Remember when spilled oil created one of the wildest Watkins

The date was August 12th, 2012. NASCAR was back at Watkins Glen International for its annual visit to the scenic New York road course, and Kyle Busch was in control of the race.

Chasing the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Busch was his bitter rival Brad Keselowski, driving a Penske Dodge. And lurking behind them both was Australian Supercars ace Marcos Ambrose, who was attempting to go back-to-back at The Glen.

But none of them were aware that they were about to take part in one of the wildest finishes in Watkins Glen history…thanks to Bobby Labonte. He had just taken his ailing car to the pits, but not before drenching most of the track in oil. NASCAR officials did not notice.

Keselowski and Ambrose began to rapidly close on Busch, who was slipping around on the slick surface, likely confused as to why. Entering the esses on the white flag lap, Keselowski saw a small opening to the inside. Busch attempted to slam the door, but Keselowski was never going to lift for that driver, considering their contentious history. Contact was made, and Busch went spinning around.

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota; Brad Keselowski, Penske Dodge; Marcos Ambrose, Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

Photo by: Jerry Markland Getty Images

Keselowski got on the brakes hard and avoided getting caught up in the wreck, but lifting meant that he had the ‘Tasmanian Devil’ right on his back bumper. The race stayed green as Ambrose and Keselowski slid around, charging up the hill towards the bus stop. Smoke was billowing from the left front of Keselowski’s Dodge due to fender damage he sustained in the initial contact with Busch.

Barely able to control the car in the oil, Keselowski ripped through the dirt in the middle of the bus stop. Ambrose followed, sending grass and dirt flying over the hood of their cars. Keselowski nearly spun out, turning the wheel as hard as he could to bring the sliding No. 2 Dodge back. 

Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Dodge

Photo by: John Harrelson – Getty Images

Moments later, they were back in the dirt again as they blew through the exit of the bus stop. Keselowski’s car missed the apex of the carousel, but Ambrose slid out even further as he tried to take a swipe at Keselowski’s bumper. It looked like that might be the end of the battle, but Keselowski couldn’t get the power down on exit. The tires were spinning in the oil, and Ambrose had all the momentum from the ‘dry line’ outside of the racing groove. 

Ambrose slammed into the rear of Keselowski’s car at corner exit, sending him sideways as Ambrose dipped his left sides into the grass. The two drivers were now side-by-side as they raced towards the final two corners. Ambrose sliced in front of Keselowksi, now ahead, but Keselowski was eager to return the favor. He pushed the Australian completely off the track in Turn 6, but Ambrose turned the wheel hard to bring it back onto the racing line as they approached the final corner.

Brad Keselowski, Penske Dodge; Marcos Ambrose, Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

Photo by: Jared Wickerham Getty Images

Side-by-side once again, the crowd roared as they slipped around Turn 7 with the checkered flag in sight. Ambrose used all the track, forcing Keselowski wide. It took everything he had to keep his own car out of the wall as Ambrose escaped his grasp, allowing Ambrose to capture the checkered flag in one of the most dramatic finishes in NASCAR history.

It was Ambrose’s second career victory in the NASCAR Cup Series, and his last. He celebrated with team owner and stock car racing legend Richard ‘The King’ Petty in Victory Lane, unable to believe what just happened.

Marcos Ambrose and Richard Petty, Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

Photo by: Jeff Zelvansky Getty Images

“We didn’t luck into this one; we deserved to win,” Ambrose said at the time. “It was absolute chaos at the end, and the three of us were evenly matched. I thought I had burned off brakes or my tires, as I was sliding around … At the time, I wasn’t sure whether it was my oil that was causing a problem or someone else’s. I then saw the No. 18 [Busch] back-up, and it was just crazy at the end. And it is a thrill to be in victory lane, and it was a big day for our team. We earned it, and we were up there today with the big boys.”

Video of the finish