The 2007 Daytona 500 was a Nextel Cup (now Sprint Cup) event held at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2007. It was the season opener. It was a thrilling yet controversial finish. Mark Martin, 0-for-23 and likely making his final start in NASCAR's biggest race, led coming into Turn Three on the final lap. But Kevin Harvick shot out of nowhere with Harvick and Martin side-by-side exiting turn four. After that, a massive crash exploded behind the duo. Should the caution have been thrown out, as NASCAR "gray area" rules usually dictate, Martin would have been declared the winner. But NASCAR, in a rare decision, waited until the duo crossed the finish line. Instead of Martin, it was Harvick winning by .02 seconds.