Who is the best NASCAR driver of all time? That is a question fans have debated since it began!
And that is a long time ago, as the National Association for Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) was set up in 1948 in Daytona, Florida. It is watched by around 115 million people each season and many brilliant stock car racers have competed in it over the years.
This piece will focus on the absolute cream though. So, keep reading if you want to find out the best NASCAR drivers in its history.
Jimmie Johnson
Johnson has won the championship seven times; including a streak running five consecutive years that will probably never be equaled.
He also won the Daytona 500 twice, ending his career as a full-time racer on 83 victories from 686 races. Known for his consistency and ability to take pole position early and hold it, memorable victories include his first Daytona 500 in 2006 and last lap win in the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 the same year.
For most of his career he drove the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendricks Motorsports. Just like these epic NASCAR legends, you can get your own adrenaline rush racing top-notch RC cars, turning your backyard into your personal speedway.
Dale Earnhardt Sr
Another driver with a legendary reputation is Earnhardt Sr. Known as ‘The Intimidator’, he won 76 races of the 676 he competed in and claimed seven championship wins.
His technique behind the wheel was combative and sadly that contributed to his death in a final lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500. He was famous for the black No. 3 RCR Chevrolet he raced in, with a particular highlight being his 1998 Daytona victory after 20 attempts.
Jeff Gordon
The cars can be just as important as the drivers in NASCAR. They are fitted with powerful engines and tires much like Advanti racing alloy wheels so that drivers like Jeff Gordon are guaranteed peak performance.
He won 93 of the 805 NASCAR races he took part in and claimed the championship four times between 1995 and 2001. He also won more than 10 races in a single season three times.
His rainbow-colored Chevrolet is one of the most famous sights.
Richard Petty
Petty’s time in NASCAR dates back to the 1970s and he was given the nickname ‘The King’. That was due to a mighty 200 wins out of his 1,184 races and the number of records he set.
They include the most race victories in a single season, with 27, a record that no one is ever likely to better! He is also one of three drivers to win the championship seven times.
He drove the Plymouth Belvedere, considered one of the fastest NASCAR vehicles, for much of his career.
David Pearson
The ‘Silver Fox’ won 105 races during his spell in NASCAR and claimed the championship three times. Probably his single most memorable race was the 1976 Daytona 500, where he battled it out to the last lap with Petty before winning.
His chosen car was the No. 21 Mercury and he drove for Wood Brothers Racing. Pearson died five years ago but is a NASCAR Hall of Fame member for his achievements.
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Following in the wake of his father, Earnhardt Jr. has built an impressive racing career. He is the wealthiest driver thanks to a smart business brain, but it is his 26 race wins that have attracted the interest of NASCAR fans.
They include the Daytona 500 and the Xfinity Series championship, and he could add more before he retires from the track, as he is still an active NASCAR competitor.
Arguably Johnson is the all-time best, with seven titles and that five-in-a-row streak, but older NASCAR fans would probably argue for Petty. Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott are among the current crop who could secure future legend status based on their careers so far.
These are all fine drivers, but Johnson is the greatest of all.
