The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (or NASCAR for short) is one of the biggest motorsports organizations in the world. Known predominately for its thrilling stock-car races, NASCAR is an American institution – and one that has paved the way for plenty of incredible drivers over the years. Here are some of the best NASCAR drivers in history.
Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon sped onto the NASCAR scene in the early ‘90s, taking everyone by surprise. His boyish good looks meant he looked more like a model than a racer, but he also managed to bring a whole new audience to NASCAR. With 325 top-five finishes and 93 wins under his belt, he was one of the most successful racers of all time – before he retired in 2015.
Dale Earnhardt
“Ironhead,” “The Man in Black,” “The Intimidator…” whatever you wanted to call him, there is no denying that Dale Earnhardt was one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time. He had a record of seven NASCAR Winston Cup Championships but unfortunately passed away in 2001 due to a crash during a Daytona 500 event. His son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. carried on his legacy and is now an analyst for NASCAR on NBC.
Richard Petty
Last, but by no means least… Richard Petty earned himself the nickname The King for a reason! He was the first driver to win the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship seven times, but that’s not all. He won a record 200 races, had a record 127 poles, and is deemed to be the greatest driver in NASCAR history – statistically speaking. He’s now 82 years old and runs Richard Petty Motorsports alongside his family.
These are easily the best NASCAR drivers the world has ever seen. Do you agree? Or should someone else have made it onto this list?