NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers is an alphabetical list of NASCAR drivers. It started as NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers as of 1998, the 50th anniversary of NASCAR, and was expanded with an additional 25 drivers in 2023, the 75 anniversary of NASCAR..
These are the men who define the competition of our sport. Their accomplishments are the benchmark that much of our history is identified by. Honoring them in this way, at the beginning of the NASCAR 50th Anniversary celebration, is one way of showing our true appreciation for them and the invaluable contribution they have given over the past 50 years. These are the drivers who made and make NASCAR fans stand on their feet and cheer. These are the drivers who are NASCAR history.
History
In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to select the "50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time."[1][2][3] It was inspired in part by the NBA's decision to select the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History on its 50th anniversary in 1996. An independent group of 51 individuals representing various NASCAR roles were asked to give their objective and educated opinions on who the 50 greatest drivers in NASCAR history were.
The living members of this group were honored on February 15, 1998 during pre-race festivities for the 1998 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.[4][5]
In 2023, as part of its 75th anniversary celebration, NASCAR announced it would add 25 names to the list, bringing the total to 75.[6][7][8]
NASCAR's Greatest Drivers
Source for lists:[9]
1998 list of 50 drivers
| Bobby Allison |
| Davey Allison† |
| Buck Baker |
| Buddy Baker |
| Geoff Bodine |
| Neil Bonnett† |
| Red Byron† |
| Jerry Cook |
| Dale Earnhardt |
| Ralph Earnhardt† |
| Bill Elliott |
| Richie Evans† |
| Red Farmer |
| Tim Flock |
| A. J. Foyt |
| Harry Gant |
| Jeff Gordon |
| Ray Hendrick† |
| Jack Ingram |
| Ernie Irvan |
| Bobby Isaac† |
| Dale Jarrett |
| Ned Jarrett |
| Junior Johnson |
| Alan Kulwicki† |
| Terry Labonte |
| Fred Lorenzen |
| Tiny Lund† |
| Mark Martin |
| Hershel McGriff |
| Cotton Owens |
| Marvin Panch |
| Benny Parsons |
| David Pearson |
| Lee Petty |
| Richard Petty |
| Tim Richmond† |
| Fireball Roberts† |
| Ricky Rudd |
| Marshall Teague† |
| Herb Thomas |
| Curtis Turner† |
| Rusty Wallace |
| Darrell Waltrip |
| Joe Weatherly† |
| Bob Welborn† |
| Rex White |
| Glen Wood |
| Cale Yarborough |
| LeeRoy Yarbrough† |
2023 expansion to 75 drivers
| Sam Ard† |
| Greg Biffle |
| Jeff Burton |
| Kurt Busch |
| Kyle Busch* |
| Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| Carl Edwards |
| Chase Elliott* |
| Denny Hamlin* |
| Kevin Harvick* |
| Ron Hornaday Jr. |
| Jimmie Johnson* |
| Kasey Kahne |
| Matt Kenseth |
| Brad Keselowski* |
| Bobby Labonte |
| Randy LaJoie |
| Kyle Larson* |
| Joey Logano* |
| Sterling Marlin |
| Ryan Newman* |
| Larry Phillips† |
| Mike Stefanik† |
| Tony Stewart |
| Martin Truex Jr.* |
| Deceased and/ or Hall of Fame as of 2023. |
| † = Deceased at the time of the announcement |
| * = Driver currently active in NASCAR on full or part-time basis as of the 2023 NASCAR season |
| Italics and gold background = NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee (opened 2010) |
See also
References
- ↑ Center, Bill; Moore, Bob (September 23, 1998). NASCAR 50 Greatest Drivers. Harper Collins. p. 8. ISBN 9780061073304.
- ↑ "What to Expect When NASCAR Adds 25 Drivers to '50 Greatest' List". autoweek.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ↑ "THE 50 GREATEST DRIVERS AS SELECTED BY NASCAR". The South Florida Sun Sentinel. June 28, 1998. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ↑ "NASCAR SELECTS 50 GREATEST DRIVERS". Orlando Sentinel. February 14, 1998. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ↑ Litsky, Frank (April 5, 1998). "Tim Flock, 73, a Successful And Colorful Nascar Pioneer". New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ↑ "NASCAR's 75 greatest drivers: Dale Jr., Tony Stewart, Chase Elliott among additions". foxsports.com. May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ↑ Hembree, Mike (April 6, 2023). "NASCAR to announce top 75 driver list beginning next week". nbcsports.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ↑ Miller-Still, Ray (April 17, 2023). "Kasey Kahne makes top 75 greatest NASCAR drivers list". The Courier-Herald. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ↑ "NASCAR 75: Honoring NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers … then revealing 25 more". NASCAR.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.