As the NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now the Sprint Cup Series) headed to Atlanta for the 1993 season finale, Dale Earnhardt was poised to take his sixth championship trophy. While Earnhardt and his Richard Childress Racing crew were eagerly anticipating the fall of the checkered flag, Rusty Wallace and his Penske Racing team were preparing for battle.

Entering the weekend looking to end the best season of his career, Wallace set his sights on Earnhardt but knew his task would be arduous. In order to take the title, the driver of the black and gold No. 2 would have to not only win the race, but also lead the most laps. If that was not enough, Earnhardt would simply have to finish 34th or better to win the championship.

In typical Earnhardt-Wallace fashion, the two fierce competitors started side-by-side in the tenth row. Veteran Harry Gant started the final race of his illustrious career on the pole, with Brett Bodine to his outside.

Before the largest crowd ever to see a sporting event in Georgia, the 42-car field took the green flag for the final event of the 1993 season, and what a season it had been.

The year started off with the "Dale and Dale" show in Daytona, while Wallace soared through the air end over end. The series was then delayed by the "Blizzard of '93" in Atlanta. Tragedy struck early in April as defending Cup Series champion Alan Kulwicki and three others died in a plane crash over the mountains of Tennessee. With the series reeling from the terrible loss, the sport trekked on.

At Talladega in May, Wallace once again flew through the air, this time rolling violently and breaking his wrist. The series made its inaugural start at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July, with Wallace taking the victory. Then, the unthinkable happened once again. This time it was fan-favorite Davey Allison who's life was ended all too short as a result of a helicopter crash in Talladega. In one year, NASCAR lost two of its rising stars off the track. With the green flag flying in Atlanta, those in the sport looked forward to putting the '93 season in the books.

Gant led the field to the green and took off out front for much of the early part of the race. Leading 78 laps, Gant pit his No. 33 Skoal Bandit Chevrolet under green, only to see the caution fly miring him a lap down.

With Gant out of the way, Wallace seized the opportunity and took command of the race. Doing all he could to earn his second career title, Wallace set his sights on the finish and hoped all would go in his favor. Unfortunately for Wallace, attrition began taking its toll on the field. When T.W. Taylor made contact with the wall and pulled in the garge, Wallace's chances were over. Taylor retired from the race in the 34th-spot, guaranteeing Earnhardt a finish of 34th or better and thus handing him his sixth career title.

A late race charge by Darrell Waltrip made Wallace work extra hard for the top-spot in the closing laps of the race. Retaking the lead on Lap 325, Wallace drove off from Ricky Rudd to take his tenth victory of the 1993 season by a margin of 5.66 seconds.

Honoring his late friend Alan Kulwicki, Wallace turned his black and gold No. 2 around and celebrated with a "Polish Victory Lap" - made famous by Kulwicki. Pulling out a flag with the No. 28 on it, Wallace paid his respects to both Kulwicki and Davey Allison. Joining his friend and biggest rival, Earnhardt turned his black No. 3 around for a "Polish Victory Lap" of his own. Earnhardt pulled out a flag with the No. 7 on it and the two drove around the track in one of the most moving moments in the history of NASCAR.