The Greatest Finish in NASCAR History Deserves a Closer Look: The 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400

Lost in all the smoke and sparks of one of NASCAR's most iconic moments are the dozens of little details that made that moment what it was. Even the most diehard of us NASCAR fans can forget all the high tension that led up to this moment, so let's take a retrospective deep dive into NASCAR's greatest finish.
#NASCAR #Darlington #DarlingtonRaceway
Music in order of appearance:
Zack Hemsey - The Way
Inception OST - Dream is Collapsing
If These Trees Could Talk - From Roots To Needles
Spazz Cardigan - Raw Space
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[@EmperorLemon]

Have you ever?

[@S1apShoes]

No, I've never! Huge fan of yours, dude. It means a lot to see you here in the comments.

[@hobbesb9597]

Hey there. Didnt expect to see you here

[@Nickbotmax]

What a finish! Holy crap, wasn't expecting you here. (HUGE fan of your videos BTW)

[@WaterFlameDoesNotHaveLimits]

Hello Daddy Emp. Love your videos.

[@Landmasters]

The crazy mofo that got me to care even a bit about Nascar, here on the channel that got me to watch the Monster Cup Series week by week...this is great. Happy you made that video when you did, else I would have missed Darrell Waltrip who retires this Sunday on commentary.

[@LessGo7921]

To understand, we need to rewind... Procter and Gamble was founded in 1837

[@AuRennes.z2]

*sticks VHS tape into red car VHS player*

[@AuRennes.z2]

@@zart3374 I work for a Doctor named.Mr. Kevorkian, he always asks.me.how.im.feeling . Ever. Single. Day.

[@tissuebox7817]

Eerily similar to sb nation's rewind.. still pretty amazing analysis tho!

[@TotoDG]

13.7 billion years ago, the universe was created by what some believe to be a big bang.

[@namepending7526]

To *truly* understand, we need to rewind... The Earth was formed 4.5 billion years ago...

[@austinreed5805]

To understand we need to rewind... 13.7 Billion years ago, the Big Bang happens.

[@dparsons343]

@americanvillageidiot ahh, thats hot

[@edgelordnord1618]

Welcome to a moment in history

[@magnusb.20]

Austin Reed hahaha yea that feels about right

[@earthyt7394]

4.6 billion years ago, earth was formed

[@magnusb.20]

Soviet Russia andddddddd the big band didn’t directly lead to earth forming there was billions of years between them

[@willdebeljak7062]

I like how he said " I didn't give him room and he didn't give me room, that's how it is supposed to be" good sportsmanship and the right attitude.

[@RobKeenan826]

That's why I liked Kurt, shenanigans aside he is a racer

[@ryanjones4106]

I think he knew they made history too, as one of the most badass finishes of all time! He was probably honored to be a part of that. And also to see the deserving Ricky Craven go to victory lane.

[@Li8eralsarescum69]

Bleeds Ford Blue now Kyle on the other hand...

[@chillthrill4798]

Kurt always was respectful but his temper was horrific making him look like a bad guy but kyle is just a baby at times but he has gotten better

[@gadbammit4736]

"That was some good racing"

[@DeletableMan]

My god. I had three distinct panic attacks watchin' dude try to hoist that trophy at 8:24

[@sketchyAnalogies]

DeletableMan lol so true. No! Don’t drop it!

[@DerrickRG]

The last real NASCAR Championship trophy, that thing was a behemoth.

[@JohnSmith-kz8yo]

@@DerrickRG no kidding..it was almost as big as a 1960's color tv set...

[@Olly612]

Woah😐

[@hotdogs5265]

Bobby labonte

[@whatincarnation95]

That finish was NASCAR at it's finest. Plain and simple.

[@kyloten-raikerz6638]

What In Carnation? True dat

[@uniquemango3393]

Hey do you watch edsoundhead

[@spiderlegs50]

Make no mistake,,Craven definitely earned that win. Nascar as we once knew it is forever gone.....

[@TripAMD]

@@jeffcarroll1990shock, that makes zero sense. Crawl back in your hole, troll.

[@joshmuecke85]

That race made darlington my favorite track

[@hunterdabravesfan2128]

The most famous call in NASCAR History “It’s Gonna be a Drag Race! They touch! They touch! CRAVEN GOT HIM! CRAVEN GOT HIM!”

[@calebBalls69]

“Brad kesuhlowski has won this race?”

[@nascarandbowlingfan3888]

That is not the most famous call not even close

[@misterjersey5460]

@@calebBalls69 more like CHAD kesloski

[@calebBalls69]

@@misterjersey5460 Krad Beselowski

[@cartifan2829]

“Harvick by inches” too

[@harleyray5313]

"Is that a Pontiac?" Oh, I feel old and I'm only in my 20's!

[@lEGOBOT2565]

I'm 18 and I feel the same

[@jermaineboyd6594]

Same I'm 34

[@lmt9653]

Rip Pontiac

[@robrides3216]

Harley Ray I’m 18 and still driving a Pontiac and some younger people I know don’t even know what the badge on the front of my car is supposed to be 😂

[@FireboltPrime]

I feel the same at 17

[@matheuscassimiro5668]

the race that pretty much saved Darlington

[@badbooking3221]

Unfortunately it lost the Southern 500 for a decade after 2003 was run.

[@danielwest9955]

@@badbooking3221 But there was a legit chance they ended up like Rockingham and off the schedule entirely. This may have indeed saved the speedway.

[@badbooking3221]

@@danielwest9955 may or may not is how I'd look at it. The Southern 500 is a crown jewel even with Brian France wanting to ruin the roots of the sport.

[@danielwest9955]

@@badbooking3221 I'm just saying there were legitimate rumors that Darlington & Rockingham were in a similar boat. The original comment that this race saved the race is perhaps rather valid.

[@jamesbraun9842]

It lost its Southern 500 to a cookie cutter.

[@awsoumetank1]

"There's nothing left to decide this race except Physics and Fate." 100% excellent wording of that, actual chills.

[@Ob1tuber]

What about gravity

[@awsoumetank1]

@@Ob1tuber implied with physics lmao

[@mr.sunmeadow]

“There's a point at 7,000 RPMs where everything fades. The machine becomes weightless. It disappears. All that's left, a body moving through space, and time.” -Ken Miles

[@SonicBoone56]

Every time a track dies I cry. Thank God Darlington was saved.

[@spector8679]

Jeff Carroll uhm. you’re three months in the future from him. how the hell was he supposed to know?

[@jessicataylor4071]

@@jeffcarroll1990shock tf is your problem?

[@SonicBoone56]

@@spector8679 I guess they deleted cuz I didn't even see anything

[@spector8679]

Socky Noob Yeah. they got two little replies and got scared and ran away.

[@SonicBoone56]

@@spector8679 what did they even say?

[@sebrr]

"is that a pontiac?" i lost it for some reason at that point lmao

[@justinkessler3092]

Same

[@JackCallSports]

“Craven got him!” “Craven!” “Man alright what a finish!!” Chills down my spine

[@Issybear666]

have you ever?

[@RickinBaltimore]

@@Issybear666 NO I NEVER!

[@irrutias7035]

WOW!

[@nickcanuso6915]

Best part of that finish is on the last lap when Larry Mac says “both these cars are drivin terrible” and DW immediately follows up with “Nah, they’re drivin good”

[@tvLAND3458]

Honestly my favorite piece surrounding this race was Kurt's comments after. No whining he lost the car was hurt. "I didn't give him room in 1, he didn't give me room in 4. That's how it's supposed to be" Miss racers like that, starting to see more tho.

[@RickyHardin]

@I OFFER YOU THIS YES, my perspective on Kurt has changed so much over the years. His attitude often times WAS entitled during the early years of his career... but if his attitude had been like it was in this interview more often, he would have been so much more likable. It took the debacle at Penske, and the berating of the people at Phoenix Racing, and his woman beating him half to death while trying to take his money to get him to a place where he was likable though.

[@tofusrvng]

man he's a real one for that

[@tofusrvng]

so true. I watch F1 mainly and while Leclerc is a good dude, he's a diva, but he still isn't the worst, the top position belongs to Lewis Hamilton, reigning world champion, and a fucking diva. Spends half of his race complaining about his tires and acting salty if he isn't first.

[@pulishem]

@@tofusrvng yeah, but Leclerc is just a 21 year old kid and doesnt complain when he makes mistakes. In the other hand Hamilton is 35 and complains all the time about everything, and when he doesnt win is not because other driver did it better, is because his team or his car failed according to him 🙄

[@QueenVoodo0]

My body is not ready for this

[@st1220]

me 2

[@uli169]

I'm from South Africa an have never even watched a single NASCAR race before. To be honest, they never did interest me all too much but I stumbled onto your channel by chance and have watched all of your videos. Absolutely brilliant storytelling and flow so that even I, a person who has never seen a race and has had no exposure to the sport, loves your videos! Maybe, just maybe, I'll even watch a race or two from now on. Keep it up man! Brilliant work! You've got a subscriber from down in Africa

[@S1apShoes]

Glad to hear it! I try to make all my videos interesting and accessible to fans and non-fans alike. There's a lot of compelling history in NASCAR, like any sport, and it's just a matter of going out there and telling it.

[@slyguythreeonetwonine3172]

I would recommend searching KZbin for races in full. This website thenascararchive.blogspot.com is another tool I have used. You can sometimes find races that are not listed on it, but you have to dig pretty good for them. Might I suggest starting with the 2003 season? It has all the races for that year. You can work your way forward or back, depending upon how hard nostalgia gets to you. I'm partial to the 80s and 90s seasons as that was when the sport was most special to me. Anyways hope that makes things easier for you when you need that NASCAR itch scratched!

[@stevensmall9398]

You also just got one from Maine. Love the videos. Lewiston,Maine

[@lolk3132]

150+ mph without power steering feels like power steering

[@crunch9876]

Steven Tsakiris what the fuck?

[@Gamebit257]

@Steven Tsakiris what the fuck?

[@xan.xet.]

@Steven Tsakiris what the fuck?

[@dergenmusic2081]

Steven Tsakiris what the frick?

[@dunnyzed6953]

Steven Tsakiris fuck the what?

[@ironpanther2420]

I was 10 years old watching this race with my dad out in the garage and I'll never forget it. This was the last win for Pontiac in Nascar and they couldn't have possibly gone out in a better fashion.

[@jackthorton10]

Out with a bang.... and to a nail biting finish

[@36_Midfield]

After years of trying and working to save Darlington 2 thousandths of a second was all I came down to

[@thomasc.5219]

You are without a doubt the best Nascar KZbinr. You walk that nice line of entertainment and providing information which I enjoy. Keep up the good work.

[@HirokaAkita]

Radman = The best NASCAR YTuber for race analysis. S1ap and Sh0e = The best NASCAR YTuber for documentaryes. Thery're the two great of this.

[@CottonCandyRacing]

Hirouka Akita true

[@xander1052]

@@HirokaAkita I don't even watch NASCAR as a sport but S1ap makes it interesting for me to learn about the sport.

[@HirokaAkita]

@@xander1052 It has a exciting history. And, in fact, it's getting fun again.

[@xander1052]

@@HirokaAkita Wish it was easier to watch US Motorsport series here in Europe, the only way I can watch either Indycar or Nascar right now afaik is through the KZbin videos posted by the respective organisations to their YT channels, but from what I have been able to watch, definitely is a lot more exciting than current F1.

[@lurkintomgaming397]

Whenever someone says nascar is boring, I always direct them to the final three laps of this race and they always say, holy shit, that was awesome

[@warrioroftheroads]

I was 7 when this race was held and I can still remember my dad screaming “come on craven! Come on!” At the tv, to this day I still get chills and so excited when I watch this finish, at the time I had no idea that darlington was threatened with losing a cup race completely since I was so young, and even now this is the first I’ve heard of it, great video and the music made it so captivating 😂

[@andrewhall25]

78caprice that was my experience with this race as well. Have no idea how or why Craven was my favorite but he was and this win gives me chills with childhood memories .

[@guillelg4iu]

That Tide Pontiac was a nice looking ride. One of my favourite paint schemes from that era, along with Jeff Burton's 99' Exide Batteries Taurus

[@gadbammit4736]

I had a slot car of that 99 exide Taurus, but sadly it broke and I hadn't thought of it since I was about 11 years old till just now.

[@michaeltom637]

Same. Jeff Green's iconic Nesquik ride as well.

[@KR_Diecasts]

One of the first races I watched flag to flag back in 03. Became a fan for life after this race!

[@doughboy2448]

I'm currently 24, I was 8 when this race happened. After Ryan Newman's flip in the 500 that year this is one of the next races I watched, and I've been a fan ever since I want to meet these two drivers face to face some day

[@karlf4915]

Maine's own Ricky Craven! Man, was I so happy he won this race. Thanks, S1apSh0es, for all your wonderful NASCAR history!

[@TheIceberg]

Beautiful video man! Better than the actual NASCAR media group!

[@HuntinwithHattaway]

You really know how to evoke emotions with your edits, especially in your scene from 12:15 to the piano and Save North Wilkesboro sign. Choked me up and made me long for the old days of NASCAR...

[@jimbo-fk4dq]

After many Jon Bois like videos on NASCAR, sh0es gives us a Rewinder style video on NASCAR. S1apsh0es: The SB Nation of NASCAR.

[@MarbleFox162]

As a NASCAR fan, this race is everything we love and everything we live for. So much drama and excitement. A beloved track in need of a savior, a historic manufacturer desperately looking for a swan song, and two drivers trying their hardest to make a name for themselves. Everything came together in an awe inspiring display of perfection. For those who wonder why we love NASCAR so much, this is why. In just two one thousandths of a second, a crown jewel was saved.

[@HirokaAkita]

I'm gonna call it this way: A manufacter who wanted one final win before fade away, a driver who needed a win to still driving, and a speedway that was in it's "final fantasy" scenario. And, yes. The speedway got it's "Final fantasy", it was supposed to be it's final show before die and be forgotten, and by just pure chance survived it in a legendary fashion.

[@dougb1067]

The short track veteran from a working class family in Maine versus the come-up kid from the big city of Las Vegas. This is when the sport had every American’s attention and there could not have been a more perfect duo, background, track, or finish. Well done on the video.

[@jackthorton10]

A true testament in Automotive Form of the consistency in metaphorical battle The City Slicker vs The Country Man ... what a finish!

[@ELYYT]

Brilliantly put together video!

[@ExecutiveAutomotiveSociety]

I've watched a good dose of your videos. I'm actually from Martinsville and my "grandma's" house is on the hill of Ridgeway behind the track. I was born in '72 and it was pretty much part of my blood. When you wake up every day outside a NASCAR track, you just know racing. My dad was involved in promoting Bush teams and was friends with a lot of the teams as well. I still have friends that promote for them and I'm trying my hand at it. Now I have a house next to Daytona and just South of New Hampshire. Like a drug, the addiction keeps coming back. As I said, I've enjoyed your videos when they get recommended in my feed and I've enjoyed some of the commentary, oh and it's spot on. It's like going back to live that moment all over. I'd remember who I liked and who I jeered. Some of the best times in racing for me funny enough was just having Waltrip commentate (which I'm going to miss after this year). I just wanted to remember again what happened and maybe even bring some clarity to the hindsight they said was suppose to be 20/20, but is just a blurry haze to me. So here we are in a moment that really shouldn't have happened at a track that really shouldn't be and for one moment in time, like someone flipped some magic coin in the grand stands, everything came up heads. As a creator myself I can understand how hard it is to capture these moments. How hard it is to convey. We're just talking, right? No, it's so much more. Music, tension, building the kind of story that is told around a campfire to your partially drunk friends, stuffed by hotdogs over a makeshift fire, and when that punch line hits you need have them jump off their logs like someone poured gasoline on the fire with a crescendo of speech that ends in a whisper as everyone gasps and our heroes walk away unscathed and the monster is defeated. Well, today you did that. You did it with the execution of a bard, separated away from reality in some small pocket of existence, there we were intently listening as if our lives depended on it. Like the subject matter was going to save our lives and when it finally delivered the punch, it hit hard. We held our breaths for one moment even though we knew the outcome, the monster had been defeated. Today, nobody lost, we all won. I felt like something inside me had just survived and sucked in breath to check to see if I had made it while somewhere in my memory, left dormant for so many years, was jumping out of my computer race chair, but just like back then I celebrated in a melancholy way, with just a smile. For that moment I was still there saying, "good job guys, you did it." And once again I walked away. So today I subscribed to your channel. I hope this one moment will be repeated again. It probably won't be as grand as this one, I have no qualms about that. I understand that I won't have the alignment to others that I did to this, but just to know that at some point I can sit around that camp fire again and here you tell a tale about days gone by, of warriors that faced off on the black top, fed by high octane and speeds not imagined, still pure and unadulterated. To live that moment again will be worth it. Have a great day. Thanks. Allen #vipprimo, host of What It's Like to Drive and Car Side Chat.

[@KayDizzelVids]

Say what you want about Darrel as a commentator, he was damn good calling the end of this race: Mike: Have you ever? Darrel: No I never!

[@yeetboiwhatyesplease2095]

13:41 The fact that Kurt wasnt mad or anything-

[@-BigMike-]

2 years later and I can honestly say that this is the very best NASCAR KZbin video ever created.

[@thecmpunkchant]

THEY TOUCH! THEY TOUCH! I’m 46 from Chicago, and about to watch my first ever NASCAR race, at Darlington no less, and it’s all thanks to your channel. Your channel has been informative, educational, and entertaining. Keep up the great work, Sir. I salute you.

[@fishproductions22]

This also gave us possibly the greatest commentating finish of all time as well

[@ericgulseth74]

This was the pinnacle of my NASCAR watching days. The tracks and the cars started all turning the same and changing points systems made me leave.

[@joejohnson2802]

Eric Gulseth same. I was there late 90s- mid 00s.

[@gadbammit4736]

Same was a fan from 1997 when I was 7 years old up until about 2005. Loved it, watched it every weekend. Now I don't tune in anymore. Merl from the walking dead had me wanting to watch Bristol and Darlington in 2019. They should bring racing back to North Wilksboro and Rockingham. The year they dropped Rockingham completely is when I stopped watching. 2005 Darlington is a crazy race always been a fan of it and Dover.

[@LASTCARonBROCK]

Excellent video once again. What made this finish even more legendary was that Ricky Craven was, as Bill Weber called him, "damaged goods left on the shelf." He landed the Hendrick ride in 1997 after some solid runs with Larry Hedrick, but was critically injured in an accident at Texas. He then returned to the track too soon, which was why he wasn't in the No. 50 for most of 1998. In his first race back at his home track in Loudon, he won the pole. But the team let him go, and he struggled with several small teams before Cal Wells finally called in 2001.

[@chadbrochill9945]

I wish Maine had a cup track. It's odd for a Mainer to have too associate New Hampshire with home

[@willmoon5320]

My favorite video on KZbin. Brings a tear to my eye every time. Don’t know why. It’s incredible

[@AutoRockinRacing94]

I don't care what anyone says, this is my all-time favorite finish and the best out of the 0.002 second club. Also, I remember I had my 2003 Craftsman racing guide and a pen, anxiously waiting to jot down the winning number. As soon as CRAVEN was shouted, instantly wrote 32.

[@filet-o-frisch]

I could watch this video a million times and I'd still get goosebumps at 12:21.

[@papadragon695]

Apparently my Great Grandmother was watching that race on tv while holding a 2 year old me. When she saw that glorious finish she threw her arms up and dropped me on my ass🤣.

[@jackthorton10]

And suddenly you experience the law of gravity.... what goes up, must come down.... 😊

[@NickyvMLP]

I just showed this video to my friends in a discord server dedicated to a sim football league (a role play thing), and i got a couple of people responding that they loved it despite not being nascar fans. This is an absolute win.

[@KR_Diecasts]

Seeing the tide ride just warms my heart ❤️

[@Wwesattitude]

This is the greatest KZbin video I have ever seen. Hands down, Bottom line, Not a single contest. This is the best video I’ve seen. Much love from the UK. Hope your good Slap, all these crazy times atm have me just going through your video’s and Back into the sport of NASCAR. keep up the awesome work. 😁👍🏻

[@S1apShoes]

Thanks, man. I'll keep trying to impress.

[@chrisramsey6725]

Slap is awesome for sure. I found him through another youtuber named Emplemon. While he is not solely NASCAR material, he has 2 vids on his channel I recommend as well: The history of Talladega and a video about Dale Earnhardt. His quality is just as good as Slap's

[@johnrubino8937]

I still get the same feeling all these years later as I did when I saw this, just plain, WOW! What a race!

[@ryandriver9478]

Crazy to watch this now seeing how North Wilkesboro is coming back and it was just doom and gloom a few years ago

[@gabemarques9073]

Imagine the Roush dominance that would've occurred if everything had stayed stable: Edwards, Biffle, Kenseth, Busch, and Martin.

[@LarvicarioZ]

Another video clearly inspired by SB Nation but covering a sport they almost definitely won't cover. good work!!

[@Huntracony]

I've found it to be a general rule that videos about a sport are more interesting than the sport itself. That rule is even more true for motorsports.

[@chops1976]

"The Greatest Finish in NASCAR History Deserves a Deep Rewi...er, Closer Look"

[@humdll]

I'm 20. I grew up liking nascas as it started to decline. The golden era happened before and during my early years of life and these videos brings back the love I used to have for it. I don't watch it anymore but I still have the same feelings for it that I always did. These videos are great and I will be watching your videos for a very long time.

[@ThatGuyErazo]

Came here to see the Greatest Finish Ever in Nascar: *Left the video learning Ejukated:*

[@mass_hist3ria574]

I love this channel and how your videos are like mini documentary's

[@MegalithMac]

I honestly can’t get enough of these videos. This one hits a spot close to home mostly cause it was one of the most memorable races for me. I remember watching this race live when I was a kid and I remember jumping around cause how close that finish was

[@1969ChevroletCamaro]

I'm getting back into Nascar. Because it was one of the things that got me into cars in general! As a little kid in the late 90s and Early 2000's Watching TV, Nascar was the only interesting thing Besides Cartoons

[@jackthorton10]

Watching anything Car related got me here eventually.... now I am hooked on it

[@jwrino1825]

I was 4 y/o when I saw this finish live. I remember playing with a Jimmie Johnson diecast in the living room in front of our TV and my parents were yelling in excitement at what was happening before us. Loved this vid. Brought back good memories.

[@Riley0798]

Enter 2020 and we went to darlington three times in one season lmao!

[@Neekalos]

I have literally zero interest in nascar, and probably never will, and yet this video was made well enough for me to watch the whole thing and enjoy it. Reminds me a lot of SB Nation. Great video, keep up the good work!

[@debanshumajumdar9790]

Was I watching a documentary on Netflix? Dude, this video gave me chills! So professional, dude, you've my request. I hope you make more of these kind of videos. ♥️♥️♥️

[@missammonoid]

my grandfather was from central maine and was a HUGE ricky craven fan. i remember watching races with him in his workshop when i was little. brought back memories watching this. thanks man.

[@samharris3508]

This finish, is quintessential NASCAR. The cars are out of control, and the drivers are not afraid to lean on each other. Shame we have cars today where all you have to do is place a brick on the accelerator...

[@shawnconder4984]

This was awesome. I remember watching this race live. I was always a Gordon fan, but when he couldn't win it I started pulling for Craven to run Kurt down. Those last two laps I remember jumping up and down trying to will him up into the lead and going absolutely nuts when they were locked together coming across the line. Thank you Slap for taking me back to when I was an 18 year old kid jumping up and down and hollering at my TV for Craven to pass Kurt's sorry ass.

[@randomkid9911]

"is that a Pontiac" I died, that was funnier than it should of been

[@restofman6403]

This is now history. A history that lasted over 21 years. History is meant to be broken.

[@joebessette6565]

I'm 33 and have never cared about NASCAR. Now I've watched every one of your videos...hurry up and make more! I need more!

[@WhatiFRacing]

damn this is amazing! so well done its scary. Editing and pacing of this is just top tier greatness! Thanks for making this and showing why this finish is so good!!

[@MiamiSunrise]

My favorite paint job in NASCAR was the Tide paint. That sunglow orange, just the way they put that paint job together looked fantastic. It's also amazing that this race featured that amazing looking car in a stellar moment that words have a hard time capturing, though you did those words incredible justice. Amazing finish!

[@kylewashington1841]

I'm 33 years old grew up watching Nascar with my dad my entire life Dale Jarrett was my driver but Pontiac was and will always have a place in my heart. Since 2017 I have owned a 2001 Pontiac Firebird T-top V6 lol. I finally got my dream car after driving a beat up pickup for 10 years prior. But I loved that truck. 99 Nissan Frontier. I hand painted the inside of it Red Black Yellow and White. it was Magnificent. She gave me 244,786 glorious miles. Too many miracles to mention, (One including a fire and some Red Bull), Last thing hilariously my firebird shredded a belt half a mile and 4 turns from my house a year after I got her and it was hell steering that thing into my driveway.

[@Mr_Chris77]

The irony of all of this is the attendance number mentioned of 65,000. Fast forward to now and most tracks can't even achieve that. NASCAR basically killed itself by getting away from history. Historic tracks, historic sponsors, etc. They got too greedy and now are an afterthought. I went from watching every race, every season in the 90s and early 00s to nothing. I've seen part of one race, once in the past ten years. Thank you Brian France.

[@RexcorJ]

Still such a good note for Pontiac to go out on, with a miracle push on the last turn, winning by just an edge. Much of that excitement still bleeds over to this day.

[@TheLeo1400]

Nascar has such a rich history, thanks for putting it out like this. Great video

[@XANApwns]

I remember seeing this race on TV, I was just ten years old at the time. I already was pretty into Nascar and was a big Jeff Gordon fanboy, but the excitement me and my family (well me anyway, I can’t speak for them) had after watching this finish was immeasurable. Two guys I had never even heard of had just beat and banged their way across the finish line and it was the best thing I had ever watched. It was magnificent, a thing of beauty, and I probably developed more as a Nascar fan that day than I would have ever if it hadn’t happened, or if I hadn’t watched it. Thank you for this video, it was a nice analysis of a trip down memory lane.

[@jimrossi7708]

I was so glad Craven won, my neighbor up in Newburg, Maine ! Nice family !! If memory serves me right Craven would win one more in the truck series and that’s a wrap !!! He figured it was safer to be an announcer !

[@mikemike388]

This was absolutely amazing to watch! Well done! I remember watching this race live with friends and family, which was primarily Earnhardt & Gordon fans. We all become Ricky craven & Kurt Busch fans after that race.

[@392HemiM59]

I have been going to this race track year in and year out since 1993 and this was one race that I will never forget. I loved it!

[@jamesminter70]

I come back to this video every few months. Its just amazing.

[@howtobebasic2122]

2:46 foreshadowing, RIP Dale :(

[@austinreed5805]

This is hands down the best finish in NASCAR history that will never be surpassed.

[@reednaylor1894]

I remember watching this race at my grandmothers brothers stilt house on the Alabama river. We went fishing that morning and went home that afternoon for the race. I remember being mad because my guy (Bobby Labonte) had wrecked earlier in the race. I remember my granddad (who absoutly hated Greg Biffle) jumping out of his chair when they showed the slow motion replay. Man, I was only 7 years old and I still remember everything about this race like it was yesterday.

[@GibsterProductions]

Ricky Craven is from my home state of Maine, I've met him on a few occasions. He used to sponsor snow mobile races that my family would attend. I remember watching this race with my family cheering him on the entire way from 31st to 1st.

[@scmafia7515]

I was there and at the finish all we saw was smoke and didn't know who won..love my home track.

[@jcsadventures8975]

I remember watching this live. Such excitement, and happiness for Craven, even tho Kurt was my favorite driver at the time.

[@prismfireproductions3772]

Rusty was my fav but Kurt climbed the list big time from his fued with Spenser, I was 9 at the time of the race but I could not believe what I saw

[@cashkenterprises5584]

I was notified when this video was uploaded and enjoyed it. I stumbled across it today, and for some reason it made me cry. Beautiful video.

[@gfraser80]

I’ve been going down the rabbit hole of the old nascar days with your videos. They are great btw and then this one, boom out of nowhere If these trees could talk?? Dann! Great selection.

[@jayray08]

I did not expect this to be beaten but it happened.

[@chrise058]

12:12 my favourite part of the whole video.. great job man, such a great video! Great narration and editing put everything together nicely.

[@ChrisPoindexter98]

I got chills watching this. THIS. This is the video I'm going to show to my many lovely friends to show why I've spent thousands of hours racing simulators, reading about or watching virtual, recorded, and real motorsports, studied car setup tweaking information in every racing video game manual I've ever owned, and more, specifically NASCAR for nearly half of that time and effort but also other kinds of car racing types and series as well. This is why auto racing. This is why NASCAR. Period. Thank you for summing up the artistry, beauty, creativity, drama, history, and poetry of one of my most treasured hobbies, pastimes, and soon-to-be career paths. Love, Chris. 🎮 🏁🏎❤💛💚💙💜

[@AlanMuccioli]

You forgot to add in your epilogue portion of the video that the Southern 500 returned to it's Labor Day weekend slot in 2015, 12 years after it was replaced in favor of California Speedway. To this day, Darlington is a HIGHLY anticipated race as throwback weekend comes upon us all once a year. Great video, by the way!

[@3MCupSeries]

Somebody give this man a show! Love your work

[@driftingnick]

I'm not big NASCAR fan but you just made me one thanks man 😄

[@lexsellsmerch3512]

Still remember this race to this day. Without a doubt one of if not the most legendary finishes to a race

[@frazerguest2864]

As a Limey who doesn’t know a great deal about NASCAR, (it just wasn’t shown on British TV when I was a kid), but who loves great racing and loves V8’s, (despite the criminal amount of tax we pay on our petrol over here), I really, really enjoy your vids. Without a doubt they are some of the very best on KZbin. My only complaint about your videos is that there ain’t enough of them ! Many thanks from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@RewtB33R]

I live half a mile from darlington raceway. Greatest raceway in nascar history, without a doubt.

[@rdutrabh]

Man, you amassed all those details and storylines beautifully! Fantastic piece of work. Congratulations! And long live to the Lady in Black, Darlington!

[@bigernmccracken5241]

Right in front of my old seats.😎 I've missed one Darlington race since 2001 (the first mother's day race). So glad she survived. It's gone on to be the biggest event of the season.

[@TycoonTitian01]

Probably the most poetic moment I wasn’t even alive to see!