Greatest NASCAR Drivers

The Top Ten
1 Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr., known professionally as Dale Earnhardt, was an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR.

After following Dale Earnhardt's NASCAR career, from 1988 - 2001; there is absolutely no other driver, who ever competed in the NASCAR Cup Series; who could ever be called a better driver than Dale Earnhardt was. There is also, no other driver, who could even be compared with Dale Earnhardt, as a NASCAR Cup Series, race car driver.
After following the NASCAR Cup Series, for over 30-years, now; I have witnessed, or know of any other individual, who has ever competed, at the Cup Series-level; that has ever possessed the kind of NATURAL/RAW, GOD-GIVEN, TALENT, that Dale Earnhardt, was so blessed with. Dale Earnhardt possessed a very rare, special-kind of talent. It's the kind of special-talent, so rare; that it doesn't come around very often, and only seen maybe, once in a lifetime. Dale Earnhardt was able to perform at the GREATEST - POSSIBLE LEVEL, for 20+ years. Dale Earnhardt performed with the GREATEST OF SKILL, allowing Earnhardt to display his DRIVING ABILITY; that was SO EXCEPTIONAL, that I can only describe it in these words: Dale Earnhardt's ability to drive and maneuver a race car, was so incredible; that many times, some of the things, that I had the privilege of being able to watch him do in that race car; was ALMOST, not humanly possible.

2 Richard Petty

Sorry Earnhardt fans. Petty not only is tied for most championships with 7, he is one of the two drivers with 100 career wins (other is David Pearson) but Pearson has 105, Richard Petty won 200 races. Jimmie Johnson may get 100 wins and most likely pass the 7 championship mark but no one will ever win 200 races in NASCAR ever again. Petty had 10 straight wins and a 27 win season. He was unbeatable. 7 Daytona 500 wins.

What is this a damn popularity contest. Look at the RECORDS, the STATS. 200 wins, 7 championships, 123 cup poles, 10 consecutive wins in 1 year, 1027 career starts & 7 Daytona 500 wins. These are MOST ALL TIME records. Just like any other sport. The statistics tell it all. The King is the king of NASCAR. Jeff Gordon is a great driver & so was Dale Earnhardt but not as great as Richard Petty! SORRY

3 Jeff Gordon Jeffery Michael Gordon is an American former professional stock car racing driver, currently an announcer for Fox NASCAR, and a top executive for Hendrick Motorsports.

Jeff Gordon The Best NASCAR Drive Ever! All time wins modern era (more competitive era) will probably reach 100. Current iron man and will more than likely be all time. Titles with different crew/chief. Wins with 4 different crew/chief. Wins in 3 different decades. Most dominant seasons in modern era. Quickest to 50 wins. 40 wins in 4 seasons. Modern era single season win record, 13w. Poles every season, all time record. Will probably win another champ if not more. Mentored ungrateful JJ. Wins at every track but Kentucky, only 3 races but will win there too. King of roads. Stats aside he brought NASCAR to another level. And what everyone else said.

4 Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American professional stock car racing driver and a six-time champion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

He will probably be the greatest of all-time when he is done. 66 Career Wins and counting, 5 consecutive championship (no one ever had 4 in a row), 6 total championships, 2 Daytona 500 wins. If he doesn't get to 100 wins it would surprise most of us considering he is 2/3 of the way there at age 38. I even believe he will get 10 championships, he could just win 5 in a row (won in 2013) so 4 to go and just get 10 in 11 years. He is so dominant. Maybe the most dominant athlete of the 10 year period (Peyton Manning, Albert Pujols, Ronaldo, LeBron)

Jimmie is without a doubt the GOAT of NASCAR. He won 5 championships in a row and 7 in total in the most competitive time in NASCAR. Dale was popular and should be second. RP was good but should be third, he raced in a very non competitive time. Then Gordon in forth, you can't argue his 4 championships are better than the 7 the other drivers ahead have won. Jimmie also has won his championships in 3 different cars and 2 different playoff formats.

5 David Pearson

I am as big of a Gordon fan as you can get, but I've got to give props to the Silver Fox. He is the only other driver with more than 100 wins (105 to be exact) other than 'The King' Richard Petty. In fact, he has only ran the full season (or close enough to it) three times; he won the championship each time. The other seasons, especially when he drove for the Wood Brothers in the 1970's, Pearson would only run in the events that paid out large sums of money (I. E The Daytona 500, the 600, Michigan etc...). Money to run full seasons was much more scarce back in the late 60's/early 70's as seasons consisted of almost 50-60 races and corporate sponsors had not started to foot the bill like they do today. Pearson is also know for his ability to snooker other drivers by laying in the weeds, and then striking. He beat Richard Petty by doing this at the end of the Daytona 500 once to win the race. The silver fox should be higher than 5th.

6 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr., known professionally as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jr., or just Junior, is an American professional stock car racing driver and champion team owner.

Jr helped us ALL enjoy, even like NASCAR again! Most popular because he is a true gentleman and humble guy. Smart because he knew when to retire from the track AND make watching enjoyable again!

He road his dads coattail for two decades. Dale Jr. never had the passion his father had. He was too busy with outside interests. It reminds me of Kyle Petty, he won few races early on, then spent more time on a motorcycle.

You would think that he would need to win a championship to even be considered. But he does sell more T shirts. So I guess I would put him at #1 for sales and maybe in the top 20 of drivers.

7 Darrell Waltrip

Also tied for 6th. 84 Career wins, 3 championships, 1 Daytona 500 win. A NASCAR icon forever. Cartrip is one of the best. Just don't think you can put him ahead of Yarborough.

Boogied boogied boys lets go racing. The life and soul of NASCAR he is the one who makes NASCAR exciting.

He changed what a real NASCAR driver was. And the people love him still. Enough said

8 Tony Stewart Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart, nicknamed Smoke, is an American former professional stock car racing driver and is currently a NASCAR team owner.

Tony is a great person. He faces the issues he has in front of him and keeps going. He has a great group working for him and I see in the future that all 4 cars will win more races and more championships. Let Kevin and Kurt have there glory and seem very happy where they are and Danika gets better every year. Tony keep up the great work and I see another champtionship coming your way. M Remember you were doing bad the year you won the championship so do not give up hope, If you do not win I could see Kevin doing it again. Him being a great father, husband and driver he is doing the best I have ever seen since he joined SHR. Keep up the good work and being the great person you are. My thoughts go out to you.

9 Kyle Busch

Hands down just pure racing ability, Kyle Busch! He can win in anything he gets in and on the same weekend. While others are laying in motor home resting he is racing on Saturday and winning. Then he gets in car on Sunday and more than less, wins! The numbers doesn't lie. And he is just 30 years old. If he continues on this path until at least 40-42 years old, your looking at 80+ Cup wins, 100+ Xfinity, 50+ Trucks, well over 200 combined with most likely 4 championships. History books will put him top three best ever and maybe best pure racer ability

10 Bobby Allison

Had him at 6 for a long time. After the 2013 season Johnson just had to be above Cale and Bobby. I would say it's a tie at 7. though. Bobby Allison is just such an icon in NASCAR. 84 or 85 wins depending on the source. Surprisingly, only 1 championship (Part of the fierce 5 Cale, Petty, Waltrip, and Pearson) and 3 Daytona 500's.

In my opinion, there are 8 drivers that are the best. They go in this order: Richard Petty, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Sr., David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, and Darrel Waltrip.

The Contenders
11 Cale Yarborough

Had him at 5 for a long time. He did win 3 Championships in a row. They are just the only championships he won. 83 Career wins and 3 of those are at the Daytona 500. Competed in the Waltrip, Allison, Petty, Pearson era.

12 Kyle Larson

Great class act. Seems to be close to the front most of the time. Good for the sport.

He is really awesome. He is the next king of NASCAR.

This guy will be the face of the sport one day.

13 Mark Martin

I have so much respect for this guy. He has had a much longer career then most drivers ever will, and in his 50's he had this sudden career resurrection where he contended for his 1st ever championship. He has come 2nd in the overall standings so many times. I don't even remember the number, but it was insane. Even though he has never won the championship, he is decorated with just about every honor you get get in the sport and he's a great guy. He should be top 15 the very least. There's no way he should be down here at 31 when all of these young modern generation drivers with like 20 wins are taking up spots in the top 20.

14 Carl Edwards Carl Michael Edwards II is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He last competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. Prior to that, he drove the No. 99 Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing.

Carl Edwards should be number one he is awesome he does back flips when he wins he has the best cars he is the best guy should have won the 2011 sprint cup championship he is so going to win it this year and smoke them all.

15 Alan Kulwicki

My personal hero. The last of the true independents in this sport.

He died after his championship. He deservers to be in the top 10,maybe even the top 2

Owner driver as a champion and he is a genius that's how he won his championship

16 Bill Elliot

First million dollar winner and fastest ever at Dega at 212.803 mph and over 210 at Daytona...the name Awesome Bill says it all.

17 Joey Logano

Great way better than Danica he has won a championship he will be the king of nascar some day
Go22

18 Denny Hamlin

Denny has always been my favorite NASCAR driver, I would always be very happy when he won.

Best driver, most courteous, strategy "A plus" and intelligent.

Denny is the best! Will always be my favorite

19 Lee Petty

Produced Richard Petty, had 54 career wins, won 3 championships, and out of the 59 drivers competing in the race, he won the first Daytona 500 in one of the closest races of all-time.

Before his son Richard came along, he was the king of NASCAR.

20 Kasey Kahne

I nearly cried when Kasey retired, he has a amazing driver, he always tried his best to win, and the racing on Indianapolis in 2017 next to Brad was amazing, his whole career was a success, should be higher.

One of if not the best young racers of all time. Did tail off towards the end.

21 Rusty Wallace
22 Dale Jarrett
23 Danica Patrick Danica Sue Patrick is an American professional racing driver. She is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing—her victory in the 2008 Indy Japan 300 is the only female win in an IndyCar Series race.

Wreck wreck wreck wreck...

People only like her for her body/being a woman in a male dominated sport. She never won a single Daytona 500. Idiot.

How is danica higher than chase Elliott and the 2014 champ Kevin Harvick?

She's actually one of the worst.

24 Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick is so awesome. He is my favorite driver. Even though he only has 1 chapionship, and has 6 top 2 finishes, he is still my favorite driver!

Because he had to replace Dale Earnhardt and also made his own legacy

25 Bobby Labonte
8Load More
PSearch List