Grabbing a pole position in any motorsport is quite a challenge. This is especially true in the case of NASCAR. However, against the odds, there have been a few great drivers who have managed to claim the top spot multiple times during their careers.
From the likes of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Terry Labonte from NASCAR's early days to racers such as Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Chase Elliott on the current grid have showcased their racecraft and managed to clinch multiple pole positions.
On that note, here's a look at the seven drivers with the most pole positions in NASCAR's Cup Series:
#7 Mark Martin (56)
Although Mark Martin never won a Cup Series championship (five-time runner-up between 1990 and 2010), the NASCAR Hall of Famer is regarded as one of the finest in the sport. This is likely due to the 56 pole position and 40 career wins (eight from pole) through an expansive 26 years in the Cup Series.
Apart from this, the Arkansas-based driver also has 49 Xfinity Series and seven Truck Series wins, along with four ASA and five IROC championships.
#6 Bobby Allison (58)
One of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers, Bobby Allison, has one Cup Series championship (1983), 84 wins, and 58 pole positions to his name. In a career spanning over 25 years, the Hall of Famer has multiple Daytona 500 and Southern 500 wins as well.
#5 Darrell Waltrip (59)
In a racing career spanning around 47 years, the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip has won 84 races and 59 pole positions. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.
Apart from that, Waltrip is tied with Bobby Allison in third place for the most wins in the Cup Series.
#4 Cale Yarborough (69)
Regarded as one of the greatest in the Cup Series, Cale Yarborough has 83 victories and 69 pole positions to his name. He is also one of the two drivers to have won three consecutive Cup Series championships (1976, 1977, and 1978).
The 2012 NASCAR Hall of Famer died on December 31st, 2023, at the age of 84.
#3 Jeff Gordon (81)
Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion-turned-racing executive Jeff Gordon is famous for his exploits in the seasons from 1995 to 2001. The California-based driver and 2019 NASCAR Hall of Famer has won 93 races and grabbed 81 pole positions in a run of over 25 years.
He currently works as the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports.
#2 David Pearson (113)
One of the finest drivers in NASCAR, the three-time Cup Series champion David Pearson, is second on the list of the most Cup Series pole positions. Nicknamed 'The Silver Fox,' he has 105 wins and 113 poles from 574 races.
The 2011 Hall of Famer passed away on November 12, 2018, at the age of 83.
#1 Richard Petty (123 NASCAR Cup Series poles)
Called 'The King' in the NASCAR world, seven-time Cup Series champion Richard Petty is regarded as one of the most successful stock car drivers of all time. He has 200 wins and 123 poles accredited to his name. He is also the only driver who has managed to convert 61 poles to wins from his total count.
Petty also voiced Strip 'The King' Weathers (a character loosely based on him) in Pixar's animated movies, Cars and Cars 3.