For its 50th anniversary, NASCAR released a list of the 50 greatest drivers in the sport. This year celebrating 75 years, NASCAR has expanded the list to 75 drivers. Among the new additions are Hall of Famers, Truck Series veterans, and Xfinity Series drivers; along with some current Cup Series drivers.
The new additions were released one at a time over a five week period leading up to the “Throwback Weekend” at Darlington Raceway with NASCAR officials, broadcasters, and even family members presenting boxes to the drivers announcing their additions to the list.
And now the list is complete…
Finishing out the list is seven time Cup Series champion and co-owner Jimmie Johnson.
Also on the list are:
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Matt Kenseth
current driver Joey Logano
current driver Kevin Harvick
Cup Series champion Kurt Busch
current driver Kyle Busch
Xfinity Series champ Sam Ard
short track racer Larry Phillips
current driver Brad Keselowski
current driver Martin Truex Jr
Cup series champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Labonte
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr
“The Mayor” Jeff Burton
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and four time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr
Xfinity Series champion and “Mr. Backflip” Carl Edwards
current driver Chase Elliott
current driver Denny Hamlin
“Rocketman” Ryan Newman
Sterling Marlin
championship driver Gregg Biffle
current driver Kyle Larson
championship driver Randy LaJoie
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and Modified champion Mike Stefanik
Kasey Kahne
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and team co-owner Tony Stewart
The original 50 Greatest drivers:
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Allison
Davey Allison
Championship driver and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Buck Baker
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Buddy Baker
Geoff Bodine
Neil Bonnett
Championship driver and the first ever to make use off adaptive equipment (after a World War II injury) and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Red Byron
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and Modified championship driver Jerry Cook
Seven time champion and team owner and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt Sr
Sportsman champion Ralph Earnhardt
NASCAR Hall of Fame and 16 time Most Popular Driver “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville” Bill Elliott
Nine time Modified champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richie Evans
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Red Farmer. His x act win total is unknown but it reaches over 700 races.
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Tim Flock
racing legend and the only driver to win the Daytona 500, the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans A.J. Foyt
“Mr September” for winning four races at 51, Harry Gant
The original Rainbow Warrior, four time Cup Series champion, and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon
“Mr Modified” Ray Hendrick has won over 700 Modified and Late Model races.
Xfinity Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Nick Ingram
Ernie Irvan – a man who returned to the track after a horrific wreck that nearly took his life.
qualifying guru Bobby Isaac
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Ned Jarrett
Kurt and Kyle Busch are the only brothers to have won Cup Series championships; Ned and Dale Jarrett and Lee and Richard Petty are the only father/son duos to win championships.
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and car owner Junior Johnson. As an owner he won 132 races and six championships
The man who invented the “Polish Victory Lap” and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Alan Kulwicki
The ”Iceman” of the racing circuit and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Terry Labonte
mechanic and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Fred Lorenzen
championship driver Tiny Lund.
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Mark Martin
Finally hanging up the steering wheel and helmet at age 90, NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Hershel McGriff.
NASCAR Hall Of Fame driver and owner Cotton Owens
Marvin Panch
The first driver to break the 200 mile an hour speed in a qualifying run at Talladega and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Benny Parsons. He landed in the top 10 over 50 perfect of his races.
While he never ran a full season, David Pearson still raced his way into the NASCAR Hall of Fame
“The King” has over 1,100 race starts and 200 Cup Series wins; Richard Petty is a seven time Cup Series champion and a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame
The first Daytona 500 winner, three time champion, and NASCAR Hall of Fame member Lee Petty
Tim Richmond
NASCAR Hall of Fame member Fireball Roberts…and the man responsible for drivers going from blue jeans and T-shirts to fire suits.
Known as the “Iron Man” for 788 consecutive starts and winning at least one race 16 years in a row, Ricky Rudd
Two time Daytona Beach Road Course winner Marshall Teague
Cup Series champion and driver/owner Herb Thomas
Winning nearly half of his races in the pre-superspeedway era, Curtis Turner
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Rusty Wallace
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Darrell Waltrip
“The Clown Prince of Stock Car Racing” and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Joe Weatherly
Championship driver Bob Wellborn
Short track driver and championship driver Rex White
Cup Series driver, team owner, and NASCAR Hall of Fame member Glen Wood
Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Cale Yarborough
The first driver to win the big three – Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, and the Southern 500 LeeRoy Yarbrough