NASCAR is at the pinnacle of American motorsport and is only able to get this status thanks to its drivers who make it entertaining for all across. Drivers have to use their tact and driving skills on track to show how competitive the sport can be. Their talent and charisma have been able to make the sport much more than on-track racing. Winning championships with tight competition to have rivalry amongst team owners is what makes NASCAR unique and lovable to many.
NASCAR drivers throughout history have been able to bring their best to these races. Seven-time champions, Richard Petty, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt have shaped much of the trajectory of the sport. Championships aren't just what makes someone a great driver, Jeff Gordon, the youngster on track during the 90s made a spectacle when he became a title contender against the veteran Dale Earnhardt.
Wendell Scott does not have wins or titles like some on the list but he paved the way for many underrepresented races in the series. He was the first African-American race driver as well as team owner. Not only that, he was also the first African-American that win NASCAR in all of its divisions.
Following is a list of drivers throughout history who have made their mark on the sport. The list is in alphabetical order.
Sr. No. | Driver Name | Notable achievements |
1 | AJ Foyt | Daytona 500 winner |
2 | Alan Kulwicki | Sprint Cup Series champion |
3 | Auston Dillion | Xfinity and Truck Series champion |
4 | Benny Parsons | Sprint Cup Series champion |
5 | Bill Elliott | Sprint Cup Series Champion |
6 | Bill Radford | Sprint Cup Series champion |
7 | Bobby Allison | 84 Sprint Cup Series Wins |
8 | Bobby Hamilton | Wins all three NASCAR series |
9 | Bobby Isaac | Sprint Cup Series champion |
10 | Bobby Labonte | Sprint Cup Series champion |
11 | Brad Keselowski | Sprint Cup Series champion |
12 | Brett Bodine | 1 Sprint Cup series win |
13 | Buck Baker | 2-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
14 | Buddy Bakers | Daytona 500 winner |
15 | Bugs Stevens | 3 time modified series champion |
16 | Cale Yarborough | 3-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
17 | Carl Edward | 28 Sprint Cup series win |
18 | Clint Bowyer | 8 cup series win |
19 | Cotton Owens | 9 Cup Sprint Cup series win |
20 | Curtis Turner | 2-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
21 | Dale Earnhardt | 7-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
22 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 2 time Daytona 500 winner |
23 | Dale Jarrett | Sprint Cup Series champion |
24 | Darrell Waltrip | 3-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
25 | Davey Allison | Daytona 500 winner |
26 | David Pearson | 105 Sprint Cup Series Wins |
27 | Denny Hamlin | 31 Sprint Cup series win |
28 | Derrike Cope | 2 cup wins |
29 | Dick Hutcherson | 14 Sprint Cup series wins |
30 | Dick Rathmann | 13 Sprint Cup wins |
31 | Donnie Allison | 10 sprint Cup series win |
32 | Donny Lia | 2 time modified series Champion |
33 | Ernie Irvan | Daytona 500 winner |
34 | Fireball Roberts | 33 Sprint Cup series wins |
35 | Fonty Flock | Sprint Cup Series champion |
36 | Fred Desarro | Modified Series champion |
37 | Fred Lorenzen | 26 Sprint Cup series wins |
38 | Geoff Bodine | Daytona 500 winner |
39 | Greg Biffle | Xfinity and Truck Series champion |
40 | Harry Gant | 18 Sprint Cup Series Wins |
41 | Herb Thomas | 2-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
42 | Jack Ingram | 2 time Xfinity series champion |
43 | Jack Smith | 21 Sprint Cup series win |
44 | Jack Sprague | 3 time truck series champion |
45 | Jamie McMurray | Win in all three NASCAR series |
46 | Jeff Burton | 21 Sprint Cup series win |
47 | Jeff Gordon | 4-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
48 | Jerry Cook | Six-time Whelen Modified Series champion |
49 | Jim Paschal | 25 Sprint Cup series win |
50 | Jimmie Johnson | 7-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
51 | Jimmy Spencer | 2 time modified series champion |
52 | Joe Nemechek | Xfinity Series champion |
53 | Joe Weatherly | 2-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
54 | Joey Logano | 2015 Daytona 500 |
55 | Johnny Benson | Win in all three NASCAR series |
56 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 2-time Sprint Cup wins |
57 | Junior Johnson | 50 Sprint Cup Series win |
58 | Kasey Kahne | 18 cup series win |
59 | Kevin Harvick | Sprint Cup Series champion |
60 | Kurt Busch | Sprint Cup Series champion |
61 | Kyle Busch | Second most wins in NASCAR history |
62 | Kyle Larson | 5 cup series wins |
63 | Larry Pearson | 2 time Xfinity series champion |
64 | Lee Petty | 3-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
65 | Leeroy Yarbrough | First NASCAR Triple Crown winner |
66 | Marcos Ambrose | 2-time Sprint Cup champion |
67 | Mark Martin | 40 Sprint Cup series wins |
68 | Martin Truex Jr. | Cup Series Champion and 2-time Xfinity Series Champion |
69 | Marvin Panch | Daytona 500 winner |
70 | Matt Crafton | 2 time truck series champion |
71 | Matt Kenseth | Sprint Cup Series champion |
72 | Michael Waltrip | 2 time Daytona winner |
73 | Mike Stefanik | 7 time modified series champion |
74 | Morgan Shepherd | 4 cup series wins |
75 | Ned Jarrett | 2-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
76 | Neil Bonnett | 18 Sprint Cup Series Wins |
77 | Randy LaJoie | 2 time Xfinity series champion |
78 | Ray Hendrick | 700+ modified wins |
79 | Red Byron | First Modified and Sprint Cup champion |
80 | Reggie Ruggiero | 44 modified wins |
81 | Rex White | Sprint Cup Series champion |
82 | Richard Petty | 7-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
83 | Richie Evans | 9 time modified series champion |
84 | Ricky Craven | Win all three NASCAR Series |
85 | Ricky Rudd | Most Consecutive Sprint Cup Starts |
86 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 2 time Xfinity series champion |
87 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | 4-time Truck Series Champion |
88 | Rusty Wallace | Sprint Cup Series Champion |
89 | Ryan Newman | Daytona 500 winner |
90 | Sam ARD | 2 time Xfinity series champion |
91 | Speedy Thompson | 20 Sprint Cup series win |
92 | Sterling Marlin | 2- time Daytona 500 winner |
93 | Terry Labonte | 2-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
94 | Tim Flock | Highest Winning Percentage In NASCAR History |
95 | Tim Richmond | 14 Sprint Cup Series Wins |
96 | Todd Bodine | 2-time Truck Champion |
97 | Tony Hirschman Jr. | 5 time modified Series Champion |
98 | Tony Stewart | 3-time Sprint Cup Series champion |
99 | Ward Burton | Daytona 500 winner |
100 | Wendell Scott | First African-American Driver and Team Owner |
FAQs
A. With 16 Most Popular Driver Awards in the NASCAR Cup Series, Bill Elliot takes the title.
A. Richard Petty has the most race wins (200).
A. Richard Petty is called the “King” of NASCAR.
A. Talladega 500 race in 1984 is considered one of the best, if not the best. There were lead changes between 16 different drivers.