The 10 Greatest
Races
by EdHinton
Posted: Fri February 6, 1998
1
Race: 1976
DAYTONA
500
Winner: David
Pearson
The
Skinny: Pearson and Richard Petty exchanged leads three times on
the final lap, nearly wrecking both their cars in the
process, before Pearson sputtered home at 10 mph. "The
race I'll be remembered most for—and the one I'll remember
most myself—was one
I lost," Petty said
later.
2
1979
DAYTONA
500
Richard Petty
In the first 500-mile race to be televised live in its
entirety, Petty came from well back to win—after Cale
Yarborough (far right) and Donnie Allison took each other out of the
race, leading to The
Fight.
3
1992
HOOTERS 500,
Atlanta
Bill
Elliott
In Richard Petty's final race and Jeff Gordon's first,
nobody foresaw that one of NASCAR's most memorable days
would also go down as one of its most haunting. The series
points leaders entering the race, Davey Allison and
eventual champ Alan Kulwicki,
would both be dead within a
year.
4
1987
THE WINSTON,
Charlotte,
N.C.
Dale
Earnhardt
After bullying Bill Elliott in the final 10-lap segment of
the event to win, Earnhardt received his comeuppance when
first Elliott and then Geoff Bodine took shots at the
Intimidator's car during the cooldown
lap
5
1979
REBEL 500,
Darlington,
S.C.
Darrell
Waltrip
Despite Darlington's treacherous reputation, Waltrip stuck
to his take-no-prisoners style, strategically jamming on
his brakes to outduel Richard Petty and tame the Lady in
Black, signalling his arrival as a NASCAR
force.
photograph by Ric Feld/AP
Continued: 6-10
ALSO:
The 10 Greatest Races | The 12 Greatest Drivers
By the Numbers | The Envelope Please... | 10 Fearless Predictions
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