Fastest NASCAR Race

[JGM]

What was the fastest NASCAR race ever run? Who won, what car, what speed, which track etc?

[Lee]

If memory serves, Lennie Pond won a race at Talladega, in the mid-70s, that is still the fastest ever run. I was at it, but don't remember all of the particulars. I think he was driving an Oldsmobile, I don't remember what the average speed was. I still have the program to the race.

[Joe Fan]

Not sure but here is my best guess: 1985 Talladega race won by Bill Elliott. Average Speed: 186.288

[Joe Fan]

Here is your answer. The fastest race in NASCAR's history was the 1997 Winston 500 at Talladega. It was a caution-free race and had an average speed of 188.354. Mark Martin in a Ford Thunderbird was the winner. This year's Talladega race won by Bobby Hamilton was also caution-free and is the third fastest NASCAR race of all-time with an average speed of 184 and change.

[JGM]

Thanks for your efforts but I've found a reference to Dale Earnhardt winning the Busch Clash at Daytona on 10 February 1991 at an average speed of 189.474 MPH. So the question still stands - what was the fastest NASCAR race ever? What I'm really trying to establish is what was the fastest closed course race ever held and I suspect that it was a NASCAR event. It would be neat if the title of Fastest Ever Race Winner belonged to Dale Earnhardt.

[Joe Fan]

JGM, I think Terry Labonte won a Busch Clash in 1989 or 1990 with a slightly higher speed than that but these were non-point races that probably were less than 150 miles. The race above in my last post if the official record for an official NASCAR Winston Cup points race.