The 2024 NASCAR season was an absolute belter—one of those years that had you shouting at the TV, laughing, gasping, and occasionally muttering, “What on God’s green earth just happened?” From the grassroots level to the elite Cup Series, the sport delivered drama, surprises, and emotions in spades.

Whether it was stunning victories or heated altercations, there was no shortage of shockers. So, as we gear up for the 2025 season, let’s take a wild ride through the most unforgettable moments of 2024. Buckle up—this is going to be one helluva flashback.

Tyler Reddick’s heroics at Homestead

For nearly 20 years, Homestead-Miami Speedway was the season finale—a track known for delivering tension and triumph. While some fans still grumble about the switch to Phoenix Raceway, 2024 reminded us why Homestead deserves its legendary status. Picture this: seven drivers all scrapping for a Championship 4 spot in the third-to-last race of the season. Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney seemed poised for a showdown, but Tyler Reddick stole the show.

On the final lap, Reddick threw down the drive of his life, clinching victory and a championship berth. It was pure magic and a timely reminder of Homestead’s unique ability to deliver drama. Bring it back as the finale, NASCAR. You know you want to.

Double blow overs at Michigan

We’re used to seeing flips at Daytona or Talladega, but Michigan International Speedway? Not so much. So when Kyle Sieg went airborne during the Xfinity Series race, fans were gob smacked. You’d think that would be it for the weekend, but no—Corey LaJoie had his own blow over in the Cup race just 24 hours later.

That’s two cars flipping at a track where such incidents hadn’t happened in decades. Thankfully, both drivers walked away unharmed, but the back-to-back blow-overs sparked serious chatter about safety and aerodynamics.

Layne Riggs’ celebration injury

Winning your first Truck Series race should be a moment of pure joy, right? For Layne Riggs, it REALLY was—until it wasn’t. After taking the checkered flag at the Milwaukee Mile, Riggs celebrated with a fist pump so enthusiastic that he dislocated his shoulder. Yep, you read that right.

His team popped it back into place, and Riggs still managed to crack a smile. It’s one of those “only in NASCAR” moments that reminds us why we love this sport: the unpredictable, the bizarre, and the downright stupidly human.

Play-off drama: Bowman out, Logano in

The Charlotte Roval served up playoff drama by the bucket load. It looked like Hendrick Motorsports would send all four drivers into the Round of 8, with Alex Bowman sneaking in by the skin of his teeth. Poor Joey Logano, meanwhile, was on the outside looking in. But then came the post-race inspection bombshell: Bowman’s car was underweight.

BREAKING #NASCAR NEWS: @TeamHendrick has officially decided to NOT appeal the disqualification of Alex Bowman and the No. 48 team from Sunday’s race at The ROVAL. Round of 8 field is officially set. Bowman is out of the Playoffs, Joey Logano is in. pic.twitter.com/yQ63SrSIuZ

The penalty knocked him out of the playoffs and handed Logano a lifeline. Joey didn’t just coast on his good fortune; he went on to win in Las Vegas and fight for and subsequently win the championship in Phoenix. It served as a stark reminder that in NASCAR, the tiniest details can have the biggest and most deflating consequences.

Harrison Burton shocks Daytona

Daytona’s summer race always promises chaos, but Harrison Burton’s victory in the Coke Zero 400 was the stuff of fairy tales. He wasn’t even in the top 30 in points, yet he defied the odds to claim the 100th win for Wood Brothers Racing. His win knocked heavyweights like Ross Chastain and Kyle Busch out of the playoffs, but the real highlight was seeing his dad, Jeff Burton, beaming with pride in the broadcast booth.

Harrison didn’t go far in the playoffs, but for one night in Daytona, he was untouchable.

Farewell to Stewart-Haas Racing

This one hit like a ton of bricks. Stewart-Haas Racing, a team with two championships and 70 Cup Series wins, announced 2024 would be its swan song. Rumors had swirled about SHR selling charters, but few expected the team to shutter completely.

In their final season, they fielded cars for Josh Berry, Chase Briscoe, Noah Gragson, and managed a parting gift with a victory at the Southern 500. It’s the end of an era, and the garage will feel a little emptier without them.

Suarez’s three-wide triumph at Atlanta

Atlanta Motor Speedway’s reconfiguration has divided opinion, but in 2024, it delivered a barnstormer of a finish. Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch, and Ryan Blaney went three-wide to the line, with Suarez edging out the win by the narrowest of margins. It was his second career victory and proof that Atlanta’s new layout can deliver the kind of racing that gets fans on their feet.

For Suarez, it was a career highlight; for the rest of us, it was another instance of how thrilling NASCAR can be when it all comes together.

Austin Dillon’s shady Richmond shenanigans

Richmond’s summer race turned into a masterclass in controversy. Austin Dillon drove like a man possessed—or unhinged, depending on your view—intentionally wrecking two competitors and nearly clipping a pit road crew. Sure, he won the race, but NASCAR wasn’t having it.

The league stripped him of his playoff spot, sending a clear message: there are limits, even in the no-holds-barred world of NASCAR. Dillon’s antics overshadowed the racing itself and sparked an endless debate about what’s fair game on the track.

North Wilkesboro madness: Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch throw down

North Wilkesboro’s All-Star Race weekend was one for the history books. First, there was the biblical rainstorm that flooded the track with five inches of water. Then came the fireworks on race day. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch tangled early, and things boiled over after the checkered flag.

Stenhouse retaliated with a post-race altercation that saw him sock Kyle Busch in the mouth and consequently earned him a $75,000 fine and his father an indefinite suspension. It was chaotic, messy, and utterly unforgettable—exactly what you’d expect from a race with no points but plenty of pride on the line.

The closest finishes ever

If 2024 will be remembered for one thing, it’s the finishes. In April, Sam Mayer edged Ryan Sieg by two-thousandths of a second in an Xfinity Series race at Texas—a record margin for a non-restrictor plate track. Just weeks later, Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher one-upped that with a one-thousandth-of-a-second finish at Kansas Speedway’s AdventHealth 400. The photo also captured Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. in third and fourth, with all four cars practically glued together. These moments weren’t just races; they were history in the making.

So there you have it: the wildest, weirdest, and most wonderful moments from 2024. From fairytale wins to fiery controversies, last year had it all. As we head into 2025, one thing’s for sure—if this sport has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. See you at the track.