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Following its annual tradition, Motorsport.com reviewed the ten closest finishes of the 2026 NASCAR season across the Cup, O’Reilly, and Truck Series. While drafting tracks typically dominate the list, taking six of the top ten spots, a non-drafting oval captured the number one position for the first time since 2004.
The Final Entries: Talladega, Rockingham, and Daytona Thrillers
Ranking tenth, Sammy Smith edged out Tyler Ankrum by 0.091 seconds in the fall NASCAR Truck Series race at Talladega, pushing past rivals on the frontstretch to secure his first-ever victory in the series. At Rockingham, Corey Heim defeated Kaden Honeycutt by 0.090 seconds to take ninth place, utilizing a clever block through Turn 3 after Honeycutt challenged him in lapped traffic. Just one day after his Talladega Truck win, Smith claimed eighth place by beating Carson Kvapil by 0.084 seconds in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series, marking his first win of the year and becoming the first driver in 23 years to win multiple national-level races on the same weekend at the track. Taking seventh, Austin Hill held off Justin Allgaier by 0.081 seconds in the O’Reilly season-opener at Daytona after executing a decisive block down the backstretch.
Mid-Pack Battles in Atlanta, Michigan, and Bristol
In sixth place, Ryan Blaney won the NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta by 0.068 seconds over Christopher Bell in a chaotic finish that saw initial runner-up Carson Wallace black-flagged for passing below the yellow line. Heim and Honeycutt returned for fifth place in the Truck Series at Michigan, where Heim won by 0.065 seconds as Honeycutt dropped to the apron while trying to navigate around a lapped truck’s draft. Fourth place went to Ty Gibbs, who secured his first career Cup Series win by defeating Blaney by 0.055 seconds during the Bristol spring race after the two drivers battled side-by-side for the final two laps.
The Podium Finishes at Daytona, Talladega, and Charlotte
Chandler Smith claimed third place in the Truck Series season-opener at Daytona by 0.044 seconds, sneaking past a chaotic four-wide battle on the yellow line after leaders collided in the tri-oval. In second place, Kyle Larson won the fall NASCAR Cup race at Talladega by 0.041 seconds—a crucial result that helped him secure the 2026 Cup title—by surging from 11th place on the final lap to pass William Byron on the inside. Finally, the closest finish of the entire 2026 season went to Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Briscoe won by just 0.029 seconds after the teammates collided exiting Turn 4, marking Briscoe’s third and final victory of the year.
