With the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season coming around the corner, members of the motorsports media have elected on the top-three races of the decade. Earning the most votes was the 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway. Coming second was the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in 2001, and last but certainly not least is the 2001 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Since the introduction of electronic scoring in 1993, NASCAR has never seen a closer finish than in the 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at the track “Too Tough Too Tame”. With Ricky Craven starting 31st and Kurt Busch qualifying sixth but being forced to the back due to an engine change, the two battled the rest of the field over the course of the race to set up one of the sport’s most exciting finishes in its existence. The two banged it out on the final stretch of the race each competing for a win with Craven inching Busch out of the win by a NASCAR record margin of .002 seconds.

In 2000 one of NASCAR’s most beloved athletes earned his final victory in the sport’s top echelon. Dale Earnhardt earned his 76th triumph in the Cup Series by coming from the 18th spot with 11 laps to go beating Kenny Wallace and Joe Nemechek across the finish line.

Following the year after Earnhardt’s death replacement driver Kevin Harvick earned his first career victory in the Cup Series on fittingly his third start in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500. Defeating Jeff Gordon by .006 seconds the finish was as symbolic as it was exciting. Following the waving of the checkered flag, Harvick performed a celebratory burnout with three fingers held in the air.

With 2009 coming to an end, the new decade is sure to have many more thrilling races in store for its Hardcore Race Fans.

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