How Ryan Blaney's .007-second Talladega win compares with NASCAR's closest finishes

Although it was split across two days because of weather, NASCAR’s 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway did not disappoint with a wild wreck and crazy close finish in Monday’s rain-delayed race.

Ryan Blaney took his first checkered flag of the 2019 season, and it automatically advanced him out of the Round of 12 in the Cup Series playoffs and into the Round of 8, which begins after Sunday’s elimination race at Kansas Speedway. Blaney edged out Ryan Newman — who was eliminated from the playoffs in a previous round — by just .007 seconds in a thrilling photo finish.

With one lap remaining on the 2.66-mile track, NASCAR’s longest on the schedule, Blaney had the lead just ahead of Aric Almirola and Michael McDowell and maintained it down the backstretch. But as Blaney in the No. 12 Ford was running on the inside of the track, Newman, who was fourth in the straight line behind the leader, jumped to the outside lane and Denny Hamlin, who was running fifth, followed him.

Hamlin gave Newman a huge push on the outside, and it allowed Newman to pull in front of Blaney for the lead as they came down the front straightaway. With a wreck happening in the back, Blaney managed to get on the inside of Newman, and the two raced side-by-side for an actual photo finish.

However, in getting up next to Newman, Blaney went below the inside yellow line, which NASCAR prohibits drivers doing to advance their position. As Blaney explained from his perspective, he was forced below the yellow line, NASCAR agreed and the Team Penske driver was not penalized.

So how close was the finish? This close…

Here’s another angle…

It was the sixth-closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history, and here’s how it compares with the series’ other top photo finishes, according to NASCAR. And four of the top closest finishes have been at Talladega.

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