'Just wow': Drivers dumbfounded by closest ever finish

Kyle Larson edged out Chris Buescher by one one thousandth of a second in what is officially the closest ever finish to a NASCAR Cup series race.

The pair banged doors through the final corner of the 400 mile ( 643km) race, and were all but inseparable at the finish line.

Electronic scoring showed Buescher as the leader, but upon checking the cameras, officials handed the win to Larson.

The official margin – 0.001 both – left Buescher both dumbfounded and dejected. He and his team had begun to celebrate before learning he had finished second.

“Look at these guys – crushed,” former driver Clint Bowyer said in commentary as cameras showed images of Buescher’s team.

The dramatic finale came after a caution for Kyle Busch’s spin forced a green-white-chequered finish. Larson pulled behind Buescher on the backstretch of the last lap, then came around him on the outside of the final corner.

Buescher looked as if he had pulled in front, and even Larson thought he had finished second, before the call came through that he had won.

“That was wild,” Larson – the 2021 series champion – said. “I was thankful for that caution. We were dying pretty bad. I was happy to come out third.”

It was a brilliant start to a busy month of May for Larson, who will attempt to run the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day later in the month. The win was his second of the season, and the 25th of his career.

Buescher was left questioning the grainy images of the photo finish, as the entire Ford contingent — which has yet to win in any of NASCAR’s top three series this year — had to rue the closest miss in its history.

'just wow': drivers dumbfounded by closest ever finish

Larson edged Buesher by 0.001 of a second.

“I don’t know what to say right now,” Buescher said, shaking his head while standing beside his No.17 car. “I haven’t seen a replay other than just the picture, and I sure can’t see in that picture. That sucks to be that close.”

Making it a bigger bummer for Buescher was the fact that he had overcome a big miscue midway through the race. He had just won the second stage and led the field onto pit road when a crew member came over the wall too soon. The penalty sent him to the rear of the field, and he had to spend much of the final stage working his way back to the front.

The series heads to Darlington next for its annual throwback weekend.

OTHER NEWS

17 minutes ago

Educators call Gov. Gavin Newsom’s slash to school funding ‘unconstitutional’

19 minutes ago

Pelican Island Causeway Bridge reopening after Wednesday's barge strike

21 minutes ago

Daisy Ridley is business chic in boxy gray blazer at special LA screening of Disney's Young Woman And The Sea

21 minutes ago

What time is Netflix releasing Bridgerton series three in the UK?

21 minutes ago

CNN political commentator and GOP strategist Alice Stewart dies

21 minutes ago

From 800 km away, dark horse Engineer Rashid unsettles the Baramulla race

21 minutes ago

Cate Blanchett looks chic in quirky fruit-print top and leather trousers as she attends Cannes Film Festival afterparty for her new flick Rumours

21 minutes ago

Dozens of Muslim teenagers sent to Government's anti-terror programme after being radicalised by Nazi propaganda that celebrates Adolf Hitler's genocide of Jews

21 minutes ago

Video: Horror as handsome high school jock, 17, is killed and his girlfriend, 16, fights for her life after 'drunk driver' slammed into them at 131 mph in his Mustang that split their car in HALF

21 minutes ago

Plans to roll out 'dental vans' in effort to tackle shortage of practitioners could be shelved by ministers due to 'limited availability' of vehicles

21 minutes ago

British Museum recovers 268 more missing or stolen objects that have been found across the world after legal action was launched against curator and director resigned

21 minutes ago

Christian enclave known as 'God's Square Mile' who banned people from using public beaches due to bizarre belief could finally be stopped after they 'made people buy badges with the CROSS on them'

21 minutes ago

Critics slam BBC Rebus reboot for 'reimagining' Ian Rankin's popular detective as an 'unhinged thug'

21 minutes ago

Shocking moment BMW driver wrecks £82,000 motor by slamming it into a bike stand in London, ripping off its wheel before motorist 'fled the scene'

21 minutes ago

Palestinians call for boycott of 'genocidal' Israel as fears grow of Cannes film festival becoming 'another Eurovision'

23 minutes ago

Team Penske dominates first day of Indy 500 qualifying as Ganassi and Ericsson shut out of pole

28 minutes ago

Seven Indian Filmmakers and Entrepreneurs Who Will Rock Cannes This Year

28 minutes ago

Long Week? ‘The Voices' Is the Rare Midnight Movie Better Enjoyed Alone

28 minutes ago

HOW much funding South Africa’s political parties received in 2024

28 minutes ago

Video: Revealed: Oleksandr Usyk's punch stats against Tyson Fury show he was the RIGHT winner despite throwing nearly 100 punches less... as the Ukranian bested the Gypsy King in several key areas

28 minutes ago

Video: JEFF POWELL'S SCORECARD: Oleksandr Usyk did enough to get the judges' verdict to beat Tyson Fury, but Mail Sport's boxing expert had a different result... how did he score the fight?

28 minutes ago

Video: Oleksandr Usyk sent to HOSPITAL with a broken jaw after beating Tyson Fury... as new undisputed heavyweight champion misses the post-fight press conference

31 minutes ago

Steelers QB Justin Fields To Get 'A Lot Of Throws Early On'

31 minutes ago

Washington Nationals news & notes: Nats drop 3rd straight, 4-2 Phillies in opener in CBP; Joey Gallo returns

31 minutes ago

Mailbag: Would the Raiders have drafted Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix?

31 minutes ago

Emma Hayes ‘hasn’t got another drop to give’ after Chelsea WSL title triumph

33 minutes ago

F1 drivers pay homage to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger ahead of Imola GP

35 minutes ago

Fairfield Gardens: Miracle update after girl was seriously injured after she became pinned under a car - and bystanders had to frantically rip off a wheel to wedge her free

35 minutes ago

Domenica Calarco shares concerning message revealing she is 'not okay' and is entering a mental health retreat amid Abbie Chatfield backlash

35 minutes ago

Diddy's former assistant admits she was NOT 'surprised' by disturbing footage of him violently attacking his ex Cassie Ventura: 'I knew that it was something that he could be capable of'

36 minutes ago

Joe Biden faces potentially nightmarish June swoon with his re-election hopes fading

36 minutes ago

Payten looks in mirror to break Cowboys' losing cycle

36 minutes ago

Faf du Plessis unfiltered on MS Dhoni's potential farewell ahead of CSK clash: 'People are talking about it for 6 years'

36 minutes ago

Sultry tease of summer brings muggy air, storm risk to Ontario

36 minutes ago

Netflix reportedly paying staggering amount for NFL Christmas Day games in 2024

36 minutes ago

Rebel Gildan Executives Push for Board Change, Return of Ex-CEO Chamandy

38 minutes ago

Who Plays Eli David On NCIS And What Happened To The Character?

40 minutes ago

Stephen A. Smith On Why Aaron Rodgers Wouldn’t Be A Good Choice For Netflix’s Roast Like Tom Brady

41 minutes ago

What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Kiwi Every Day

41 minutes ago

How wild swimming puts you at risk of a raft of waterborne diseases

Kênh khám phá trải nghiệm của giới trẻ, thế giới du lịch