NASCAR’s Greatest Drivers
From its humble beginnings as a hardscrabble collection of back-country bootleggers and automotive fanatics to its growth into a 100-million-dollar industry, NASCAR has provided racing fans with 75 years of action and excitement. We look back at the greatest drivers in NASCAR history.
39. Ricky Rudd
The 1977 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, Ricky Rudd, nicknamed “the Rooster”, had first place finishes in at least one Winston Cup race per year for 16 years. He drove over 900 races in his 32-year career, and is slated for induction in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2025.
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38. Geoff Bodine
The 1982 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, Geoff Bodine went on to win the 1986 Daytona 500. Known for his intense rivalry with Dale Earnhardt in the 80s, Geoff won 18 times in 575 Cup Series races.
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37. Richie Evans
“The Rapid Roman” dominated the NASCAR Modified Division in the late 70s and early 80s. He took home an incredible eight consecutive championships from 1978–1985, a feat that has been named “one of the supreme accomplishments in motor sports history” by the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame.
36. Bobby Isaac
Bobby established his reputation in the 60s, culminating in his Grand National Series Cup victory in 1970. Renowned as one of racing’s most ferocious competitors, Isaac won 37 of 308 career Cup series races. He still holds the record for most pole positions in a NASCAR season, with 20 in 1969.
35. Fred Lorenzen
Fred Lorenzen broke into NASCAR in the 1950s, winning consecutive championships in 1958–59. As lead driver for Holman-Moody, Fred dominated the NASCAR circuit in the mid-60s in a way seldom seen before or since. He won an incredible 26 races out of 158, including the 1965 Daytona 500.
34. Alan Kulwicki
Arriving on the NASCAR scene in 1986 without a sponsor or team, Alan Kulwicki was initially not taken seriously by many competitors. That soon changed as Kulwicki took that year’s NASCAR Rookie of the Year Honors. A loner recognized as an eccentric automotive genius, Kulwicki won the Winston Cup in 1992.
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33. Joe Weatherly
A legend of the early days of NASCAR, Joe Weatherly won consecutive championships in the Modified category in the early 50s, before going on to win the Grand National Series in 1962 and 1963. He had an impressive 25 wins in 230 races in his NASCAR Cup Series career.
32. "Fireball" Roberts
A NASCAR legend from its early days of dirt track racing, E Glenn “Fireball” Roberts continued amassing victories as the circuit went to paved racetracks. He had 33 wins in 206 races including a triumph in the 1962 Daytona 500.
31. Terry Labonte
Terry Labonte enjoyed a long and productive NASCAR career, racing from 1978 to 2014, with Winston Cup Series wins in 1984 and 1996. The Texan amassed 22 wins in 890 races, including victories in the Southern 500 at Darlington in 1980 and 2003.
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30. Joey Logano
Logano has 34 Cup series wins (and counting) in his career, which began in the mid-2000s. This includes two NASCAR Cup (formerly the Winston Cup) championships and victory in the 2015 Daytona 500.
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29. Denny Hamlin
Another still-active driver on our list, Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 winner (2016, 2019, 2020). He has logged an impressive 54 wins in 674 Cup series races. He is active on the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck circuits as well. Denny was a featured driver on the 2024 Netflix documentary series Full Speed.
Zach Catanzareti Photo, Flickr
28. Herb Thomas
Herb Thomas was the first multi-year champion in NASCAR history, dashing to victory in 1951 with his Fabulous Hudson Hornet; he took a second championship in 1953. He won 48 of 228 Cup series races, the highest winning percentage in the history of NASCAR.
27. Mark Martin
Five times a runner-up for the Winston Cup but never the champion, Mark Martin is recognized by fans and fellow drivers as one of the finest wheelmen in NASCAR annals. Martin collected 40 wins in 882 races, including victory in the Winston 500 at Talladega in 1995 and 1997.
26. Buck Baker
A driver from the earliest days of racing, Buck entered his first NASCAR event in 1949. He went on to win the Grand National series in 1956 and 1957. Over the course of his Cup series career, he took 46 out of 635 races.
25. Tim Flock
Tim took part in his first NASCAR race in 1949, driving a borrowed 88 Oldsmobile and finishing fifth. He would go on to conquer the Grand National series in 1952 and 1955. He arrived at a final win total of 39 out of 187 races for his career, one of the highest percentages of all time.
24. Brad Keselowski
With 36 wins in 545 career races, Brad Keselowski has established himself as one of the top drivers of his generation. The 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion has a similar track record in the NASCAR Xfinity series, taking home the championship in 2010.
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23. Harry Gant
At the wheel of the iconic Skoal Bandit Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Harry Gant made his claim to fame in the 80s and 90s. He is remembered for winning four consecutive Winston Cup races in September 1991. He finished his 22-year career with 18 wins in 474 races.
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22. Buddy Baker
Baker enjoyed some of the greatest moments in NASCAR history, with Winston 500 victories in 1975, 1976, and 1980. 1980 was also the year that saw Buddy take home the Daytona 500 at the wheel of the famous Gray Ghost Oldsmobile, setting an average-speed record for that race that still stands today.
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21. Benny Parsons
From humble origins as a taxi driver in Detroit, Benny Parsons climbed behind the wheel in his first NASCAR race in 1964 and soon proved himself to be a natural. Winner of the 1973 Winston Cup under major adversity, he would go on to triumph in a wild 1975 Daytona 500.
20. Junior Johnson
From the days of his youth in the 40s bootlegging moonshine to his dirt-track racing in the days of early NASCAR, the legend of Junior Johnson was forged. Junior claimed the checkered flag in a furiously contested 1960 Daytona 500, and would wind up with an impressive 50 wins in 313 NASCAR Cup series races.
19. Davey Allison
Following in his father Bobby’s footsteps, Davey quickly built his own legacy of excellence. He took Winston Cup Rookie of the Year honors in 1987. His second place finish to his father in the 1988 Daytona 500 provided one of NASCAR’s greatest moments. He accumulated 19 wins in only 191 races, including a win in the 1992 Daytona 500.
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18. Kurt Busch
In a career that lasted 24 years, Kurt took the 2004 NASCAR Cup and the 2017 Daytona 500. He attained 34 NASCAR wins in 776 races.
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17. Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth raced in the Winston and NASCAR Cup series from 1998 to 2020, amassing 39 wins in 697 races. Highlights include Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 2000, Winston Cup Champion in 2003, and Daytona 500 victories in 2009 and 2012. He was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2023.
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16. Dale Jarrett
Son of 60s NASCAR legend Ned Jarrett, Dale is perhaps best remembered today for his legendary 1993 Daytona 500 victory over Dale Earnhardt. He would take the Daytona classic again in 1996 and 2000. He also claimed the 1999 Winston Cup championship. Dale won 32 of 668 races and was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2014.
15. Ned Jarrett
Ned started racing in the early 50s, accumulating valuable experience before entering the Grand National Series in the 60s. He would take the crown in 1961 and 1965. He was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011.
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14. Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick retired after the 2023 NASCAR Cup season, having accumulated 60 wins in 826 races in his 30-year career. He took the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, 2001 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, and a victory in the 2007 Daytona 500.
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13. Tony Stewart
Tony is a three-time winner of the NASCAR Cup Series, taking the prize in 2002, 2005, and 2011. The 1999 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, he has taken the checkered flag 49 times in 618 Cup Series races.
12. Bill Elliott
Bill was the 1988 Winston Cup champ. He took the checkered flag at the Daytona 500 in 1985 and 1988. His best season may have been 1985, in which he won 11 major speedway races. He won 44 of 828 career races and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015.
11. Rusty Wallace
Rusty racked up 55 wins in 706 Cup series races in the 80s and 90s, one of NASCAR’s most competitive eras. He drove aggressively, taking home the Winston Cup in 1989. Considered one of the greatest short-track drivers in NASCAR history, Rusty was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2013.
10. Kyle Busch
One of the most aggressive drivers in recent NASCAR history, Kyle captured the championship in 2015 and 2019. He has 63 wins in 705 Cup-level races. He has also had success in Xfinity and Craftsman Truck divisions.
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9. Lee Petty
NASCAR pioneer and father of Richard Petty, Lee won three Grand National championships in 1954, 1958, and 1959. He won the first-ever Daytona 500 in 1959. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011.
8. Bobby Allison
Bobby won the 1983 Winston Cup championship at the age of 45, the oldest driver in NASCAR history to do so. He took the Daytona 500 three times in his career, in 1978, 1982, and 1988. With an amazing 85 wins in 718 races, he was inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011.
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7. Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip amassed 84 career Cup-level wins, including victories at every major track on the NASCAR circuit. The three-time Winston Cup champion (1981, 1982, 1985) had his greatest moment in the 1979 Rebel 500, edging out Richard Petty in one of NASCAR’s legendary finishes. Waltrip was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012.
6. Cale Yarborough
With his three consecutive Winston Cup championships from 1976–1978, four Daytona 500 victories, and 83 career wins, Cale Yarborough was instrumental in the rapid growth of NASCAR popularity in the late 70s and early 80s. The fiery competitor was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012.
5. David Pearson
Nicknamed “The Fox”, Pearson won an incredible 105 of 574 races in his NASCAR career. A three-time NASCAR champ, he was recognized by Richard Petty as “the best”. David was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011.
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4. Dale Earnhardt
A legend in his own time, Dale’s competitive and aggressive driving was as memorable as his accomplishments. He won seven Winston Cups in his career, regularly bringing fans out of their seats in the process. He was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010.
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3. Jeff Gordon
Four Winston Cup championships, three Daytona 500 victories, and 93 career wins make Jeff Gordon one of NASCAR’s greatest all-time drivers. A popular driver who helped expand NASCAR’s fanbase, Gordon was deservedly inducted into the NASCAR Hall of the Fame in 2019.
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2. Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie is tied with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for the most NASCAR Cup championships with seven, including five in a row between 2006–2010. This puts him in the conversation as one of the top drivers in NASCAR history. He was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2024.
1. Richard Petty
In a career that spanned 34 years, “The King” of stock car racing took seven NASCAR championships (Grand National and Winston Cup), seven Daytona 500s, and compiled an unfathomable 200 victories. His best year? 1967, in which he won an incomprehensible 27 out of 48 races. Petty was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010.
Final Thoughts
We've done our best to match the data to the rankings, but even then we know that data is only half the story. Do you disagree with our top spots? Did we miss someone? Let us know in the comments!
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