The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season

In the 2026 NASCAR season, the closest finishes were predominantly seen on drafting tracks, with six of the top ten positions being on such tracks. However, No. 1 spot was a rare occurrence, last happening in 2024 at Kansas Speedway. Charlotte Motor Speedway claimed the top spot in the 2026 season by hosting its first fall race on the oval since 2017. Here are the ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR Cup, O Reilly, and Truck Series:

10. NASCAR Truck Talladega: Sammy Smith vs. Tyler Ankrum - 0.091s

Sammy Smith secured his first-ever victory in the Truck Series at Talladega, pulling off a win in the final seconds of the race.

9. NASCAR Truck Rockingham: Corey Heim vs. Kaden Honeycutt - 0.090s

Heim and Honeycutt experienced two of the three closest finishes in the 2026 NASCAR Truck Series at Rockingham. Heim narrowly won the race, blocking Honeycutt at the white flag.

8. NASCAR O Reilly Talladega II: Sammy Smith vs. Carson Kvapil - 0.084s

Smith won both the NASCAR Truck Talladega and the NASCAR O Reilly Talladega II races, earning his fourth career NOAPS win and his first of the 2026 season.

7. NASCAR O Reilly Daytona I: Austin Hill vs. Justin Allgaier - 0.081s

Hill won the NASCAR O Reilly season-opener at Daytona for the fourth time in the last five years, employing an impressive block down the backstretch to secure the victory.

6. NASCAR Cup Atlanta II: Ryan Blaney vs. Christopher Bell - 0.068s

Blaney defeated Bell at Atlanta, following closely in the draft and surging ahead at the finish line. Bell was glued to Blaney's back bumper throughout the race.

5. NASCAR Truck Michigan: Corey Heim vs. Kaden Honeycutt - 0.065s

Heim and Honeycutt put on a spectacular show at Michigan, with Heim narrowly edging out Honeycutt for the win.

4. NASCAR Cup Bristol I: Ty Gibbs vs. Ryan Blaney - 0.055s

Gibbs won his first Cup Series victory of the year at Bristol in dramatic fashion, with Blaney sliding sideways out of the final corner.

3. NASCAR Truck Daytona: Chandler Smith vs. Gio Ruggiero - 0.044s

Smith clinched the first-place position in a four-wide finish at Daytona, with Nemechek initially leading but trying to block Ruggiero's entry into the tri-oval.

2. NASCAR Cup Talladega II: Kyle Larson vs. William Byron - 0.041s

Larson claimed the 2026 NASCAR Cup title after a fierce finish at Talladega. After getting pushed out of line, Larson capitalized on the disorganized pack and quickly moved up the inside to snatch the win.