15. 1969 Talladega 500 – 153.778 mph
14. 1997 Winston 500 (Talladega) – 154.597 mph
13. 1984 Firecracker 400 (Daytona) – 155.558 mph
12. 1997 Pepsi 400 (Michigan) – 155.913 mph
11. 2006 Golden Corral 500 (Atlanta) – 156.622 mph
10. 2019 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (Atlanta) – 158.260 mph
9. 1999 Dura Lube 500 (Phoenix) – 158.558 mph
8. 2000 Dura Lube 300 (New Hampshire) – 159.903 mph
7. 1997 Miller 400 (Michigan) – 160.655 mph
6. 1999 Kmart 400 (Michigan) – 161.001 mph
5. 1995 UAW-GM Teamwork 500 (Pocono) – 161.602 mph
4. 1995 MBNA 500 (Dover) – 161.922 mph
3. 1994 Michigan 400 – 166.212 mph
2. 1997 AC Delco 400 (Rockingham) – 166.616 mph
1. 2022 Quaker State 400 (Atlanta Motor Speedway) – 171.604 mph

15. 1969 Talladega 500 – 153.778 mph

Even though this was the first-ever race at Talladega and many drivers boycotted it, Buddy Baker still flew around the massive oval for a blazing win.

14. 1997 Winston 500 (Talladega) – 154.597 mph

Mark Martin took the win in a mostly clean race that stayed under green long enough to rack up a top-speed average.

13. 1984 Firecracker 400 (Daytona) – 155.558 mph

Richard Petty’s historic 200th win came in one of the fastest Daytona races ever. The President (Reagan) was even watching!

12. 1997 Pepsi 400 (Michigan) – 155.913 mph

Ernie Irvan’s win was part of a clean, caution-light race where teams could let their engines breathe.

11. 2006 Golden Corral 500 (Atlanta) – 156.622 mph

Kasey Kahne dominated a race that had just 4 cautions over 325 laps.

10. 2019 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (Atlanta) – 158.260 mph

Brad Keselowski made the most of long green-flag runs in one of Atlanta’s quickest modern-era races.

9. 1999 Dura Lube 500 (Phoenix) – 158.558 mph

Jeff Burton’s win came in a short but fast race with very few interruptions — one of Phoenix’s fastest ever.

8. 2000 Dura Lube 300 (New Hampshire) – 159.903 mph

Jeff Burton again — this time in a race that went flag-to-flag with no cautions, the only one of its kind in the modern era.

7. 1997 Miller 400 (Michigan) – 160.655 mph

Mark Martin again, riding the clean-air wave and keeping speeds well above 160 on the wide Michigan surface.

6. 1999 Kmart 400 (Michigan) – 161.001 mph

Bobby Labonte’s win was smooth and fast — green-flag stretches helped push this average well over 161 mph.

5. 1995 UAW-GM Teamwork 500 (Pocono) – 161.602 mph

Fast and mistake-free, this Pocono race proved how quick you could go when teams kept it clean.

4. 1995 MBNA 500 (Dover) – 161.922 mph

Usually a brutal track on equipment, this Dover race had very few incidents, allowing Kyle Petty to win at a blistering pace.

3. 1994 Michigan 400 – 166.212 mph

One of the fastest races ever at Michigan. Geoff Bodine won, and the field flew with minimal cautions.

2. 1997 AC Delco 400 (Rockingham) – 166.616 mph

One of the most surprising entries — Rockingham wasn’t known for speed, but this one had long green-flag runs and little attrition.

1. 2022 Quaker State 400 (Atlanta Motor Speedway) – 171.604 mph

Fastest NASCAR Cup Series race in history by average speed. Chase Elliott won in a repaved, reconfigured Atlanta where the pack raced like Talladega — but without the big wrecks.