Kyle Busch’s opening-day crash at Daytona landed him in the hospital, laid up, with a compound leg fracture and busted left foot. Missing the following 11 races could have—should have—derailed the 30-year-old’s season. Instead, he woke up today the king of stock car racing, the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, after a wild finale at Miami-Homestead on Sunday. Busch edged out Jeff Gordon, who managed a sixth-place finish in his last-ever NASCAR race, and rival Kevin Harvick.
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This year’s Sprint Cup was dramatic, no shortage of photo finishes, massive wrecks, or celebratory burnouts—all the more reason for a look back the season’s best moments.
Ninety days until NASCAR starts again. Here’s a little something to hold you over.
Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 AARP Member Advantages Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway on November 1, 2015 in Martinsville, Virginia., Jonathan Moore/Getty ImagesA general view of the speedway prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia., Sarah Crabill/Getty ImagesMatt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 16, 2015 in Brooklyn, Michigan., Chris Trotman/Getty ImagesKyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour ENERGY 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2015 in Loudon, New Hampshire., Jeff Zelevansky/Getty ImagesAustin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, is involved in an on-track incident following the checkered flag during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 6, 2015 in Daytona Beach, Florida., Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesA view of cars racing during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 22, 2015 in Bristol, Tennessee., Tom Pennington/Getty ImagesBrandon Jones, driver of the #33 AGRA Industries Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway on June 19, 2015 in Newton, Iowa., Tim Bradbury/NASCAR via Getty ImagesJeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Axalta Coating Systems Chevrolet, sits in his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 16, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina., Jared C. Tilton/Getty ImagesBrad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Avaya Ford, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SpongeBob SquarePants 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 9, 2015 in Kansas City, Kansas., Jonathan Moore/NASCAR via Getty ImagesJimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Pro Services Chevrolet, celebrates with commemorative pistols, presented by Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage, right, and reality TV personality Willie Robertson, left, in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 11, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas., Chris Graythen/Getty Images for Texas Motor SpeedwayKevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Budweiser/Jimmy John's Chevrolet, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, lead the field during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2015 in Martinsville, Virginia., Matt Sullivan/Getty ImagesKevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's/ Budweiser Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 15, 2015 in Avondale, Arizona., Jonathan Ferrey/Getty ImagesJoey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 57th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 22, 2015 in Daytona Beach, Florida., Robert Laberge/Getty Images
