What is the best performance by a NASCAR driver who didn't win the race?

Question

Denny Hamlin lead 381 of 400 laps, but ran out of fuel, at Richmond, and finished 24th?

Do you know another race that this ever happened

Answer 1

That race was probably the most dominant performance without winning, another that sticks out to me, was when Dave Blaney was a rookie driving the 93 Amoco car for Bill Davis, he was smoking everyone at Atlanta, and after a pit stop one of his rear tires came off the car and cost him the win.

Answer 2

kurt bush had the best race but lost to ricky craven at darlington 2002

Answer 3

Dale Jr.  All 73 races since Richmond 2006.  Especially Richmond 2008.  Denny Hamlin sucks.

Answer 4

that's happened to denny a couple of times, and to kyle as well (thought i must admit, many of his are often self-induced ;-)  rowdy has led more laps in all three series than any other driver this year, and hasn't won every race...for example, both he and tony stewart have been dominant in nationwide races this year only to have something go wrong and put them out of the race...

it happens quite frequently actually.  and if you add in times like talladega, 2006, where brian vickers accidentally took out junior and johnson then went on to win, the list would be quite long...

ps.  lowes48 (below), i agree with you except it was 2003.

Answer 5

Jimmie Johnson, Kansas 2006. Lead most every lap, with very few cautions. Four laps to go had to come in for fuel. Tony Stewart coasts from turn four over the finish line on fumes to take the checkered flag.

There are so many of them, but since I am a team 48 fan, this one will always stick in my mind.

Answer 6

1990 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt won everything that week.

Won the Busch Clash, 125 Qualifier, and Busch race.

Dominated the 500, almost lapping the field. At one point having a 35 second lead on everyone.

Only a late caution flag regrouped the field. Then he ran over debris and blew the right rear tire in turn three of the last lap.

Answer 7

Dale Earnhardt and the Daytona 500. Dominated that race over and over, leading the most laps, just not the last one. How many ways are there to lose a race? Dale did them all. Even hit a seagull one year.

Answer 8

lowes48 has it, Kurt and Ricky Craven, holy cow, that was close!!!

Answer 9

Kyle has led a quite a few races this year in cup and nationwide and has had some bad luck like wreckin with a 3 second lead and clearly the front runner, his agressiveness catches up to him alot

Answer 10

Kyle at Daytona.  Not as unfortunate at Denny at Richmond, but Kyle could have won if not for Smoke.

Answer 11

1990 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt led 155 of 200 laps before blowing a tire on the final lap handing the victory to Derrike Cope.

Answer 12

I am not sure about leading that many laps and running out, I do believe Denny may have the record for that.  But as far as the lead car running out of gas on the last lap it happens more than you might think.

Answer 13

Steve Park dominated the spring race at Darlington in 2001 just weeks after winning at Rockingham, a track similar to Darlington. But a late caution and pit stop put Dale Jarrett in the lead, and he went on to win his first race for UPS.