25 biggest choking moments in NASCAR history
25. Jimmie Johnson – 2019 Clash Wreck
Johnson triggered a massive wreck while trying an aggressive move on Paul Menard in a meaningless exhibition race. While not career-defining, it was a surprising mistake from NASCAR’s most disciplined driver.
24. Kyle Busch – 2022 Bristol Dirt Slide
Busch almost threw away an easy win by sliding wide in the final corner, but chaos ahead bailed him out. It’s remembered more for luck than composure.
23. Chase Elliott – 2020 Roval Wall Hit
Elliott slammed the Turn 1 barrier under caution while leading the Roval race. Though he still came back to win, the moment remains a rare mental lapse for a driver known for precision.
22. Darrell Waltrip – 1981 Daytona 500 Fuel Disaster
Waltrip’s crew gambled on fuel and came up short with just two laps to go. Richard Petty’s win became legendary, while Waltrip’s miscalculation became a cautionary tale.
21. Kyle Busch – 2014 Fontana Blowup
Busch dominated early but lost power in the closing laps, erupting in frustration over the radio. It summed up a season of speed without results.
20. Jeff Gordon – 2008 Las Vegas Spin
Chasing Carl Edwards, Gordon overstepped and spun out late in the race. A rare unforced error from one of NASCAR’s most precise drivers.
19. Kyle Larson – 2017 Dover Engine Failure
Larson had been among the title favorites before an engine failure at Dover eliminated him. It wasn’t entirely his fault, but it still felt like a season-long choke of momentum and opportunity.
18. Ricky Craven – 1999 Texas Self-Spin
Craven was on pace for a huge comeback when he spun himself while battling for position. It was the kind of mistake that kept him from breaking through as a consistent winner.
17. Jeff Gordon – 2007 Chicago Pit Mistake
A speeding penalty on pit road cost Gordon an easy win — and ultimately valuable championship points. In a year he lost the title by less than 100 points, every mistake hurt.
16. Ryan Blaney – 2024 Talladega Crash
Blaney led the final lap at Talladega before making an over-aggressive block that sent him into the wall. He went from a near lock for the next playoff round to a shocking DNF.
15. Brad Keselowski – 2021 Daytona 500 Teammate Crash
Keselowski went for the win on the final lap but wrecked teammate Logano instead, destroying both Penske cars. It was a self-inflicted disaster that robbed the team of a sure Daytona victory.
14. Martin Truex Jr. – 2018 Martinsville Bump and Run
Truex led on the final lap before Joey Logano moved him out of the way for the win. Truex called it “BS,” but the real sting was losing a guaranteed Championship 4 berth.
13. Tony Stewart – 2006 Coca-Cola 600 Fuel Gamble
Stewart’s team ran out of gas while leading late in one of NASCAR’s crown jewel races. It was a painful reminder of how risky strategy calls can backfire spectacularly.
12. Denny Hamlin – 2020 Daytona 500 Pit Error
Hamlin nearly blew his third Daytona 500 after overshooting his pit box under pressure. Though he recovered, it was almost the defining choke of his career.
11. Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 2004 Daytona 500 Finish
Going for back-to-back 500 wins, Junior’s late move allowed Jeff Gordon to slip by. A small misstep that carried massive symbolic weight for NASCAR’s most popular driver.
10. Kevin Harvick – 2021 Bristol Playoff Elimination
Harvick’s car cut a tire while battling Chase Elliott, ending his playoff hopes. Coming off a 9-win season, the crash marked a shocking nosedive in form and fortune.
9. Denny Hamlin – 2023 Coca-Cola 600 Restart Blunder
Leading late, Hamlin spun his tires on a restart, letting Ryan Blaney take the win. It added to Hamlin’s infamous reputation for faltering in big moments.
8. Chase Elliott – 2017 Martinsville Dump by Hamlin
Elliott was laps away from his first career win before Hamlin wrecked him in Turn 3. While not his fault, Elliott’s inability to hold Hamlin off symbolized his early career frustrations.
7. Carl Edwards – 2008 Kansas Wall Slam
Edwards tried a desperate slide job on Jimmie Johnson for the win but smacked the wall instead. It became one of the most famous “all or nothing” moments that turned into nothing.
6. Mark Martin – 1990 Daytona 500 Black Flag
Martin’s jump on a restart earned him a black flag that cost him his best shot at Daytona glory. For a driver with 40+ wins and no 500 title, this mistake defined his “almost” legacy.
5. Sterling Marlin – 2002 Daytona 500 Fender Fix Penalty
Marlin led under caution but climbed out of his car to fix damage — an illegal move that cost him the win. Fans watched in disbelief as his mistake handed victory to Michael Waltrip.
4. Carl Edwards – 2016 Homestead Block Gone Wrong
Edwards tried to block Joey Logano for the championship and caused a massive wreck instead. It ended both his title hopes and, stunningly, his NASCAR career.
3. Carl Edwards – 2011 Homestead Championship Tiebreaker
Edwards tied Tony Stewart in points but lost the Cup title on a tiebreaker after finishing second in the finale. Doing everything right yet still losing made it one of the most painful heartbreaks in NASCAR history.
2. Dale Earnhardt – 1990 Daytona 500 Tire Blowout
Earnhardt led 155 of 200 laps before a tire blew on the final lap, handing the win to Derrike Cope. It remains the most gut-wrenching Daytona collapse ever.
1. Denny Hamlin – 2010 Championship Collapse
Hamlin came into Homestead leading the points but spun early and never recovered, losing the title to Jimmie Johnson. It’s the biggest choke in NASCAR’s playoff era — a season-long effort lost in one moment of overpressure.
