For the second time in four weeks NASCAR saw a race decided where replays were needed to conclusively determine who had won with Kevin Harvick edging Carl Edwards by 0.010 seconds Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.
Closest finishes in NASCAR Cup Series history
Kevin Harvick’s 0.010 victory over Carl Edwards Sunday tied for the seventh-closest finish in history.
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The margin of victory equaled that of the season-opening Daytona 500 where Denny Hamlin squeaked by Martin Truex Jr. by roughly four inches and gives Phoenix and Daytona the distinction of being tied for the seventh-closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history since electronic and timing was implemented in 1993.
The all-time closest premier division finish remains a tie between Ricky Craven outdueling Kurt Busch in March 2003 at Darlington Raceway and Jimmie Johnson nosing out Clint Bowyer in April 2011 at Talladega Superspeedway. In the Darlington finish, Craven and Busch made contact several times racing to the checkered flag, similar to Harvick and Edwards on Sunday.
Across its three national tours, the closest NASCAR finish ever occurred in a 1995 Truck Series event at Colorado National Speedway. In that race Butch Miller beat Mike Skinner by 0.001 second.
Closest finishes in Cup Series history
| Date | Track | Winner | Margin |
| 3/16/2003 | Darlington | Ricky Craven | 0.002 |
| 4/17/2011 | Talladega | Jimmie Johnson | 0.002 |
| 7/7/2007 | Daytona | Jamie McMurray | 0.005 |
| 7/25/1993 | Talladega | Dale Earnhardt | 0.005 |
| 3/11/2001 | Atlanta | Kevin Harvick | 0.006 |
| 7/2/1994 | Daytona | Jimmy Spencer | 0.008 |
| 2/21/2016 | Daytona | Denny Hamlin | 0.010 |
| 3/13/2016 | Phoenix | Kevin Harvick | 0.010 |
| 2/22/2004 | Rockingham | Matt Kenseth | 0.010 |
| 3/12/2000 | Atlanta | Dale Earnhardt | 0.010 |
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