NASCAR's 2025 Season Delivers Thrilling Photo Finishes, Truck Series Claims Closest Contest

The 2025 NASCAR season concluded with a spectacle of nail-biting finishes across all three national series, showcasing the unpredictable drama that defines stock car racing. While the season’s closest contest was a heart-stopping moment in the Craftsman Truck Series, the premier NASCAR Cup Series contributed five of the top ten most competitive races. The Xfinity Series secured three spots, with the Truck Series rounding out the list with two appearances. Notably, Phoenix Raceway emerged as a surprising hub for close racing, hosting three of these thrilling conclusions, while traditional drafting tracks like Talladega, Daytona, and Atlanta continued to deliver their signature pack racing excitement.

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

The fall race at Talladega Superspeedway provided a dramatic overtime finish in the Xfinity Series, with Austin Hill emerging victorious. Hill, demonstrating masterful control of a chaotic pack, held off a charging Carson Kvapil. Kvapil’s attempt to challenge for the lead was thwarted when his pushing car made contact, sending him into the wall. With the field tightly bunched and racing side-by-side behind Hill, no other competitor could mount a successful challenge on the superspeedway. Hill’s triumph at Talladega solidified his reputation as a formidable competitor on drafting tracks.

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

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Carson Kvapil found himself on the wrong side of another razor-thin finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In this summer encounter, Nick Sanchez secured his maiden victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Sanchez led the field to the white flag, and with his competitors trailing in single file, they were unable to generate enough momentum to mount a serious challenge for the win. This close second marked another near-miss for Kvapil, who continues his pursuit of a national series victory.

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

The championship finale at Phoenix Raceway delivered an unexpected duel for the race win, overshadowing the championship battle for a moment. Brad Keselowski, opting to stay out on older tires, aimed to secure RFK Racing’s first win of the 2025 season. However, Keselowski’s overshoot of the final corner opened the door for Ryan Blaney. Blaney capitalized, diving underneath Keselowski to snatch the checkered flag. Behind them, the battle for second place was equally intense, with three cars running three-wide. This dramatic conclusion capped off a hard-fought season for both drivers.

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

A chaotic final lap at Kansas Speedway saw Chase Elliott steal a victory from Denny Hamlin. The incident began when Hamlin, while battling Bubba Wallace, moved up the track, forcing Wallace’s car into the outside wall. Elliott, capitalizing on the opportunity, surged forward on the inside line. He engaged in a door-to-door slugfest with Hamlin in the closing moments, ultimately crossing the finish line first after an exceptional last-lap charge.

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

The Craftsman Truck Series produced a dramatic first-time winner at Talladega, with Gio Ruggiero holding off his newly crowned championship teammate, Corey Heim. Ruggiero, in his first career Truck Series victory, had to aggressively defend the lead against Heim in the final moments. Heim made a bid to the outside as they raced towards the finish line, but Ruggiero’s determined blocking maneuver secured him the win by the narrowest of margins. This finish highlighted the intense competition within the TRICON Garage team.

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

Phoenix Raceway again featured in a photo-finish scenario during the spring Cup Series race. This particular event saw two Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin, engage in a fierce battle for supremacy. Bell ultimately prevailed, pushing Hamlin wide in the closing stages and edging him out at the line. This victory marked Bell’s third consecutive win of the season, extending a remarkable streak of performance and solidifying his status as a championship contender.

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

The spring Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway also delivered an overtime thriller. Alex Bowman executed a daring four-wide maneuver to take the lead. However, Aric Almirola fought back, getting alongside Bowman. Despite Bowman’s momentum out of the final corner, Almirola made contact, pushing Bowman into the wall and reclaiming the lead in the race’s dying moments. This aggressive move secured Almirola a hard-fought 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 electrifying finish that saw Ryan Blaney surge from outside the top ten in the final two laps to claim victory. The race to the checkered flag was a chaotic, four-wide battle, with Cole Custer and Justin Haley also in contention alongside Blaney and Daniel Suarez. Ultimately, Suarez was the closest competitor to Blaney as they crossed the finish line, separated by a mere 0.031 seconds in one of the season’s most visually stunning finishes.

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

A controversial asterisk accompanies the second-closest finish of the 2025 NASCAR season at Talladega. Austin Cindric was initially declared the winner over Ryan Preece by a margin of just 0.022 seconds, a victory that would have been Preece’s first at the Cup Series level. The two Ford drivers engaged in a drag race to the finish line, with Cindric narrowly holding the advantage, aided by the draft from lapped cars. However, Preece was later disqualified following post-race inspection, altering the official results of this highly contested race.

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

The closest finish of the entire 2025 NASCAR season occurred at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Craftsman Truck Series, with Kyle Busch edging out Stewart Friesen by an astonishing 0.017 seconds. Friesen was seeking to end a winless drought dating back to 2022, while Busch aimed to extend his record as the winningest driver in Truck Series history. Friesen held a slight advantage exiting the final corner, but Busch mounted a tenacious charge, utilizing a side-drafting maneuver to claw his way forward. In a photo finish, Busch in his No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet secured the victory by the slimmest of margins, etching his name in the record books for this incredibly tight contest.