Face to face: Ricky Craven, Kurt Busch relive iconic Darlington race

[@88fanforlife]

Thing about this that made me gain a ton of respect for Kurt Busch is he drove those final laps without power steering, now that is wheeling a race car right there

[@adambonner7]

DaleE988 i miss those days. 97 team was special

[@StripeGurger]

You know, man, I've not been a Kurt fan, but over the last couple years he's cooled off a little, and seeing how pumped he was to finish second here, he's capable of good energy, and I like that.

[@1983tmb]

Yeah Kurt had no power steering and I thought I heard to that Ricky's brakes were shot too...I'm not sure either way it was an iconic finish.

[@Ob1tuber]

Something Dale Earnhardt sr never did, but Dale senior is still the G.O.A.T.

[@navingarcia9179]

@@Ob1tuber sr won Bristol with no power steering

[@Izzymoz24]

The best finish to date.

[@milkweed85]

Dave Allison, Kyle Petty, Dale Earnhardt @ Charlotte. Not a points race but imo gives this race a shot for #1 all-time

[@InactiveChannel19272]

@@milkweed85 that was a crazy last lap as well

[@milkweed85]

Hell yea

[@brianschaffer9220]

@@milkweed85 A run, but not better to me considering there was two wrecks to move other drivers out of the way. This one was a pure drag race for the final few laps.

[@Tommy23269]

This didn’t age well two years later many different times

[@thearcadeproductions1140]

The first NASCAR race I ever watched on TV. Needless to say, I was hooked ever since.

[@northcackalacky4694]

Very cool!

[@donnyovercast3559]

That's a hell of a first race to watch!!

[@JacobNascar]

You picked the right one for sure!

[@MonteLeeMyPOV]

_THE_ race that got me hooked on Nascar!

[@stemogstel22]

I miss when beating and banging didn’t mean your car couldn’t race anymore.

[@fernandoueno8668]

Ryan Smith yeah man, now a little contact with the wall makes the car terrible

[@AlonsoRules]

if you can get close enough because of aero push

[@chrismooney5737]

Yep you race another driver like that fined for rough driving

[@j9vlikz683]

Yeah I read somewhere it was for safety reasons though soooo

[@samuelmcneill1120]

@@chrismooney5737 they almost never fine drivers for rough driving. It’s just that the cars are too aero sensitive now not that you’ll get fined by NASCAR.

[@jakegibson9219]

I miss this body style of the cars and the racing, please nascar bring this back and you’ll bring back fans too!

[@kylefunderburk4194]

Jake Gibson kind of hard to bring those bodies back when Pontiac is out of business, Chevy doesn't even make the Monte Carlo anymore, Dodge isn't in NASCAR, and the Ford Taurus is a different class of car now.

[@kylefunderburk4194]

Some Guy I gotcha. But if you compare the cars of 2018 to the cars of just three or four years ago, and then compare them to the street versions, the new cars have gotten closer to looking like the street versions. Which is what people loved the pre-COT cars so much.

[@tysonfrank2105]

And get rid of the playoffs/chase and itd be good again

[@davidaugustine399]

@@kylefunderburk4194 Taurus is gone now

[@thomasmagut3265]

Ironic thing is...... They both drove the 41

[@DennyThePanther]

Thomas Magut Facts

[@oscarjimenezsr.716]

Craven 1995-96 Busch 2014-18

[@mhggggg]

Oh yeah Ricky had that horrible crash at 'Dega 96

[@jrmizzgaminglounge]

Harvick and Edwards finish at Phoenix reminded me of this. Both great finishes.

[@fernandoueno8668]

TheJrMizzGamingLounge but its not even close to Craven and Kurt hitting each other for mang laps

[@jrmizzgaminglounge]

fernando ueno yes, I was referring to the actual finish. Not the laps before, but i agree. Edwards just made it exciting on the final lap. But the battle between these 2 leading up to the finish. Was epic. It will always be the best. The coolest thing when I went to the Nascar Hall of Fame 2 years ago they had an exhibit just for this finish and had Cravens car in the HOF as well. But for some reason they had it on the opposite side of the original point of contact so you couldn't see any of those scuffs. You could only view from the driver side.

[@vicp1990]

Ricky craven was genuinely scared lmfao

[@fedfreds832]

Ricky craven genuinely bet Kurt Busch 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@GoHerd2001]

Kurt was so freaking good in that 97 car. It's a shame that circumstances (Kurt's behavior, Roush's stubbornness, the timing of Rusty's retirement and the 2 car opening up, etc.) short-circuited what should have been 2 or 3 championships for Kurt and the 97 team.

[@AdamB5000]

I watch this finish all the time. It's my favorite finish ever. Maybe favorite NASCAR moment of all time. Cheers to them both.

[@anthonymiller7992]

They both won that race! Yes only one person can win but they gave NASCAR fans a finish we crave to see...

[@anthonymiller7992]

@Robert Abraham Rada the funny thing is, it was not intended but i had to laugh when you pointed it out. Haha

[@1234KeithB]

Yes this finish was a burning Busch moment making me realize that it was this kind of finish I was craven all along

[@MaryandMocha]

Got to see the closest thing i've seen to this tonight at Kentucky between Kurt and Kyle. Great stuff.

[@doughboy2448]

I was 8 watching this and it made me a fan for life

[@pepperjackttv]

20 years later I'm still in awe of how badass this finish was

[@IndyGuest]

An often forgotten detail was that Kurt Busch did all of that with no power steering. When they hit coming to the checkered Kurt said before that it knocked the wheel right out of his hands and he pulled hard to keep them from hitting the inside wall.

[@wild.thing056]

1:32 both of these cars are driving horrible right now, DW: Nah Nah their driving great.

[@FlyEaglesFly19111]

Lmao.. right!!!!!

[@MaryandMocha]

Maybe DW's best line ever!

[@fogalicious2644]

People call DW annoying, but I call him passionate.

[@davidschmude]

@@fogalicious2644 Annoying? Nah. Now, Ken Squier? THAT was annoying.

[@sub4ra]

Best last 20 laps I ever saw. I have to come relive this every year, and every year it's just as exciting as it was in '03.

[@jamiestauffer3700]

Best race ever! 😃🏁

[@steverosati2703]

My favorite finish of all time!

[@nunyabizznazz611]

That's awesome! We need more action like this in today's NASCAR!

[@karnubawax]

I saw this live on TV. from start to finish - probably the best NASCAR race ever.

[@StayingBack71]

Best Finish/Last 5 Laps...Great Commentary from DW/Larry mac- What a day,

[@HorseFromHell]

This is the type of racing we need again!

[@rdtli]

Damnnnnnn i love Nascar ....watched this live those days !!!!! So much respect for this guys !!!! This is racing !!! true racing!!!!Cheers from Brasil !!!

[@davidtravis9790]

Thank you Ricky and Kurt for exemplifying what a spectacle racing can be. It couldn't have been better, congratulations for the memory. The best race I ever witnessed by two racers.

[@Kyle1224]

15 yrs ago....

[@adambonner7]

Kyle Dowbnia makes me feel old. Kurt was one of the youngest then, definitely the youngest star. Now he is one of the oldest

[@ADAKAR83]

it made me a Nascar fant back then. It is one of those races where at the end NONE of drivers wants to give up and they fight hard, they rub and bump without crying on radio. It was ... who was more "determined" to grab that win at the end. And the commentary - pure gold. "Somebody got to give going to turn 1 ...... Nobody! and into the wall goes Bush" or "Its gonna be a drag race ! they touch they touch !" I remember those texts till this day.

[@wrestlingstuffv2]

21 now...

[@allenmax8995]

one of the best duels ever..it was so much fun!...happy for Craven that day, saw that horrible wreck in 96 at Talladega from the stands near turn 1

[@elr2141979]

This was the good old days in NASCAR when racing wasn't about playoffs or gimmicks

[@jefferymaxfield7826]

I watched that race and still one of the best finishes in 50 yrs of being a stock car fan!

[@AlonsoRules]

I can watch this finish over and over and it still doesn't get any less exciting, even knowing the result

[@thecreepydudeinthepantry]

This will always be my favourite race of all time with my 2 favourite drivers of all time.

[@tylerworthington9090]

Two respectable drivers with nothing but great sportsmanship. One of the best moments

[@packisbetter90]

It was around this time maybe a little before. Cant quite remember though that I was becoming a Kurt Busch fan. Still my favorite driver. Remember watching this one as well and not even feeling upset

[@SAVINGEZRA]

They don’t make race cars like they use to. Slapping the wall that hard nowadays means you are done for the rest of the race. This is what racing is suppose to be. Now things just kinda suck.

[@TheDCGuitar13]

I was never a Kurt fan but I’d love to see him dominate again. Him and Kyle going back and forth for a championship would be soundbite heaven.

[@ThaddMcNamara]

2 classy gentlemen!!! Thanks for the Awesome Racing! I’ll never forget that!!!

[@NUJAC1000]

Its probably the most exciting last 5 laps and finish i had ever seen.

[@ThatTallTexan420]

Winston cup, DW, steve park, both labontes, rusty wallace, craven, that was racin. Its wild how times change just cause the years tick ahead. Could anyone imagine if its 2020 and we lived like it was the 2000s???? 🙏👌👍

[@davanierodriguez]

A historic finish right here. Beating and banging to the line without wrecking each other, and ton of respect out of both!

[@dragonballz4998]

I so remember watching that race jumping and yelling at the tv I didn't care who won because that was pure racing. My driver at the time was DJ #88 so didn't matter who got the win but hats off to those two guys

[@luisy.gonzalez6469]

The two have bonded together thanks to this race.

[@mitchcolburn1216]

Ricky Craven was one hell of a driver. If he hadn't dealt with injuries and mediocre equipment he'd have won a lot more races.

[@Mole204]

I'm a Kurt Busch fan but my two favorite races are this one and when Kurt pushed Ryan Newman across the line to win at Daytona.

[@paintwithpa8694]

That was and is the greatest finish in NASCAR. Normally I’m pretty sedate watching a race , but I was standing up fist pumping and hollering for Ricky to not let up and when they tossed the line I jumped straight up into the air and hollered at the top of my lungs! I never did that before and have never done it since. It was and had the greatest finish in NASCAR! Ricky Craven and Kurt Bush were my favorite drivers in NASCAR and are to this day they will never be replaced in my mind.

[@tomskeen6405]

Kurt Busch has really gained my respect in recent years, and this just adds to it.

[@nr92cp6]

3:04 That's why Kurt is the realest dude we've seen in NASCAR in a long time. Pure passion for great racing.

[@SWMP1523]

Back then when we had the old cars that actually handled worth a damn so guys could race hard, even at a damn track like darlington these guys drove their hearts out to try and win but you do that there now your spinnin around ass backwards

[@derekd8142]

The racing now is not a product of the cars It’s a product of drivers who want an easy ride

[@MaryandMocha]

And you could tell the car manufacture. That Pontiac with the kickout nose got him the race.

[@andrewbarefoot5901]

Will never forget watching this with my Dad and both of us cheering for Ricky to take it. A great memory I will always cherish.

[@skysucker4251]

It's the knockout, all the blood sweat and tears. The hard work we been puttin' in for years. It's the knockout, now the time has finally come, to shut 'em down and show 'em we numba' one.

[@rodneyjackson6181]

No matter what you think of these guys. To me, this was the best race I have seen just knowing it was Darlington. I was pulling for Craven that day because I rooted for the Pontiac's!! Wow, what a race! Classic!!

[@murdiesel]

Kurt you and Craven are class acts!

[@racechamp2280]

The man the legend Ricky Craven

[@rodpitcock6730]

Best two laps of racing in nascar history.

[@BuildsByThomas]

I think they both are winners for the respect they showed one another after the race.

[@JasonTigno]

I miss pre chase racing!!! Ever since that crummy chase came into the sport nascar hasn’t been the same

[@PhotonBread]

I believe this was the last season before the Chase. Kurt won the very first Chase in ‘04

[@ReelAZMatt]

My buddy and I were screaming at the TV at the end of that race. So happy Ricky won that race!

[@shennonthibodeau1298]

I remember this finish! I watched that race

[@lurkintomgaming397]

Still the best finish ever in my opinion and honestly, Kurt taking the L like a champ and not being a brat about it made the story so much better. They are both professional race car drivers in the most popular motor sport in America and they acted like it that day. What a finish what a moment in NASCAR history.

[@redirish311976]

Best ending to any race that I have ever seen

[@Brentt777]

Those are the kind of races that are fun even if you don't win.

[@jeremylangevin7814]

Ricky craven is from maine. I've met him 4 times have many autographs. Also have a card with this finish on it. Maine is proud to call ricky on of ours.

[@dannotwalruslarkin9324]

Most exciting last few laps of a race, 2 guys wheeling their cars to the max on a race track that would eat veteran drivers alive for just 1 mistake all alone. These 2 managed to beat and bang and wheel their cars in-between. Incredible. Ricky Craven was such an amazing driver with enough talent that could have put him up there with other great drivers had he not had those 2 horrific wrecks.

[@mega13man1]

Outstanding

[@GraySpeedProductions]

What a finish and that there is racing

[@DDD-us6uu]

Still one of the best finishes ever !

[@Mstl1099]

Best finish I’ve ever seen

[@yes-it-is-i]

Atlanta just gave this one a run for its money 5 hours after you said this lol, I think this one’s still got the edge though

[@Marko137-em8nx]

Lol

[@shaveyh10]

Good stuff...

[@henryhelen09]

That, is quintessential racing.

[@bks7842]

AWESOME!!!

[@JCpatriots]

The best finish of all time

[@eugenemalush9284]

So good!!!!!

[@travisguin83]

We all won that day!

[@davidparsons6588]

Kurt is a very good man he was not liked by some people in Nascar racing and I'm not talking about crews and owners the Nascar people themselves but that was a great race Ricky is a good man that came out of Maine and I was following his racing in Maine where iam from and the two guys are my favorite driver on the top ten list and they are up there in my favorite race car drivers

[@duanekennard3298]

We all know his brother Kyle would never have seen it that way if it had been him that lost. Respect to Kurt.

[@Nathan411466]

The biggest winners that day were the fans in the stands and the ones watching at home. They all saw a hell of a duel.

[@JSchaffer214]

Both guys won that day.

[@ReelAZMatt]

Nah they're drivin good! One of DW's best quotes!

[@JR-jk5wz]

Greatest race ever!!!! I miss Pontiac in Nascar.

[@robertarseneault3983]

This story...would not be as fun to watch....Without Kurt Busch's Class....Two Winners in this Race!

[@TeamNoLimits865]

These two could easily and ironically team up at Darlington if Kurt does a throwback to the Larry Hedrick Kodiak 41 that Ricky drove in the mid-90s

[@javonsumpter9678]

as long as no one spin out, legendary race, the only thing both had left was the will plus engine and the transmission, that's it

[@jrpace87]

Not the closeness but 2003 Darlington and 2018 Chicagoland had similar wild crazy finishes

[@andymacdougal]

That’s f’kn awesome

[@Diecastbuffet]

Class act by Kurt. His brother would be whining about 2nd

[@catjudo1]

I've been watching auto races since I was a kid in the early eighties, and that is one of the best, if not THE best finish I've ever seen. I read that Ricky Craven has been hired by Fox Sports for some of the NASCAR coverage. Makes me wish they'd can Waltrip and put Ricky in the booth. I know DW isn't dumb, but I'm so sick of his gimmicks and moronic jokes. Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon really need someone better.

[@bobguffaws2901]

You happy now? DW is gone

[@NickyvMLP]

If they had wrecked each other, Dave Blaney would've got by them both, so Kurt ran that race perfectly. The whole finish was perfect.

[@lurkintomgaming397]

Still the greatest finish of all time

[@BGBG-dq2rd]

This was LEGENDARY!!!! Much respect to Kurt's reaction/interaction in victory lane when congratulating Ricky. In his interviews as well. I'm sure behind closed doors it was a different story!! Lol. But thank you Ricky and Kurt!!!! Congratulations to both of you!! THAT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE!!!!!

[@paulym5814]

The greatest race I’ve ever watched. NASCAR has fallen off their own wheels. I get the newer cars but when a professional driver can’t keep them under themselves there’s something wrong.

[@tarheelbarnes17]

That look on Kurt Busch's face when Ricky admits he thought Kurt was coming to "wrestle". It's like Kurt is thinking "if I had known you stepped toward me ready to fight I'd have taken your trophy & beat you senseless with it"

[@alanduke9391]

Correction. Best finish ever.

[@t-royentertainment1421]

I was there with my son ! 👍whooooooooo

[@StormSliders]

CRAVEN GOT EEM!

[@samlosco8441]

IT'S THE KNOCKOUT!

[@Buschfanforlife333]

There is 2 reasons that craven won. 1. He outsmarted Kurt. 2. The Pontiac body style sticks out more than the first tauras

[@austinlallison]

Have you ever?

[@kjprodouctions9050]

No I've never.

[@s21b0b]

Yes I've ever.

[@ChiChiWoo]

CRAVEN GOT HIM

[@roadracing3]

Swap Kurt for Kyle on that day at Darlington and this interview doesn't happen. Kurt has become a great ambassador for the sport.

[@boblambert8262]

awesome race. wish nascar was like that today. but that's the best I've EVER seen kurt Busch handle himself. he's gotten worse with age tho.