News Article
NASCAR media poll to rank best NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races of the last decade
December 16, 2009
 | | The Roush Fenway Racing trio of Edwards, Biffle and Kenseth made the Sept. 2008 Dover race a very memorable one. |
Updated Dec. 21, 2009
NASCAR Media poll results (top-3):
1. March 16, 2003 - Darlington
2. Oct. 14, 2000 - Talladega
3. March 11, 2001 - Atlanta
Dover's Sept. 21, 2008 race was ranked eighth by members of the NASCAR Media.
DoverSpeedway.com fan poll results (top-3):
1. Sept. 21, 2008 - Dover (36.6%)
2. July 7, 2001 - Daytona (28.1%)
3. March 16, 2003 - Darlington (14.6%)
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With the recently completed 2009 season closing out a decade of top-flight competition and thrilling races that go down as some of the best of all time, the media that cover NASCAR have been asked to rank the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the decade.
From Dec. 15 through Dec. 21, media who report on the sport regularly will cast their vote in a special online poll and rank in order what they believe to be the top races of the decade. NASCAR will publish results of the poll the afternoon of Dec. 21 and you'll be able to review them here on DoverSpeedway.com.
Nominated races include:
May 20, 2000 Lowes Sprint All-Star Race
Dale Earnhardt Jr. led just two laps the final two to edge his father, Dale Earnhardt, and Dale Jarrett
Dale Jr. became the first rookie to win the All-Star Race
He passed Jarrett on Lap 69 and went on to post the victory.
October 14, 2000 Talladega
This was Dale Earnhardts 76th and final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory
He went from 18th position to first over the last five laps of the race
There were 21 different leaders and 49 lead changes
Earnhardt led a total of 34 laps.
March 11, 2001 Atlanta
Driving for Richard Childress Racing, Kevin Harvick wins his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race
Harvick was put in the No. 29 car following the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt three weeks earlier at Daytona
Harvick edged Jeff Gordon by .006 seconds, which is the fourth-closest Margin of Victory since the inception of electronic scoring in May, 1993.
July 7, 2001 Daytona
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the mid-summer Daytona race at the track five months after his father's passing following an accident in the Daytona 500
Dale Jr. dominated the race, leading 116 of 160 laps.
March 16, 2003 Darlington
In what is the closest Margin of Victory - .002 seconds since the advent of electronic scoring in May, 1993, Ricky Craven edges Kurt Busch to the finish line
The final lap was the only lap Craven led the entire race.
Feb. 15, 2004 Daytona
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the Daytona 500; an emotional day for the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet
Dale Jr. led the last 20 laps to hold off Tony Stewart, who led a race-high 97 laps
There were 10 different leaders and 28 lead changes.
Nov. 21, 2004 Homestead-Miami
Kurt Busch wins the first championship under the new Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format
Busch does not clinch the title until the final lap of the race
The eight points separating Busch and runner-up Jimmie Johnson is the closest in series history
Buschs Roush-Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle wins the race, leading a race-high 117 laps; Johnson finishes second and Busch finishes fifth.
 | | Biffle hoisted the monster trophy after winning the Sept. 2008 race |
March 20, 2005 Atlanta
Carl Edwards grabs his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, besting Jimmie Johnson by just .028 seconds
Edwards and Johnson rubbed and banged over the last few laps of the race that set up for an exciting finish.
Feb.18, 2007 Daytona
In a wild finish, Kevin Harvick edges Mark Martin to the finish line by just .020 seconds the closest Daytona 500 Margin of Victory since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993.
Sept. 21, 2008 Dover
Greg Biffle outraced the field down the stretch to win his second consecutive race in the Chase
Biffle was running up front most of the day and was rubbing and bumping with teammate Matt Kenseth for 15 laps before making his pass for the lead with eight laps to go
Biffle fought off a challenge from another teammate Carl Edwards- to post the win, as Roush Fenway Racing finished 1-2-3.
May 16, 2009 Lowes Sprint All-Star Race
It was the 25th running of the Sprint All-Star Race and the evenings action on the race track delivered an exciting 100 laps of fierce competition for the fans. Tony Stewart passed Matt Kenseth through Turn 2 on Lap 99 to capture his first all-star race win and his first trip to Victory Lane as a driver-owner. Stewart led only the final two laps, but that was all he needed. The race was divided up into four segments: 50 laps; 20 laps; 20 laps; and a go-for-broke 10-lap shootout at the end.
Which race would YOU rank as the best of the decade? Visit the DoverSpeedway.com homepage to cast your vote, or log on to the Monster Mile's Facebook page by clicking here and voice your opinion as to which one(s) is the most memorable. Results from the NASCAR media poll will be posted here on Monday, Dec. 21.
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