3 iconic father-son duos who made their mark in NASCAR ft. Bill and Chase Elliott

NASCAR has had many famous father-son duos who have made it big in stock car racing. Racing has always brought families together and sometimes many generations of drivers have competed in the sport. Families like the Pettys, Bakers, and Waltrips have been exciting fans for years.

Here are three notable father and son duos who have made a big impact in NASCAR.

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Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. was a NASCAR legend with 76 Cup wins and seven championships. Originally from North Carolina, he earned nicknames like "Ironhead" for his aggressive driving style. Regarded as one of NASCAR's greatest ever drivers, he competed in more than 600 races over a 27-year career. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 49 from a head injury he sustained in a crash during the final lap of the Daytona 500. His death led to major safety improvements in car racing.

His son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won 26 Cup races and earned the Most Popular Driver award 15 times. He drove for Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Hendrick Motorsports and is now a commentator for NASCAR. Dale Jr.'s career, while not as dominant, made its mark in the sport's history.

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Bill and Chase Elliott

Bill Elliott, who is nicknamed "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville," enjoyed an excellent 37-year career with 44 wins to his name. He won a Cup Series championship in 1988 and 16 Most Popular Driver awards. Elliott also holds records for the fastest qualifying speeds at Talladega and Daytona and was the first to win the Winston Million. He got into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015.

His son, Chase, has also made a name for himself by winning the 2021 Cup Series, 2014 Xfinity Series and multiple Most Popular Driver awards. Chase currently drives the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports and is a top contender at sixth place in the Cup Series standings so far this season.

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Richard and Kyle Petty

Richard Petty, known as the "The King," is in turn the son of the first three-time Cup champion, Lee Petty. He set records with 200 wins and seven championships. He raced for 35 years between 1958 and 1992, mainly with the No. 43 car for Petty Enterprises. He also has seven Daytona 500 victories to his name and a record 27 wins in one season (1967). The 87-year-old was introduced to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 and runs a car restoration shop.

Richard's only son, Kyle, had a successful career with eight wins and several poles. He also raced for Petty Enterprises from 1979, until his last race at Phoenix Raceway in 2008.

Kyle is now retired from racing and focuses on TV work and charity through the Victory Junction Camp.