They say you're only as good as your last race. If that's true, Darlington Raceway is the greatest speedway in the world and it has a lot to live up to this weekend.

Those who witnessed Ricky Craven's Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 victory March 16 will never forget its dramatic finish. Craven reeled in Kurt Busch with four laps to go. The two swapped the lead and exterior coats of paint as they waged war for the win.

"There was a lot of drama in the last 15 laps," recalls Craven. "Some people watching that race may have looked at how big Kurt's lead was and thought that his lead would allow him to cruise on home. When we got into second place and could see him, I really felt like I could get up to him and race him for the win."

Coming off Turn 4 on the final lap the two cars were practically mirror images as they raced door to door. Relentlessly, neither would yield an inch as they bumped and gouged their way towards the checkers.

"At that point, I just wanted to make it to the finish line first, added Craven. "I didn't care if we went across the line sideways, backwards, or upside down."

And they came very close to doing exactly that. With sparks flying the two leaned on each other, crossing the finish line separated by .002 seconds recording the closest finish in NASCAR history.

"What I'm proudest of about that finish is that Kurt and I took it right to the edge and didn't take each other out," explained Craven. "It meant the difference between a controversy versus a spectacular finish. We did it the Darlington way. We swapped paint and went toe to toe and pushed it as hard as we could go. It was a case of circumstance meeting opportunity. It was all adrenaline and intensity. From a purist's standpoint, I think it was a beautiful ending."

Busch visited Craven in victory lane, congratulating him with a high-five. Fans applauded his sportsmanship and his showmanship.

Ironically -- and perhaps unfairly -- the same style of aggression that earned Busch acclaim in Darlington got him booed in Bristol last Saturday night. After admitting he intentionally tried to damage Jimmy Spencer's car in Michigan the previous week, and accidentally spinning Sterling Marlin en route to victory that night, catcalls rained down on Busch from every corner of Thunder Valley.

	Craven and Busch (front) battled over the last two laps.

Nonetheless, Busch hopes to put controversy in his rear view mirror and complete some unfinished business Sunday at Darlington.

"I'm already on an emotional high, so to speak, after winning at Bristol this past Saturday -- but to come back to Darlington which was the scene of one of the most thrilling finishes in history and I got to be a part of it is just wonderful," said Busch. "I really like the challenges that this track presents and I think we'll be even better prepared than the last time out here."

Busch and Craven will again be among this weekend's favorites, but the list of contenders heading into the Southern 500 is long.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. led the most laps (91) during the spring race. Mark Martin held the point for 71 circuits. Jeff Burton, Ward Burton and Marlin each have two career Darlington wins, Dale Jarrett has three and Bill Elliott five. But no active driver has more victories at the 'Track Too Tough To Tame' than Jeff Gordon with six.

With last year's Southern 500 win Gordon joined Dale Earnhardt and David Pearson as one of only three drivers who have won more than five Darlington races. The victory also tied him with Cale Yarborough for the most Southern 500 titles (five).

"What impresses me so much about what we've been able to accomplish at Darlington is, when you look at the names of the drivers who were so good here, they were all such big names in the sport," said Gordon.

Despite having disappointing finishes in the spring, Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman should also be in the hunt on Sunday. The two have been among the most consistent drivers of the season's second half.

Since race 15 in Michigan, Kevin Harvick has climbed from 11th to third in the standings.

"If we run good at Darlington, we'll be on top of our game," said Harvick, who finished 36th at the 1.366 mile track earlier this year. "We struggled there at the beginning of the year, but right now, it's a lot of fun to go to the race track. Darlington will be a challenge like it's always been, but we've got a lot of momentum and that should really help us."

Meanwhile, Newman has been dominant. Over the last seven races he's finished outside the top-10 just once -- eleventh at Indianapolis. During that stretch he has collected three wins bringing his total to a series high five.

"Iąd love to get win number six at Darlington," said Newman. "A Darlington trophy would stand for hard work in the driver's seat and in the pit stall by the team. You never win a race at Darlington by playing the fuel mileage game.

"That's a track where you play the tire game. You'll always need tires before you need fuel. Darlington is demanding on a driver and you usually climb out of the car worn out and looking for a lot of Gatorade."

Usually those are the wins a driver savors and a fan appreciates the most.

Mike Massaro covers NASCAR for ESPN and ESPN.com.