15 Moments That Proved NASCAR Is More Than Just Left Turns
NASCAR is way more than just left turns—it's a high-octane world of daring moves, legendary rivalries, and jaw-dropping moments that defy every stereotype about stock car racing.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
NASCAR gets boiled down too often to the joke about “just turning left,” but it ignores the high-octane mayhem, strategy, and unforgettable drama that make up the sport. There are fiery crashes and last-lap miracles, bitter feuds and history-makers, and wins that are memorable. NASCAR does it all better than anything that happens in any other motorsports. These highlights of real-life show that even under the revving of the engines, there is a uniquely American spectacle of grit, guts, and glory.
1. Dale Earnhardt’s Victory in the 1998 Daytona 500
Image from Wikipedia
It took Dale Earnhardt 20 years and 0-for-19 tries, but he finally took home the Daytona 500 in 1998. The whole pit road lined up to congratulate him with a handshake—a once-in-a-lifetime expression of respect for a legend. It wasn’t merely a victory; it was the coronation of a racing legend.
2. Carl Edwards’ Flip Following His Victory at Atlanta (2005)
Image from Wikipedia
Having bested Jimmie Johnson by inches, Carl Edwards executed his classic backflip from the car top. It gave an already cliffhanging conclusion some pizzazz. That combination of sport and personality aided in widening the appeal of NASCAR.
3. The 1979 Daytona 500 Fight
Image from NASCAR Hall of Fame
Richard Petty was the winner, but everyone recalled Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison throwing fists in the infield. It was the first NASCAR event to be aired live from start to finish on national television, and that fight put NASCAR in front of millions of homes and onto the national radar.
4. Juan Pablo Montoya Hits a Jet Dryer (2012 Daytona 500)
Image from Wikipedia
While in caution, Montoya spun and crashed into a jet dryer, causing an explosion and track fire. The race was red-flagged for over two hours as teams swept jet fuel from the track. It was a surreal, hazardous reminder of how hot and crazy NASCAR can get.
5. Kevin Harvick’s Bump-and-Run at Martinsville (2018)
Image from Wikipedia
Fighting for the victory, Harvick nudged Kyle Busch in the last laps to gain the lead. It was a classic demonstration of short-track aggression, accuracy, and timing. Martinsville’s close confines make it more about calculated chaos than speed.
6. Jeff Gordon vs. Dale Earnhardt Sr. Rivalry
Image from Wikipedia
It was old school against new school—Gordon, the refined phenom, vs. Earnhardt, the working-class bruiser. Their wars weren’t just on the asphalt but also within the culture of the sport. It represented NASCAR’s emergence into a more mainstream time.
7. Chase Elliott vs. Denny Hamlin at Martinsville (2017)
Image from Athlon Sports
Hamlin passed Elliott late in the race, stealing the win and fueling fan indignation. Elliott responded the following week in Charlotte, proving he wasn’t a nice guy. This demonstrated that NASCAR thrives on vendettas, recalls, and unresolved issues.
8. Kurt Busch’s Rain-Soaked 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 Victory
Image from ESPN
This Darlington race featured Busch and Ricky Craven exchanging paint along the final stretch in a finish so tight it had to be reviewed for minutes. Craven took it by 0.002 seconds—the closest finish in NASCAR history at the time. It was an edge-of-your-seat drama that no oval-only criticism could erase.
9. Hail Melon: Ross Chastain’s Wall Ride (Martinsville 2022)
Image from Wikipedia
With a Championship 4 position on the line, Chastain pinned his car to the wall and floorboarded it through Turns 3 and 4, picking up several spots. It was a video game move that shocked everyone, including other drivers. NASCAR later prohibited the move, but it was a moment of creative desperation that stunned the sport.
10. Tony Stewart’s Fuel Gamble at Watkins Glen (2009)
Image from Wikipedia
Road course strategy came into full play when Stewart conserved just enough fuel to outlast the competition. It wasn’t about speed—it was about pit calls, throttle management, and nerves of steel. Road courses like Watkins Glen flip the NASCAR script completely.
11. Talladega’s Big One (Multiple Years)
Image from PlanetF1
At this superspeedway, a single little error tends to cascade into a 20-car crash. Not being in “The Big One” demands lightning-quick reflexes, vigilance, and fate—every lap. It’s not left turns; it’s surviving at 200 mph.
12. Danica Patrick Leads Daytona 500 (2013)
Image from Wikipedia
Danica was the first female driver to lead laps in the Daytona 500 and end up in the top 10. Although she never managed to take down a Cup victory, her inclusion paved the way in a traditionally male-dominated sport. She ushered in a new generation of fans and helped redefine what was achievable.
13. The 2020 Daytona 500 Crash Featuring Ryan Newman
Image from The New York Times
Newman’s vehicle soared through the air and was T-boned on the driver’s side, initiating a horror that hung over the racing community. Miraculously, he walked out of the hospital two days later. It highlighted the extreme danger and how far safety innovations had advanced.
14. Road Course Wins by AJ Allmendinger
Image from NASCAR.com
Allmendinger became a road course master, leveraging his open-wheel experience to excel on non-oval circuits. His dramatic, chaotic, and contact-filled 2021 victory at the Indy Road Course was a masterclass in restraint on a new battlefield.
15. Bubba Wallace Wins at Talladega (2021)
Image from Wikipedia
Wallace became the second African American driver to claim a Cup Series victory and the first in almost 60 years. The race was shortened by rain but emotionally huge. It was a watershed moment for diversity and inclusion in a sport long struggling with its image.
- Tags:
- NASCAR
- racing
- motorsports
- car racing