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NASCAR has been a cherished pastime of the American people. Ever wonder who are considered the top drivers throughout the history of the sport? While thousands of drivers tried to be the fastest on the track, only a select few deserve the title of greatest driver of all time.
We discussed the top 5 best NASCAR drivers of all time, including when their careers began, how long they lasted and how many victories they achieved.
Of all NASCAR drivers to brace the wheel, David Pearson comes out on top in win percentage. He won 18.29% of his 500 starts in Daytona and achieved 105 wins after 574 races. In addition to an extremely high winning percentage, David Pearson took home 3 Daytona 500 championships, the first in 1966, then back-to-back in 1968 and 1969.
While you may not consider this era a part of modern Daytona, the racing legend would go on to win 45 more times in what’s considered the most modern form of the sport.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Races | 574 |
| Wins | 105 |
| Top-5 Finishes | 301 |
| Top-10 Finishes | 366 |
| Poles | 113 |
| Championships | 3 |
| First Race | 1960 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway |
| First Win | 1961 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Last Win | 1980 CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 at Darlington Raceway |
| Last Race | 1986 Oakwood Homes 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway |
Up next is Richard Petty, one of the most successful Cup Series drivers ever. While most consider the modern era of NASCAR to have started after 1972, Petty is compared to players like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain of the NBA due to their success before the modern version of the sport was recognized.
In 1,184 starts, Petty would come out victorious in 200 of those races, giving him a longtime-held record of the most victories in NASCAR history before being broken by Kyle Busch. Still, Petty earned the most wins in one season (27), putting him up as the #4 best NASCAR driver to ever get behind the wheel.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Races | 1,184 |
| Wins | 200 |
| Top-5 Finishes | 555 |
| Top-10 Finishes | 712 |
| Poles | 123 |
| Championships | 7 |
| First Race | 1958 Jim Mideon 500 at Canadian National Exposition Speedway |
| First Win | 1960 untitled race at Southern States Fairgrounds |
| Last Win | 1984 Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway |
| Last Race | 1992 Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway |
In modern-era NASCAR, you’ve heard the name Jeff Gordon before. With four Cup Series Championships in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001, Jeff Gordon would boast 805 starts with 93 wins.
If you’re not already convinced he belongs at the #3 best driver spot, just know he had three separate seasons with 10+ victories, something most pro drivers could never think of achieving.
The famed rainbow color #24 car driver managed an incredible 24,936 laps throughout his Cup Series career, making him the fifth highest of all time to do so.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Races | 676 |
| Wins | 76 |
| Top-5 Finishes | 281 |
| Top-10 Finishes | 428 |
| Poles | 22 |
| Championships | 7 |
| First Race | 1975 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| First Win | 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway |
| Last Win | 2000 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway |
| Last Race | 2001 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway |
If you know Dale Earnhardt Jr., you certainly have heard of his legendary father, Dale Earnhardt Sr. Currently, only one racer is considered better than Earnhardt, which puts him in the #2 spot with 76 career wins over 676 starts. He achieved 7 Cup Series championships before unfortunately meeting his demise on the track in a horrific accident, causing his death in the 2001 Daytona 500.
With stats like these, it’s no surprise Earnhardt Sr. is the second-best driver NASCAR has seen to this day, and since his death, the sport hasn’t seen a single driver die in an on-track accident.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Races | 676 |
| Wins | 76 |
| Top-5 Finishes | 281 |
| Top-10 Finishes | 428 |
| Poles | 22 |
| Championships | 7 |
| First Race | 1975 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| First Win | 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway |
| Last Win | 2000 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway |
| Last Race | 2001 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway |
Currently referred to as the best NASCAR driver to ever get behind the wheel, Jimmie Johnson trumps all other drivers on the track, and for good reason. One major factor that separates Johnson from the rest of the competition is his 7 championships, 5 of which were in a row, which no one has even come close to breaking.
Johnson won the Daytona 500 twice, ending his legendary career with 83 wins in 686 starts (12.1 win percentage). Many fans and drivers agree there will never be another Jimmie Johnson, which is partly why he was one of the first NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees in 2023.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Races | 698 |
| Wins | 83 |
| Top-5 Finishes | 232 |
| Top-10 Finishes | 374 |
| Poles | 36 |
| Championships | 7 |
| First Race | 2001 UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| First Win | 2002 NAPA Auto Parts 500 at Auto Club Speedway |
| Last Win | 2017 AAA 400 Drive for Autism at Dover International Speedway |
| Last Race | 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway |
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.