NASCAR's 2025 Season Delivers Edge-of-Your-Seat Photo Finishes: A Look Back at the Ten Closest Battles on Track

As the checkered flag waved on the 2025 NASCAR season, fans were treated to a thrilling display of close-quarters racing and nail-biting finishes across all three national series. Motorsport.com’s annual review of the season’s closest contests reveals a season punctuated by incredibly tight margins, with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series producing the narrowest victory of the year. While the ultimate championship battles may have been decided earlier in some cases, the pursuit of individual race wins consistently provided dramatic conclusions.

Surprisingly, the closest finish of the 2025 season would have only secured fifth place in the 2024 standings, underscoring the intense competition witnessed throughout the year. Nevertheless, the top ten finishes documented here represent a remarkable collection of moments where victory was decided by mere inches. The NASCAR Cup Series featured prominently, accounting for five of the ten closest finishes. The NASCAR Xfinity Series followed with three, while the Craftsman Truck Series contributed two, including the absolute closest margin of victory. Phoenix Raceway emerged as a notable venue, hosting three of these exhilarating finishes, while traditional drafting tracks like Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona International Speedway, and Atlanta Motor Speedway continued to be stages for exceptionally close racing.

10. NASCAR Xfinity Series – Talladega Superspeedway (Fall): Austin Hill vs. Carson Kvapil – 0.105 seconds

The fall Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway concluded with Austin Hill masterfully navigating overtime, holding off a charging Carson Kvapil. In a chaotic, unorganized pack, Hill maintained control of the lead. Kvapil attempted a run, but a push from a competitor sent him into the wall, effectively ending his challenge. With the field fanned out behind him, the superspeedway veteran Hill proved insurmountable. This victory underscored Hill’s prowess on restrictor-plate tracks, solidifying his reputation as a formidable contender in these high-speed environments. Kvapil, meanwhile, continued his search for a maiden national series win, experiencing another close call.

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9. NASCAR Xfinity Series – Atlanta Motor Speedway (Summer): Nick Sanchez vs. Carson Kvapil – 0.104 seconds

Another close encounter for Carson Kvapil saw him finish just shy of victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Nick Sanchez secured his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win in a race that saw him lead at the white flag. With his rivals single-file behind him, no one could generate sufficient momentum to mount a successful challenge for the win on the final lap. This victory marked a significant milestone for Sanchez, a promising young talent in the series, while Kvapil once again found himself on the runner-up side of a photo finish.

8. NASCAR Cup Series – Phoenix Raceway (Finale): Ryan Blaney vs. Brad Keselowski – 0.097 seconds

The championship finale at Phoenix Raceway, while primarily focused on the title contenders, also delivered an extraordinary battle for race victory. Brad Keselowski, electing to stay out on older tires, aimed to secure RFK Racing’s first win of the 2025 season. However, an overshoot of the final corner allowed Ryan Blaney to dive underneath, snatching the win at the checkered flag. The battle for second place was equally intense, with three cars side-by-side. Blaney’s victory highlighted his late-race tenacity, while Keselowski’s strategic gamble ultimately fell just short.

7. NASCAR Cup Series – Kansas Speedway (Fall): Chase Elliott vs. Denny Hamlin – 0.069 seconds

A dramatic finish at Kansas Speedway saw Chase Elliott claim victory after a late-race incident involving Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace. Hamlin, while battling Wallace, moved up the track, inadvertently sending Wallace, whom he owns a stake in, into the outside wall. Elliott capitalized on the ensuing chaos, diving to the inside and making contact with Hamlin as he surged past to steal the win on the final lap. This victory was a testament to Elliott’s aggressive driving and ability to capitalize on opportunities in chaotic situations.

6. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Talladega Superspeedway (Fall): Gio Ruggiero vs. Corey Heim – 0.059 seconds

The Craftsman Truck Series delivered a thrilling finish at Talladega, with rookie Gio Ruggiero holding off his TRICON Garage teammate and newly crowned champion, Corey Heim. In his first career Truck Series win, Ruggiero faced immense pressure from Heim on the final lap. Heim attempted a move to the outside as they approached the finish line, but Ruggiero executed a strong block, securing the narrow victory. This race underscored the competitive nature of the Truck Series and Ruggiero’s immediate impact.

5. NASCAR Cup Series – Phoenix Raceway (Spring): Christopher Bell vs. Denny Hamlin – 0.049 seconds

Phoenix Raceway once again proved to be a hub of close finishes, hosting one of the tightest Cup Series races of the year. In a compelling duel between two Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Christopher Bell emerged victorious over Denny Hamlin. Bell made a decisive move, pushing Hamlin wide in the closing moments to cross the finish line just ahead. This victory marked Bell’s third consecutive win of the season, a remarkable streak that solidified his position as a championship contender and demonstrated his exceptional form.

4. NASCAR Xfinity Series – Phoenix Raceway (Spring): Aric Almirola vs. Alex Bowman – 0.045 seconds

The Xfinity Series at Phoenix also provided a heart-stopping finish in overtime. Alex Bowman executed a daring four-wide maneuver to take the lead, but Aric Almirola fought back. As they approached the finish, Bowman appeared to have the momentum out of the final corner. However, Almirola made contact, pushing Bowman into the wall and reclaiming the lead to secure the win. This finish highlighted the aggressive tactics sometimes employed in overtime situations and Almirola’s determination to secure the victory.

3. NASCAR Cup Series – Daytona International Speedway (Summer): Ryan Blaney vs. Daniel Suarez – 0.031 seconds

The regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway produced an absolutely electrifying finish. Ryan Blaney mounted an incredible charge from outside the top ten in the final two laps to claim the victory. At the checkered flag, the lead cars were spread across the track in a near four-wide battle, with Cole Custer and Justin Haley also in close contention. Daniel Suarez was the closest challenger to Blaney, with the margin of victory being a mere 0.031 seconds, showcasing the unpredictable nature of restrictor-plate racing.

2. NASCAR Cup Series – Talladega Superspeedway (Spring): Austin Cindric vs. Ryan Preece – 0.022 seconds (Disqualified)

This particular finish came with a significant asterisk. While Austin Cindric appeared to edge out Ryan Preece by a razor-thin margin of 0.022 seconds at Talladega, Preece was subsequently disqualified after failing post-race inspection. Prior to the disqualification, Preece was on the cusp of what would have been his first Cup Series win. The two Ford drivers engaged in a drag race to the finish line, with Cindric managing to stay just ahead, aided by the draft from lapped cars as they approached the line. The disqualification shifted the narrative, but the initial on-track battle was undeniably close.

1. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Atlanta Motor Speedway (Spring): Kyle Busch vs. Stewart Friesen – 0.017 seconds

The undisputed closest finish of the 2025 NASCAR season occurred in the Craftsman Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Stewart Friesen, aiming to end a winless streak dating back to 2022, battled Kyle Busch, who sought to extend his record as the winningest driver in Truck Series history. Friesen held a slight advantage exiting the final corner, but Busch, driving the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, mounted a furious charge, side-drafting Friesen and clawing his way forward. At the line, Busch secured a victory by the slimmest of margins, just 0.017 seconds, etching this finish into the annals of NASCAR history.

The 2025 NASCAR season, as evidenced by these ten remarkable finishes, consistently delivered drama and excitement, reminding fans of the fine margins that define success on the racetrack. The close competition across all series sets a high bar for the seasons to come, promising more thrilling battles for years to come.