Are YOUR favorite NASCAR drivers on our list?
Welcome to the fast-paced world of NASCAR, where skill, speed, and adrenaline clash on the race track. In this thrilling journey through racing history, Urban Cars Blog is delving into the prowess of the NASCAR drivers who have left an unforgettable mark on the sport.
We’re talking about the greatest NASCAR Drivers of all time. NASCAR drivers are more than athletes. They’re asphalt legends, navigating hairpin turns and straightaways with remarkable precision.
From the thunderous roar of engines to the checkered flag waving in victory, these experienced individuals have carved their names into the hearts of racing legends.
So join us as we celebrate the racing prowess of these exceptional athletes, exploring the defining moments that secured their places in the hallowed halls of NASCAR history.
Get ready for a high-octane ride through the careers of the top 10 greatest NASCAR drivers of all time, where speed isn’t just a measurement but a way of life for a few titans of the track.
Jimmie Johnson
Car Number: 84
Wins: 83
Cup Series Championships: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016
Johnson is a seven-time champion, a few which no one comes close to reaching in history. The 2 time Daytona 500 winner concluded his full-time career with 686 starts and 83 wins, having one of the best winning percentages of all time in the Modern Era.
Jimmie won his seven championships through a few different formats and had one of the most consistent careers in history before his decline after the 2016 season. His success is exceptional and etched in stone forever, and there will likely never be another Johnson.
In 2023, becoming a first-ballot inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Jimmie Johnson was almost voted in collectively, receiving 93% of the tally.
Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Car Number: #3
Wins: 76
Cup Series Championship: 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994
This NASCAR driver remains one of the best in the sport’s history. Dale Earnhardt Sr., nicknamed “The Intimidator,” finished with 76 wins in 676 starts and 7 Cup Series championships.
But sadly, the former driver passed away in an awful accident on the final lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001. The impact he left behind still lives on today.
The sport hasn’t seen a driver pass away due to an on-track accident since that catastrophic day because of NASCAR’s priority on making the drivers safer moving forward. Whenever someone thinks of the racing series, they’ll think of this man.
Ned Jarrett
Car Number: #11
Wins: 50
Cup Series Championship: 1961, 1965
Ned Jarrett is a retired American NASCAR driver who competed in the Cup Series between 1953 and 1966. Throughout his career, Ned had 50 wins.
He had success on a multitude of tracks, with his skill especially obvious on superspeedways and larger ovals. This NASCAR driver’s ability to read the race and make smart decisions contributed to his victories.
David Pearson
Car Number: #21
Wins: 105
Cup Series Championship: 1966, 1968, 1969
Pearson happens to be one of NASCAR’s most victorious pioneers, boasting the best winning percentage of any NASCAR driver with more than 500 starts in the sport’s history. Nicknamed the “Silver Fox,” David Pearson finished his incredible career with 105 wins in 574 starts.
In the 1976 Daytona 500, he won 3 championships, including 1966, 1968, and 1969. David saw most of his success come before the sport’s Modern Era. But he was still flourishing when it all began.
Darrell Waltrip
Car Number: #17
Wins: 84
Cup Series Championship: 1981, 1982, 1985
Darrell Waltrip is considered one of the most successful NASCAR drivers of our Modern Era, and he battled many Hall-of-Fame contenders. He completed his 29-year career with 84 wins in 804 starts.
The 1989 Daytona 500 winner won 3 Cup Series championships in 1981, 1982, and 1985. Darrell Waltrip stands in 2nd place for the most wins during the Modern Era.
The 3-time Cup Series champion has left his imprint on the entire sport with his success on the track, but also in the broadcast booth for FOX Sports.
Richard Petty
Car Number: #43
Wins: 200
Cup Series Championship: 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979
Richard Petty is the most successful NASCAR driver to ever compete in Cup Series history.
Also known as “The King,” Petty is a pioneer in this sport who resembles Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell from the NBA, with most of his success coming before the Modern Era began in 1972. The former driver finished his career strong with 200 wins in 1,184 starts.
Richard doesn’t hold the record for the most victories in NASCAR history anymore due to Busch. But there are numerous records that he’ll keep for a long time, including the most wins in a season, which is 27.
The 7-time champion remains one of 3 who have reached that accomplishment.
Kyle Busch
Car Number: #8
Wins: 62
Cup Series Championship: 2015, 2019
Kyle Busch has earned a spot on our list for various reasons, including the honor of being the most-winning driver in NASCAR history. Kyle Busch has 226 victories across the Xfinity, NASCAR Cup, and Truck Series.
The present-day Richard Childress Racing driver also has 3 Cup Series championships and an Xfinity Series championship. He’s also one of the most polarizing drivers in NASCAR.
No other driver in history will touch the success achieved in his career unless the rules change. Busch will be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer sometime in the future. But his career is still going strong for now.
Bobby Allison
Car Number: #16
Wins: 85
Cup Series Championship: 1983
This NASCAR driver began his career before the Modern Era of this sport. But most of his success came when that period began. He won 55 races in the Modern Era and 84 across the board in 718 starts.
The 3 time Daytona 500 winner claimed his only Cup Series championship throughout the 1983 season. Allison is the originator of the notable “Alabama Gang, ” a group of drivers who function out of Hueytown, Alabama.
His last name is one of the most popular in the sport’s history, and the 1983 champion is the most notable of the group.
Cale Yarborough
Car Number: #52
Wins: 83
Cup Series Championship: 1976, 1977, 1978
This is another driver who saw success prior to the Modern Era of NASCAR. But, the driver’s full-time efforts didn’t truly begin until the 1972 season. Yarborough was downright amazing and won 3 straight championships in a row between 1976 and 1978.
The 4 time Daytona 500 winner won 83 races in 560 starts throughout his career, giving him a winning percentage of 14.82%. Cale is only one of two drivers in NASCAR history to win at least 3 straight championships.
The legendary driver is one of the most successful NASCAR drivers beginning from the Modern Era to this day.
Jeff Gordon
Car Number: #24
Wins: 93
Cup Series Championship: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001
Gordon is one of the most paramount drivers in NASCAR’s existence, and his place will forever be etched in history. Jeff completed his career with 93 wins in 805 starts, including 4 Cup Series championships in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001.
The one-time Hendrick Motorsports driver also had an unbelievable 3 seasons with more than 10 victories. He led an extraordinary 24,936 laps in his Cup Series career, ranking 5th best.
There will probably never be another one like him because no one will ever elevate the sport the way he did in that car with the famous rainbow colors.
So what’s YOUR verdict? Who’s the greatest NASCAR driver of all time? And be sure to let us know in the comments if you agree with our picks. And if you like NASCAR just as much as we do, you’ll love this!
Meanwhile, Urban Cars Blog highly recommends you also read: Here Are 9 Underrated NASCAR Drivers You Should Know About
