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Winning a NASCAR race is a big deal, and drivers have taken it as an opportunity for an over-the-top celebration throughout history. From the Polish Victory Lap to climbing the fence to backflips, there have been plenty of iconic celebrations throughout the sport’s history. Today, we look at the unique celebrations that NASCAR drivers nowadays will do. Which of these will be the most iconic as time goes on?
It’s a gesture that has been done countless times over the last two decades or so. Kyle Busch’s signature celebration is taking a bow. Busch started the move in 2004 while racing in the Xfinity Series. Some called it arrogant, but, it is hard to find a celebration that is more appropriate for Busch.
Busch has always been a flashy and exciting driver. He’s truly a showman, and what do showmen do after they perform? They take a bow.
This celebration is fresh on NASCAR fans’ minds after Kyle Larson’s win at Las Vegas. For drivers who have kids, it’s a great way to make unforgettable family memories. For fans, it’s always cool to see families come together.
It’s hard to find where exactly this originated. One of the first instances was in 2019 at Homestead-Miami when Kyle Busch took Brexton around the track for a lap after winning the Championship.
There’s an old saying in motorsports, “Either bring home the trophy, or bring home the steering wheel.” A tongue-in-cheek phrase that essentially means, win at all costs. Joey Logano takes this phrase to the extreme with his celebration.
When jumping out of the car after a big win, Logano grabs the steering wheel from the car and holds it high over his head. It’s the perfect metaphor for a big triumph.
The fans are the ones who make the sport as big as it is, so, why not celebrate the win with them? This is something that Ryan Blaney has done before as he is famous for not doing burnouts when he wins. A unique way to celebrate that is not a burnout.
This is not a Blaney-exclusive celebration, however. One of the earliest instances of this celebration that I could find was Clint Bowyer celebrating with fans at Martinsville in 2018. This was well after his burnout and victory lane interview, however.
Ross Chastain is an 8th-generation watermelon farmer, and fans lovingly refer to him as the “Watermelon man”. What better way to celebrate a win than to smash a watermelon?
Again, this is a celebration that is perfect for the brand of the driver. Chastain is the “Watermelon man” after all, and he has taken that brand with him from the lower series into the Cup Series.
This is another celebration that multiple drivers have gotten into over the years, and it is one of the coolest. Similar to a baseball player giving a ball to a kid at a game, NASCAR drivers hand off the checkered flag to a young fan after the race. Drivers like Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell have done this a few times in the past.
Kevin Harvick took this to the next level in 2018. He brought the young fan onto the track, took a selfie, and gave away the checkered flag. It makes a memory that these fans will never forget.
While Ross Chastain smashes a watermelon, Daniel Suarez smashes a pinata. Trackhouse Racing truly does love smashing things after winning races. Much like Chastain, this is a celebration that perfectly fits Suarez’s brand.
He’s the only Cup Series driver from Mexico, so, why not smash a celebratory pinata after winning a race? A tribute to his heritage, and it allows Trackhouse to smash things.
It’s been a while since fans have seen this celebration, but, it is synonymous with Brad Keselowski winning races. NASCAR has always been known for its patriotism, and Keselowski feeds into that by holding an American flag during a burnout after winning.
The inspiration came from one of the drivers instrumental in getting Keselowski into the sport. Keselowski told Fox Sports in 2018 that he loved Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s American flag celebration at Dover in 2001, the first NASCAR race after 9/11. So, fans have NASCAR’s former most Popular Driver to thank for this celebration.
Drivers certainly know how to celebrate big wins. What are some other iconic NASCAR celebrations from nowadays?
