NASCAR saw a heightened level of popularity during the 1990s. The popularity boost and influx of new fans made this one of the best eras, if not the best. A leading factor to this spurt in popularity was how much NASCAR was expanding across the United States. This was done by adding racing tracks in popular areas like Las Vegas and Texas. This piqued the interest of many locals who were excited to see this American sport in their cities.
The fame garnered by the drivers in the 90s was another contributing factor. Drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, and Darrell Waltrip became well-known and extended this outside of the race track as well. The extreme on-track rivalry made a great show for audiences across. The championships were gripping and the contention pushed all boundaries.
Brands like Coca-Cola, DuPont, and Chevrolet joined forces with NASCAR and brought in a lot of money. This meant the teams and drivers had better resources and opportunities to race with. This meant better races and more fortunes for all associates.
NASCAR also opted for a more televised appearance during this time. This again, helped them reach a wider audience. These things made NASCAR famous and popular all over. The '90s were like the golden age, and NASCAR became a big deal thanks to more races, famous drivers, big money, and TV making it look great.
Here is a list of the top eleven drivers with the most race wins in NASCAR during the 1990s. In this list, the ninth position is tied between three drivers.
| Sr.no | Driver Name | Number of Wins |
| 1 | Jeff Gordon | 49 wins |
| 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 35 wins |
| 3 | Rusty Wallace | 33 wins |
| 4 | Mark Martin | 30 wins |
| 5 | Dale Jarrett | 22 wins |
| 6 | Ernie Irvan | 15 wins |
| 7 | Davey Allison | 13 wins |
| 8 | Bobby Labonte | 12 wins |
| 9= | Terry Labonte | 11 wins |
| 9= | Jeff Burton | 11 wins |
| 9= | Geoff Bodine | 11 wins |
Some noteworthy accomplishments of these drivers are:
Jeff Gordon: Gordon tops the list with his impressive 49 wins and three Cup Series titles during this decade. He was only part of seven seasons in the 1990s as a full-time driver and is statistically the best driver of the decade.
Dale Earnhardt: Deemed as the “King of the 90s” by many fans, Earnhardt comes second in this list. He won four of his seven championships during his decade and also won 35 race wins.
Rusty Wallace: Wallace was the only driver who won at least one race every year of the decade. With 33 race wins during the 90s, he was a contender for the championship but did not win any titles after 1989.
Mark Martin: Another big name of the 1990s, Martin was able to make a name for himself with his 30 race wins. He was also the only driver who finished every race sixth or better during this decade.
Dale Jarrett: The 1999 title winner, Jarrett picked up 22 wins during his 90s tenure. He also has 159 top-ten finishes making him the fourth-most of the 90s.
The 1990s marked a golden era in NASCAR racing, and these drivers were pivotal figures who played a significant role in shaping its greatness.
FAQs
A. Dale Earnhardt won the 1990 NASCAR title.
A. At the start of the decade Generation 3 cars were used till 1991. They shifted to Generation 4 in 1992.
A. Jeff Gordon has four titles in the years 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001.
A. Richard Petty with his 200 race wins, seven championships, and 123 poles is known as the king of NASCAR.
A. Days of Thunder is a movie based on NASCAR released in 1990.
