Five most heartbreaking championship losses in NASCAR history

Auto racing is an inherently merciless sport, and NASCAR racing has seen its fair proportion of heartbreaking championship losses. Listed below are 5 that has been significantly painful for the driving force that got here out on the dropping finish. 

5. Lee Petty, 1950

Invoice Rexford claimed the 1950 Cup Collection title over Fireball Roberts, however it was Lee Petty who was the recipient of heartbreak. At the moment, NASCAR president Invoice France Sr. didn’t permit NASCAR drivers to race in different racing collection — a rule that Petty broke and was subsequently closely penalized for. Petty was docked all of his factors in July, and would’ve simply gained the title with out the penalty. 

4. Darrell Waltrip, 1979

The 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Collection season began out with Darrell Waltrip ending runner-up to Richard Petty within the Daytona 500 and ended with Waltrip ending runner-up to Petty for the championship. 

Waltrip led Petty by two factors going into the season finale on the Ontario (Calif.) Motor Speedway, however completed eighth to Petty’s fifth-place end result. That was sufficient to carry Petty over Waltrip for his seventh and closing Cup Collection championship. 

3. Invoice Elliott, 1992

The 1992 NASCAR championship battle is generally recognized for the triumphant story of underdog Alan Kulwicki, who gained the championship in what might solely be described because the fruits of a Hollywood story. However Elliott’s heartbreaking loss — which got here after Kulwicki earned the bonus factors for main probably the most laps within the season finale by one lap over Elliott — was the opposite facet of the story. 

Elliott gained the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway that day, however ended up 10 factors shy of Kulwicki for the title. Softening the blow was Elliott’s 1988 championship, which was the one one he earned throughout his legendary driving profession. 

2. Carl Edwards, 2016 

Edwards, a 28-time Cup Collection winner, had already gained practically all the pieces there’s to win in NASCAR going into the 2016 championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Edwards was one of many 4 drivers eligible for the championship through the season finale, and seemed to have the title all however sewn up within the closing laps. 

With 15 laps to go, nonetheless, the warning flew, re-racking the sphere for a late-race restart. In a desperation transfer, Edwards tried to dam fellow championship contender Joey Logano on the restart, which resulted in Edwards hitting the within wall and Jimmie Johnson profitable his record-tying seventh championship. 

As surprising because the heartbreak of dropping the championship was, it was nothing in comparison with the shock felt across the NASCAR world when Edwards introduced his sudden retirement from NASCAR competitors in January 2017. He was inducted into the NASCAR Corridor of Fame in February 2025. 

1. Denny Hamlin, 2025 

Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner and future Corridor of Famer in his personal proper, has gained 60 Cup Collection races. He effectively on his approach to a 61st and a long-awaited championship on Nov. 2, main the championship race with three laps to go. 

Nevertheless, a blown tire from fellow title contender William Byron resulted in a late-race restart. Hamlin determined to take 4 tires on the ultimate pit cease, whereas Kyle Larson took two and was abruptly within the cat fowl’s seat in regard to the championship outlook. 

Larson stayed forward of Hamlin in NASCAR time beyond regulation to safe his second title and depart Hamlin nonetheless chasing his first going into Hamlin’s twenty first season of competitors in 2026.