Best NASCAR Drivers of All Time

From "Super Tex" to "The King," we count down the best drivers to ever race a stock car.

Best NASCAR Drivers of All Time

Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR driver — NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt celebrates in victory lane after winning the DieHard 500 in 1993.

What makes a driver one of the greatest in NASCAR history? Championships come to mind, but that doesn’t tell the whole story when there were only a handful of drivers running full-time schedules in the early years. Race wins? Still incomplete, but perhaps a better gauge even than championships. And winning percentage may be better still.

Cultural impact for a sport that relies on personality more than any other? Absolutely important. And while the equipment used in all sports has been improved and refined over the years, no stick and ball sport can compare to NASCAR, where finding an engineering edge isn’t just necessary. It’s an art.

But someone has to be the best at working with the materials given to them, and someone has to be the best all-time. The only near certainty is that all of these drivers likely will be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame someday. These are the best NASCAR drivers of all time.

50. A.J. Foyt

Experience: 34 years (1963-97)

Top Sponsor: Copenhagen

Races won: 7

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: A.J. Foyt

There has to be a spot on the list for arguably the greatest race car driver ever — alongside Mario Andretti, of course.

A.J. Foyt is the only man to win the Daytona 500 (1965), the Indy 500 (four times) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He also fielded cars as a NASCAR owner in 23 seasons.

In Their Own Words: A.J. Foyt

"My dad was very successful running midgets in Texas. Then, his two drivers ran into some bad luck. People started saying that Daddy had lost his touch. That it was the cars and not the drivers. I wanted to race just to prove all those people wrong." — A.J. Foyt

49. Donnie Allison

Experience: 21 years (1966-88)

Top Sponsor: Hawaiian Tropic

Races won: 10

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Donnie Allison

Never ran a full season and gathered half of his wins in just two campaigns, but few drivers were ever as versatile as Donnie Allison, who was the 1970 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, finishing fourth.

He also was a loyal brother (as his participation in "The Fight" at the 1979 Daytona 500 demonstrated) and uncle to Davey and Clifford.

In Their Own Words: Donnie Allison

"With four simple words, a sport that was born out of bootlegging, good ole boys and fast cars graduated from a regional sideshow to a national spectacle. 'And there’s a fight.' It’s what CBS announcer Ken Squier said with a perfect combination of surprise, shock and anticipation as the 1979 Daytona 500 came to a close. Squier said neither he nor the sport could have written a better script. Donnie Allison, first a driver, then a fighter, said it was the best thing that ever happened to NASCAR." — The Baltimore Sun

48. Harry Gant

Experience: 22 years (1973-94)

Top Sponsor: Skoal Bandit

Races won: 18

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Harry Grant

"Handsome" Harry was just that, and it only aided his scrappy underdog status.

Racing for Hollywood giant Hal Needham, Gant finished second in the championship in 1984 and no worse than seventh from 1981 to 1985.

He won four straight races (Darlington, Richmond, Dover and Martinsville) in 1991.

In Their Own Words: Harry Gant

"When today's race is over, it's over. The only one that matters is the one coming up." — Harry Gant

47. Geoff Bodine

Experience: 29 years (1979-2011)

Top Sponsor: Levi Garrett

Races won: 18

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Geoff Bodine

His best years came racing for the legendary Junior Johnson after a stint at Hendrick Motorsports. Then, Geoff Bodine owned his own team.

He’s the last driver to lap the field on his way to victory, at North Wilkesboro in 1994.

Always an innovator, he went on to design and build competitive bobsleds for the U.S. Olympic team.

In Their Own Words: Geoff Bodine

"Geoff Bodine wasn't one to back off of any driver during his career and even had to have lunch with Bill France and Dale Earnhardt so France could tell them to avoid each other on the track so their dirty driving against each other would stop and slow down their hatred-fueled rivalry." —Bleacher Report

46. Neil Bonnett

Experience: 20 years (1973-94)

Top Sponsor: Budweiser

Races won: 18

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Neil Bonnett

His brushes with death were the stuff of legend — and Hollywood, as Neil Bonnett was the basis for "Days of Thunder" character Rowdy Burns.

Close friends with Dale Earnhardt, Bonnett died after a crash practicing for the 1994 Daytona 500, one eerily similar to Earnhardt’s own fatal crash there in 2001.

In Their Own Words: Neil Bonnett

"Racing is dangerous, but I've been in a lot worse situations as a pipe fitter." — Neil Bonnett

45. Ernie Irvan

Experience: 13 years (1987-99)

Top Sponsor: Kodak Film

Races won: 15

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Ernie Irvan

If not for career- and life-threatening injuries, Ernie Irvan would have added to his wins total and likely would have picked up a championship or two along the way.

He showed his versatility in 1991, winning the Daytona 500 and later the road-course race at Watkins Glen.

In Their Own Words: Ernie Irvan

"Dale Earnhardt's opinion in the garage area is like God's to us." — Ernie Irvan

44. Kasey Kahne

Experience: 15 years (2004-18)

Top Sponsor: Farmers Insurance

Races won: 18

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Kasey Kahne

A driver with bad timing on the teams he joined, Kasey Kahne was a full-time driver at age 24.

The Dodge team he broke in with was financially unstable most of the time, the Red Bull team he left for was never really committed, and he was the fourth wheel at Hendrick Motorsports.

He walked away at the end of 2018.

In Their Own Words: Kasey Kahne

"Anyone who questions my commitment doesn't know me." — Kasey Kahne

43. Greg Biffle

Experience: 15 years (2002-16)

Top Sponsor: National Guard

Races won: 19

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Greg Biffle

Few modern drivers paid their dues the way Greg Biffle did, winning Trucks and Xfinity Series titles on his way to Cup.

He didn’t get a full-time Cup ride until he was 33 and then went on to win 19 times in 510 starts and finish as high as second in the standings.

In Their Own Words: Greg Biffle

"I've qualified second I don't know how many times. Qualifying isn't my strong suit." — Greg Biffle

42. Buddy Baker

Experience: 35 years (1959-94)

Top Sponsor: K&K Insurance

Races won: 19

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Buddy Baker

Like his father, Buck, before him, Buddy Baker mostly ran partial seasons, skipping the low-paying races and likely a shot at some championships.

Winner of the 1980 Daytona 500 and one of the most affable drivers in the sport’s history, he went on to a long and popular career as a broadcaster.

In Their Own Words: Buddy Baker

"I never lost my job while I was leading a race." — Buddy Baker

41. Benny Parsons

Experience: 21 years (1964-88)

Top Sponsor: DeWitt Racing

Races won: 21

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Benny Parsons

From Detroit cabbie to Cup champion to one of the most beloved announcers ever, Benny Parsons was as popular and competitive as any person in NASCAR history.

His time in the broadcast booth cemented his place in the Hall of Fame with the Class of 2017.

In Their Own Words: Benny Parsons

“No matter the car, crew or team owner, I never started a single race without thinking that some way I could win.” — Benny Parsons

40. Ricky Rudd

Experience: 33 years (1975-2007)

Top Sponsor: Tide

Races won: 23

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Ricky Rudd

Ricky Rudd won races, year after year from 1983 to 1998.

Remarkably, he won two races in a season just five times and never more than once otherwise.

His career-best championship finish was second in 1991, 195 points behind Dale Earnhardt.

In Their Own Words: Ricky Rudd

"I couldn't hear him. He's got that little yap-yap mouth. I couldn't tell what he was saying." — Ricky Rudd talking about Kevin Harvick

39. Fred Lorenzen

Experience: 12 years (1956-72)

Top Sponsor: LaFayette

Races won: 26

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Fred Lorenzen

He won half the races he entered in 1964, and 26 of 158 overall.

Never running a full season, like many of the best of his era, Fred Lorenzen raced when the money was good and skipped the lower-paying affairs.

He won the 1965 Daytona 500.

In Their Own Words: Fred Lorenzen

"When NASCAR lost Fireball Roberts it was like Santa Claus doesn't exist at Christmas, and it just took everything out of the race." — Fred Lorenzen

38. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Experience: 19 years (1999-2017)

Top Sponsor: Budweiser

Races won: 26

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not finish higher than third in the championship standings, but he was the people’s champion for a generation, winning "Favorite Driver" accolades for 15 years running, starting two years after his late father won it.

Earnhardt Jr.'s impact on the sport was far greater than his number of wins.

In Their Own Words: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"Years ago, you used to get out and fight and run around and chase each other with a jackhammer and stuff like that. Those were the good ol' days." — Dale Earnhardt Jr.

37. Bobby Labonte

Experience: 25 years (1991-2016)

Top Sponsor: Interstate Batteries

Races won: 21

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Bobby Labonte

Terry's younger brother bridged the sport from when a little more than half the drivers ran a full season to nearly all of them did.

Bobby Labonte also was a consistent winner from 1995 to 2003, the season he won his last race.

His 2000 championship was a runaway over Dale Earnhardt.

In Their Own Words: Bobby Labonte

"If you're going to hope for a change, you'd better start to pray for a change. If you're just hoping, you ain't going anywhere." — Bobby Labonte

36. Rex White

Experience: 9 years (1956-64)

Top Sponsor: Piedmont/Friendly

Races won: 28

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Rex White

Owning his own car and rarely running close to a full season, Rex White won the 1960 championship with six wins out of 40 races entered.

He ran most of the races again in 1961 and finished second.

With 28 wins in 233 starts, he won more than 12 percent of the time.

In Their Own Words: Rex White

“I had polio as a young boy, and it taught me a lot of lessons. The biggest one is how to conquer fear.” — Rex White

35. Carl Edwards

Experience: 13 years (2004-16)

Top Sponsor: Office Depot

Races won: 28

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Carl Edwards

Is he really going to stay retired? Despite many rumors since the beginning of 2017, Carl Edwards seems to be content away from the track.

His nine-win 2008 season was one of the best of the past two decades, but it wasn’t enough to edge out seven-win Jimmie Johnson for the title.

In Their Own Words: Carl Edwards

"Carl Edwards does an excellent job of acting like Mr. Good Guy in the garage and to fans, but he can flip a switch, and it's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." — Bleacher Report

34. Dale Jarrett

Experience: 24 years (1984-2008)

Top Sponsor: Quality Care/Ford Credit

Races won: 32

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Dale Jarrett

It took him a while to get a top ride, but when Dale Jarrett did, he made the most of it, winning 26 times from 1996 to 2002, including the Brickyard 400 at iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

He finished in the top 10 in 29 of 34 races in 1999 to win the title.

In Their Own Words: Dale Jarrett

"When I was 20 and ran my first race, I told myself I don't know how I'm going to do this for a living. I don't have the money to do it. But it is what I want to do." — Dale Jarrett

33. Bobby Isaac

Experience: 15 years, (1961-76)

Top Sponsor: K&K Insurance

Races won: 37

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Bobby Isaac

Bobby Isaac won 17 times in 1969 and 11 times in 1970 and took home the championship at the dawn of a new decade.

Then, he never ran close to a full season again.

He also set 28 world speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in September 1971.

In Their Own Words: Bobby Isaac

"He said a voice told him that he needed to get out of the car, and so he radioed to Bud Moore. He said, ‘Find somebody to fill in the car. I’ve got to get out.’ I don’t know what that experience was. I don’t know if he felt it was intuition or if it was actually a verbal voice. I know that it impacted him enough that he was not going to stay in the race car." — Patty Isaac, Bobby Isaac's wife

32. Matt Kenseth

Experience: 21 years (1998-2019)

Top Sponsor: DeWalt Power Tools

Races won: 39

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Matt Kenseth

You win with the system you’re given.

When Matt Kenseth won the 2003 championship with just one victory while Ryan Newman posted eight (and finished sixth in the championship), NASCAR instituted the Chase playoff system, which has been tweaked ever since, perhaps ruinously.

In Their Own Words: Matt Kenseth

"I'm far from perfect. There's a lot of times you'll say something that you regret or do something that you regret and wish you wouldn't have said it or done it." — Matt Kenseth

31. Bill Elliott

Experience: 38 years (1975-2012)

Top Sponsor: Coors

Races won: 44

Championships: 1

Bottom line: "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" won 11 races in 1985 and the championship in 1988.

He was voted NASCAR’s "Most Popular Driver" 16 times, still the most, but won just five races from 1992 to 2012.

Bottom Line: Bill Elliott

"Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" won 11 races in 1985 and the championship in 1988.

He was voted NASCAR’s "Most Popular Driver" 16 times, still the most, but won just five races from 1992 to 2012.

In Their Own Words: Bill Elliott

"We didn't even know what safety was. We didn't know the meaning of the word." — Bill Elliott

30. Tim Richmond

Experience: 8 years (1980-87)

Top Sponsor: Folger’s

Races won: 13

Championships: 0

Bottom line: Hollywood leading man good looks. Undeniable skill. And like Davey Allison, gone too soon.

Tim Richmond was banned by NASCAR in 1988 for excessive use of over-the-counter-medicine, then succumbed to complications from AIDS in 1989 at age 34.

Bottom Line: Tim Richmond

Hollywood leading man good looks. Undeniable skill. And like Davey Allison, gone too soon.

Tim Richmond was banned by NASCAR in 1988 for excessive use of over-the-counter-medicine, then succumbed to complications from AIDS in 1989 at age 34.

In Their Own Words: Tim Richmond

"I believe I was put on this earth to have fun ... to make sure I succeed in the fun department." — Tim Richmond

29. Denny Hamlin

Experience: 14 years (2004-present)

Top Sponsor: FedEx

Races won: 31

Championships: 0

Bottom line: He’s still active and still under 40, but Denny Hamlin can’t quite nudge his way to the championship.

He was winless in a full season for the first time in 2018 and led only 380 laps, just 17 more than his career low.

Bottom Line: Denny Hamlin

He’s still active and still under 40, but Denny Hamlin can’t quite nudge his way to the championship.

He was winless in a full season for the first time in 2018 and led only 380 laps, just 17 more than his career low.

In Their Own Words: Denny Hamlin

"It makes me very hard on myself when I don't achieve the goals I want to achieve. But I feel like that's what makes me as good as I am at times — I push myself to be better, constantly." — Denny Hamlin

28. Brad Keselowski

Experience: 11 years (2008-present)

Top Sponsor: Miller Lite

Races won: 27

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Brad Keselowski

He had perhaps the best television championship interview in the history of the sport, thanks to plenty of his sponsor’s product.

And at age 35, Brad Keselowski still is capable of winning dozens of more races and a few championships.

In Their Own Words: Brad Keselowski

"My No. 1 goal in racing was never to be the most popular driver." — Brad Keselowski

27. Davey Allison

Experience: 9 years (1985-93)

Top Sponsor: Texaco

Races won: 19

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Davey Allison

One of the biggest "what might have beens" in NASCAR history, Davey Allison died from injuries in a helicopter crash — he was the pilot — at Talladega in 1993.

Only 32, he was just hitting his stride, having won five times in each of the previous two seasons.

In Their Own Words: Davey Allison

“I realized I better enjoy and appreciate and contribute as much as I can today because all of this could be gone tomorrow." — Davey Allison

26. Martin Truex Jr.

Experience: 15 years (2004-present)

Top Sponsor: Furniture Row

Races won: 19

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Martin Truex Jr.

Martin Truex Jr. didn’t have much luck with unstable race teams in the early part of his career, but once he got with a good one, things took off.

Now he’s with one of the best — Stewart-Haas Racing — and he should add to his victories over the last three seasons and maybe even to his 2017 title.

In Their Own Words: Martin Truex Jr.

"I'm kind of quiet, but when I put my helmet on, it's like you flip a switch. I'm ready to go." — Martin Truex Jr.

25. Alan Kulwicki

Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki — Hooters 500 winner Bill Elliott, left, and NASCAR Winston Cup champion Alan Kulwicki celebrate in victory lane following the 1992 Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga.

Experience: 9 years (1985-93)

Top sponsor: Hooters

Races won: 5

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Alan Kulwicki

There will never be anyone like Alan Kulwicki, who had a degree in mechanical engineering. He ran his own team and laid down the blueprint for how teams are run now, with engineering coming first.

He died in a plane crash in 1993 after making a sponsor appearance.

In Their Own Words: Alan Kulwicki

"It's basically the same, just darker." — Alan Kulwicki on racing at night

24. Buck Baker

Experience: 26 years (1949-76)

Top sponsor: Buck Baker

Races won: 46

Championships: 2

Bottom Line: Buck Baker

Buck Baker won back-to-back titles in 1956 and 1957 despite missing numerous races each season. The Baker family raced to eat and would often skip events with low payouts.

His son Buddy followed the same pattern, winning 19 races.

In Their Own Words: Buck Baker

"When I saw all those other drivers, I realized that they wanted to win that money just as much as I did. But I didn't have to worry. A tire came off my car, and I was lucky I got it off the track." — Buck Baker

23. Kurt Busch

Experience: 19 years (2000-present)

Top sponsor: Miller Lite

Races won: 30

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch doesn’t have as many wins as his younger brother, but he’s no slouch.

Only 40 and racing for a top team, he may move up the list soon.

In Their Own Words: Kurt Busch

"I never did any of the things I was accused of. It was a total fabrication." — Kurt Busch

22. Mark Martin

Experience: 31 years (1981-2013)

Top sponsor: Valvoline

Races won: 40

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Mark Martin

Any talk of greatest driver never to win a title starts with Mark Martin, who finished second a heartbreaking five times across two of NASCAR’s most competitive eras.

During his illustrious career, six other drivers soaked up 24 of the titles.

In Their Own Words: Mark Martin

"Your faith shapes the kind of person that you are." — Mark Martin

21. Joe Weatherly

Experience: 13 years (1951-1964)

Top sponsor: Bud Moore

Races won: 25

Championships: 2

Bottom Line: Joe Weatherly

Racing in an era with little sponsorship, drivers were known more by the owner’s name on the side of the car than anything.

Joe Weatherly made Bud Moore a legend (and both are Hall of Famers) before dying in a crash at Riverside International Raceway in 1964.

In Their Own Words: Joe Weatherly

"The headstone is in the shape of Riverside International Raceway, as it was used for the NASCAR races ... when the cars followed the track going through 'esses.' The point where Weatherly’s car impacted the wall (Turn Five) being marked on the headstone by crossed checkered flags. Perhaps such an unusual headstone is appropriate for a man who was called 'The Clown Prince of Racing.'" — Bleacher Report

20. Joey Logano

Experience: 11 years (2008-present)

Top sponsor: Shell/Pennzoil

Races won: 25

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Joey Logano

It took "Sliced Bread" six seasons to learn how to win consistently. Then it took him five more to learn how to win a title.

The coming years may be a master class in how a 30-year-old reaches a sustained career peak.

In Their Own Words: Joey Logano

"His wife wears the firesuit in that family and tells him what to do." — Joey Logano

19. Rusty Wallace

Experience: 26 years (1980-2006)

Top sponsor: Miller Genuine Draft

Races won: 55

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Rusty Wallace

You were going to finish second a lot with the likes of Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison and Terry Labonte also on the track, but Rusty Wallace more than held his own during NASCAR’s true heyday.

He finished in the top 10 in nearly half his races (349 of 706).

In Their Own Words: Rusty Wallace

“I feel like I got a pile of cattle chasing my [butt], and I’m pedaling as hard as I can to stay in front of ’em. I’m looking behind me, driving like hell.” — Rusty Wallace

18. Herb Thomas

Herb Thomas,Glenn Roberts, Curtis Turner — Winners of the NASCAR Convertible Stock Car Race pose in 1956. From left are Herb Thomas (third place), Glenn "Fireball" Roberts (second place), and Curtis Turner (first place).

Experience: 10 years (1949-62)

Top sponsor: Smokey’s Best Damn Garage

Races won: 48

Championships: 2

Bottom Line: Herb Thomas

Often paired with the sport’s greatest and most innovative crew chief, Smokey Yunick, Herb Thomas won two titles and finished second the three other times he ran close to a full season.

Thomas drove the Fabulous Hudson Hornet. Parts of his story inspired the "Doc Hudson" character from the movie "Cars."

In Their Own Words: Herb Thomas

"He was as good as they come. There are very few guys with more confidence in what they could do than Herb." — Richard Petty

17. Kyle Busch

Experience: 16 years (2003-present)

Top sponsor: M&M’s

Races won: 56

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch is as good a bet to win every week as anybody, and he’s the most dominant driver in the history of the lower Xfinity and Trucks series.

He loves to race, has a Cup title, and at age 33, there’s plenty left in the tank.

In Their Own Words: Kyle Busch

"With about 40 laps to go, it's time to race and time to get after it, and that's what I was doing. If I did something and aggravated (Tony) Stewart, well, I'm sorry." — Kyle Busch

16. Kevin Harvick

Experience: 18 years (2001-present)

Top sponsor: GM Goodwrench

Races won: 50

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Kevin Harvick

Replacing the late Dale Earnhardt may have been the toughest job in sports history, but Kevin Harvick did it admirably, winning 23 times even as his team’s fortunes faded.

A new team, headed by Tony Stewart, has rejuvenated his career and led to a title.

In Their Own Words: Kevin Harvick

"Anybody who says I can't do something, it just motivates me more than you could believe." — Kevin Harvick

15. Terry Labonte

Experience: 38 years (1978-2014)

Top sponsor: Kellogg’s Corn Flakes

Races won: 22

Championships: 2

Bottom Line: Terry Labonte

"Texas" Terry Labonte didn’t win as often as other drivers of his era, but he won two titles by staying near the front every week.

He put together 361 top-10s in 890 starts, even after his truly competitive years ended in 1999.

In Their Own Words: Terry Labonte

"It was 1999, and hunting buddies Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte, both champions in NASCAR’s foremost series, were planning their annual postseason trip. Then the Night Race at Bristol intervened, and the hunting trip never happened." — The Sporting News

14. Tim Flock

Tim Flock, Billy Meyers, Ralph Moody — The 1-2-3 order of finish at the 1956 Grand National 1,600 at Daytona Beach, left to right: Tim Flock, Billy Meyers and Ralph Moody.

Experience: 13 years (1949-61)

Top sponsor: Mercury Outboards

Races won: 39

Championships: 2

Bottom Line: Tim Flock

Tim Flock only ran close to a full season twice and won the title each time.

He had an astounding 39 wins in 187 starts, a .209 winning percentage.

His support for a driver’s union got him essentially banned from the sport.

In Their Own Words: Tim Flock

"Back then, the cars had a trap door that we could pull open with a chain to check our tire wear." — Tim Flock

13. Tony Stewart

Experience: 18 years (1999-2016)

Top sponsor: Home Depot

Races won: 49

Championships: 3

Bottom Line: Tony Stewart

Likely the last of his kind, hard work, skill and determination got Tony Stewart to NASCAR and three titles.

Now a successful owner, Stewart won in Indy cars, NASCAR and can still be seen racing and winning on dirt tracks, his true love.

In Their Own Words: Tony Stewart

"They name streets after guys like that: One Way and Dead End. [Greg Biffle] is just an idiot." — Tony Stewart

12. Lee Petty

Experience: 16 years (1949-64)

Top sponsor: Petty Enterprises

Races won: 54

Championships: 3

Bottom Line: Lee Petty

While other drivers would frequently take weeks off, the Pettys, led by patriarch Lee, were racers, and they would show up and dominate week in and week out.

Lee Petty won three titles and set the benchmark his even more successful son would follow.

In Their Own Words: Lee Petty

"In the beginning of Lee Petty’s NASCAR career, The King said his father’s approach to racing was always conservative for the first seven or eight years in the late 1940s and early- to mid-1950s. Petty said his father was racing 'strictly to make a living, which he always did.' But once we got into ’54, ’55, he had a lot faster cars, so then he got pretty racy. He was a whole lot like Dale Sr. You got in the way, you better watch out. He took no prisoners.” — Richard Petty

11. Cale Yarborough

Experience: 31 years (1957-88)

Top sponsor: Holly Farms

Races won: 83

Championships: 3

Bottom Line: Cale Yarborough

Three championships straight from 1976 to 1978, got the worst of "The Fight" with Bobby Allison at the 1979 Daytona 500 and one of the least likeable characters in the sport’s history.

Cale Yarborough showed up to race, not talk, sign autographs or pal around.

In Their Own Words: Cale Yarborough

"Driving a race car is like dancing with a chainsaw." — Cale Yarbrough

10. Ned Jarrett

Experience: 13 years (1953-66)

Top sponsor: Bondy Long

Races won: 50

Championships: 2

Bottom Line: Ned Jarrett

When NASCAR could appear rough around the edges, this two-time champion brought a touch of gentlemanly class to any affair.

Ned Jarrett quit driving early to become the sport’s first broadcast superstar.

In Their Own Words: Ned Jarrett

"I don’t think even Ned realized until some of us spoke in that room about how much people care about his contribution to the sport. I don’t know of any other individual that contributed in so many different areas than Ned Jarrett has." — Dr. Jerry Punch

9. Bobby Allison

Experience: 25 years (1961-88)

Top sponsor: Miller High Life

Races won: 84

Championships: 1

Bottom Line: Bobby Allison

One title, but Bobby Allison is one of the most popular drivers in history and was always running up front, with 336 top-5s in 718 starts.

He won 10 races in both 1971 and 1972, and was a colorful, likable character.

His "fight" with Cale Yarborough launched the sport into the mainstream.

In Their Own Words: Bobby Allison

"When you win a race your on top that day, so take it for what it's worth, have a good time and party, cause the next day when you get out of bed, the meter goes back to zero again." — Bobby Allison

8. Darrell Waltrip

Experience: 29 years (1972-2000)

Top sponsor: Budweiser

Races won: 84

Championships: 3

Bottom Line: Darrell Waltrip

Forget the guy behind the microphone and forget that he hung on too long. Darrell Waltrip was the only driver who could get under Dale Earnhardt’s thick skin until Jeff Gordon showed up, and Waltrip did it better.

"Jaws" was always jawing — and winning — on his way to three titles.

In Their Own Words: Darrell Waltrip

"If you don't cheat, you look like an idiot; if you cheat and don't get caught, you look like a hero; if you cheat and get caught, you look like a dope. Put me where I belong." — Darrell Waltrip

7. Glenn 'Fireball' Roberts

Glenn "Fireball" Roberts, left, won the 1959 Firecracker 250 at Daytona Beach, Fla., in record time, averaging about 140 miles per hour in his Pontiac. Joe Weatherly, right, driving a Thunderbird convertible, was second.

Experience: 15 years (1950-64)

Top sponsor: DePaolo Engineering

Races won: 33

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Glenn 'Fireball' Roberts

The first real superstar in the sport, Glenn "Fireball" Roberts won roughly once every six races entered.

His death weeks after a fiery crash at the World 600 in 1964 took one of the most colorful characters out of the sport and made drivers think more about safety measures.

In Their Own Words: Glenn 'Fireball' Roberts

"I had a horror of kissing girls before a race. It started many years ago when I was a rookie. A girl kissed me before a race, and I spun me out and back through a fence. She kissed me later and the same thing happened. In an effort to break the jinx, she kissed me twice before the next race. So what happened? I flip end over end seven times. I don't even kiss my wife before a race." — Glenn "Fireball" Roberts

6. Junior Johnson

Experience: 14 years (1953-66)

Top sponsor: Holly Farms

Races won: 50

Championships: 0

Bottom Line: Junior Johnson

Junior Johnson won 50 times in 303 races, often in cars he owned and built, then became one of the sport’s top owners.

He never ran close to a full season, so no titles, but when fans harken back to the good ol’ days, former moonshiner Johnson is the epitome of what they want.

In Their Own Words: Junior Johnson

"Moonshiners put more time, energy, thought and love into their cars than any racer ever will. Lose on the track and you go home. Lose with a load of whiskey, you go to jail." — Junior Johnson

5. Jeff Gordon

Experience: 25 years (1992-2016)

Top sponsor: DuPont

Races won: 93

Championships: 4

Bottom Line: Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon may have won five or more championships if not for teammate Jimmie Johnson. Dale Earnhardt may have won 10 if not for Gordon.

Gordon finished with four titles — his last in 2001, just as Johnson emerged — and helped extend NASCAR’s popularity beyond the South.

In Their Own Words: Jeff Gordon

"Years like that make you hungrier, make you humble. The criticism has come a little bit stronger, come more often. I understand why. We've won four championships, a lot of races. We've prided ourselves on being competitive every year. When we're not, we recognize as well as everybody we're having an off-year." — Jeff Gordon

4. Jimmie Johnson

Experience: 18 years (2001-present)

Top sponsor: Lowe’s

Races won: 83

Championships: 7

Bottom Line: Jimmie Johnson

Still active, 2018 was Jimmie Johnson's first full season without a win.

Johnson is tied with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty at seven titles, winning his latest in 2016, and won a record five straight from 2006 to 2010.

Gets knocked for winning in the "Chase" era, but he doesn’t make the rules.

In Their Own Words: Jimmie Johnson

"If you're hitting your stride, you're all about the Chase starting. If you're downhill fighting your way up, you'd want a couple of weeks before the Chase starts so you can sort out your own stuff. We didn't get off to a good start last year and almost won it, so we'll just have to work hard and see what happens." — Jimmie Johnson

3. Dale Earnhardt

Experience: 27 years (1975-2001)

Top sponsor: GM Goodwrench

Races won: 76

Championships: 7

Bottom Line: Dale Earnhardt

"The Intimidator" was still winning races when he died at the 2001 Daytona 500.

He is tied with Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson with seven titles.

Earnhardt's fame and legend is the only one that approaches Petty’s, and his impact on popularizing the sport can’t be overstated.

In Their Own Words: Dale Earnhardt

"Second place is just the first-place loser." — Dale Earnhardt

2. David Pearson

Experience: 28 years (1960-89)

Top sponsor: Wood Brothers Racing

Races won: 105

Championships: 3

Bottom Line: David Pearson

David Pearson ran for the championship three times and won all of them. When he and Richard Petty finished first and second, he was the winner 33 of 63 times.

The "Silver Fox" was shy and stubborn, but the eternal debate is always whether or not he should be ranked No. 1.

In Their Own Words: David Pearson

"Pearson's racing career could be defined by words he was often quoted as saying, 'I never went into any race I didn't think I could win.'" — Bleacher Report

1. Richard Petty

Experience: 35 years (1958-92)

Top sponsor: STP

Races won: 200

Championships: 7

Bottom Line: Richard Petty

A record 200 wins. Tied for the record with seven titles and the first to reach that mark. A record 27 wins in 1967. A record seven Daytona 500 victories. And immense cultural impact.

There can only be one "King."

In Their Own Words: Richard Petty

"No one wants to quit when he's losing, and no one wants to quit when he's winning." — Richard Petty