NASCAR's Top 10 Defining Moments

So before 2008 they decided to make major changes and spent the money to recruit Joe Gibbs Racing. That's when they dominance began.

Kyle Busch was the star of the Daytona 500 and three weeks later he gave Toyota their first cup victory in Atlanta. Seven more followed and he led the Cup standings for nineteen straight weeks.

Denny Hamlin also added a victory at Martinsville in April.

And it won't be long before the continuely growing Red Bull Racing breaks into the winners circle.

1) The Life And Death Of Dale Earnhardt

Dale Earnhardt lived to race at the Daytona International Speedway. It would be where he died.

The Intimidator won thirty four races at Daytona, from Nationwide races to everything in the Cup series-except the Daytona 500. For so many years, nineteen, heartbreak after heartbreak kept him from winning the Great American Race.

Then in 1998, the most anticipated moment in motorsports occurred as Dale Earnhardt finally won a race he loved very much.

It was his first and only.

Three years later Earnhardt was killed on the last lap of the Daytona 500, February 18, 2001.

After Earnhardt's death NASCAR kicked their safety concerns into high gear. They began developing a newer, safer car which is now used today. They demanded that all drivers wear the head and neck safety device (HANS) and put soft walls at every track.

Drivers began to personally switch to the full faced helmets.

Earnhardt's death made it all too real that even the one's we thought were invincible are not and the impact of his death continues to affect many still today.

"NASCAR has lost its greatest driver," said chairman Bill France. "And I personally have lost a great friend."

Bonus:

Tony Tackles the Brickyard

Much was made of Dale Earnhardt Jr winning the Daytona 500 and the great moment it was and everyone wondered and waited for Indiana's son, Tony Stewart, to kiss the bricks.

After many years of heartbreak and a run in with a photographer, Stewart finally won at his home track in 2005.

Starting twenty-second, Stewart methodically and patiently worked his way through the field to lead 44 of 160 laps.

"This is one of those days that I don't want to end," Stewart said. "I don't want to see the sun set."

But the sun did set for Kasey Kahne, who Stewart passed with ten laps to go on his way to kissing the bricks.

"I know part of it hasn't sunk in yet," he said. "Then when I realized that, I was like, we ran so well and missed it so many times, it was like, 'I know I can win at the Brickyard one day,' So finally today was that day."

"I'm the first Indiana-born driver to win the Brickyard 400. That's an award and an honor that I'm proud to have finally."

The next great moment and highlight is just around the corner...

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