Bobby Labonte by .008 seconds)
  • 2007 Kobalt Tools 500 (Jimmie Johnson battling Tony Stewart in an edge of your seat thriller)

1. 2005 EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 (Truck)

  • Saturday, October 29, 2005
  • Winner: Kyle Busch
  • Margin of victory: .582 seconds

This race is probably my favorite Truck Series race in Atlanta.

The margin of victory may seem like it wasn’t exciting, but if you haven’t seen the drive Kyle Busch made to win it, get ready.

Before the final restart with three laps to go, Busch came in to make a four-tire change and restarted in ninth place. In three laps, he made a dash to take the lead on the final lap in turn four while the front-runners crashed behind him.

At the white flag, he was running in third place. In turn two, he passed Johnny Benson for second. The final car he had to run down was that of Jack Sprague. Entering turn three, Sprague blocked him. But Busch ran the high side wide open on four fresh tires, something Sprague couldn’t do on his worn out Goodyears.

Busch made the pass stick while Sprague tried to force him into the wall. Sprague spun while Benson got loose and saved it. Behind the battle, Bobby Labonte spun, and mayhem erupted. But Busch got by clean and won the race.

He earned that win and wanted it badly. Benson saved his car and drove through the grass to finish in third place behind Todd Bodine in second.

Now imagine if Labonte had missed the wreck and made a run to the inside; we would have had a side-by-side finish.

Speaking of getting loose…

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