The current roster of drivers driving the Next Gen cars in NASCAR boasts some exceptionally talented young drivers, many of whom are versatile enough to handle any vehicle on four wheels. Yet, there are a select few who have inscribed their names in the history book of NASCAR. Some of these drivers are still active in the sport, while others have already retired their helmets. Here is a list of some of the most illustrious drivers of all time:
Richard Petty: Revered as the most victorious driver in the history of the sport with 200 NASCAR Cup race victories and seven championships, Petty’s career spanned from 1958 to 1992. Following in his footsteps, his son Kyle Petty and grandson Adam Petty also raced in NASCAR. Tragically, Adam’s life was cut short in an accident in 2000 during a practice lap at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, at 19.
Dale Earnhardt: Earnhardt started his full-time NASCAR career in 1979 and clinched his first championship the following year. He accumulated a total of seven championships, achieving consecutive titles on three occasions: 1986-1987, 1990-1991, and 1993-1994. Though he did not surpass Richard Petty in race wins, Earnhardt remains among the top-10 winningest NASCAR drivers, holding the eighth position with 76 victories. He conquered virtually every track he raced on, except the Daytona 500—until he claimed victory in the prestigious race in 1998, 19 years into his career. Tragically, he died in an on-track collision during the final lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001.
Jeff Gordon: Currently the vice-chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon made an indelible mark on NASCAR in the 1990s by becoming the youngest driver in the modern era to win a Cup Series title at the age of 24 in 1995. He added three more championships to his resume in 1997, 1998, and 2001. In 1998, leading his team famously dubbed the Rainbow Warriors for his vibrant #24 Chevrolet, Gordon achieved a modern-era record with 13 wins in a single season. He retired with 93 career victories, securing the third spot on the all-time wins leaderboard.
Jimmie Johnson: A titan among the Cup champions, Jimmie Johnson stands tall and equal to Richard Petty with seven championships to his name. Over a 22-year Cup career spanning 698 starts, he amassed 83 wins, placing him sixth on the list of NASCAR’s most victorious drivers. His reign of supremacy was highlighted by five consecutive championships from 2006 to 2010. Johnson also celebrated dual victories at the Daytona 500 in 2006 and 2013, complemented by four wins each at the Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400, and the NASCAR All-Star Race.
Cale Yarborough: Before Johnson’s unparalleled streak, it was Cale Yarborough who set the benchmark for consecutive Cup championships with three. During his three-year reign, Yarborough captured 28 victories—nine each in 1976 and 1977 and ten in 1978. He consistently finished the seasons with a championship points margin of no less than 195 points, peaking at 474 points in 1978. Over his 31-year career, Yarborough accumulated 83 wins, tying him for sixth place on the all-time list.
Darrell Waltrip: Holding the fifth spot with 84 NASCAR Cup race victories, Waltrip competed from 1972 to 2000. His trophy case includes three championships—his first title in 1981 showcased a tally of 12 wins and 21 top-five finishes in 31 races. He repeated this feat in 1982 with 12 victories and 20 top-tens in 30 races. His 1985 Championship win came with three wins and 21 top-tens in 28 races.
Dale Jarrett: Jarrett won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 1999, complemented by six additional top-five championship finishes over his career. His record includes victories in three Daytona 500s, two wins at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and a win at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Over 24 years and 668 starts, Jarrett amassed 32 Cup victories.
Mark Martin: Despite never winning a championship, Mark Martin was perennially on the cusp, finishing P2 in the standings five times during his 31-year NASCAR Cup career. Martin’s career included 40 victories across 882 starts, with his best one being the 1998 one, marked by seven wins, 22 top-five finishes, and leading 1,730 laps. Additionally, in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he bagged 49 victories in just 236 races over 23 years.
Bobby Allison: Allison, a singular NASCAR Cup champion in 1983, achieved a total of 85 wins in his 718 Cup starts spanning 25 years. His career also includes three Daytona 500 victories, along with two NASCAR Modified Division championships and two NASCAR Modified Special Division titles.
Tony Stewart: Tony Stewart is someone whose versatility could see him excel in any racing machine. Stewart won three Cup Series championships in 2002, 2005, and 2011 with Joe Gibbs Racing, and has tallied 49 Cup wins, positioning him at 16th in the rankings of the winningest drivers. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being the most successful NASCAR driver to undertake the formidable challenge of competing in both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, famously finishing sixth and third respectively in 2001. However, he hung his helmet in 2016. Also, despite shutting down his NASCAR team operations last season, he remains one of the only second owner-drivers to have secured a NASCAR championship.
Kyle Busch: Affectionately dubbed “Rowdy” for his aggressive style on the track, Kyle Busch has accumulated over 200 victories across all NASCAR National series. The current spearhead for Richard Childress Racing, Busch has won 62 Cup Series races and two championships (2015, 2019). He stands as the all-time wins leader in both the Xfinity Series and the Craftsman Truck Series and has recorded wins in each of his 19 full-time Cup Series seasons except last year when he went winless.
Kyle Larson: Larson captured his first NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2021 with Hendrick Motorsports, bouncing back after a suspension in 2020 due to inappropriate language during an iRacing event. Since his integration into the HMS lineup, Larson has emerged as one of the most consistently high-performing drivers, securing a top-10 finish in every season since his championship year. Over 12 years and 365 starts, Larson has amassed 29 race victories.
Denny Hamlin: Mirroring the career trajectory of Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin has yet to secure a Cup championship but is undeniably among the elite, consistently delivering victories. With 54 wins in a 20-year career spanning 686 starts, Hamlin currently occupies the 13th spot on the list of drivers with the most Cup wins.
Kevin Harvick: Kevin Harvick won his Cup championship in 2014 during his first season with Stewart-Haas Racing, thanks to a tally of five wins under the guidance of his new crew chief, Rodney Childers. Summoned to the Cup Series in the wake of Dale Earnhardt’s tragic passing, Harvick crafted a distinguished career marked by 60 Cup Series victories—ranking him tenth among NASCAR’s most victorious drivers—and a memorable win at the 2007 Daytona 500 before retiring in 2023. Additionally, he captured the Xfinity Series championship titles in 2001 and 2006, securing 47 victories in the series.
Chase Elliott: In just over a decade, with 322 starts, the 29-year-old Chase Elliott has already claimed a Cup championship in 2020 with Hendrick Motorsports, following his Xfinity title in 2014. He has amassed 18 victories, with the best one being his final race win at Phoenix in 2020.
Kasey Kahne: Over a 15-year Cup Series career, Kasey Kahne may have only won 18 races, but he boasts victories including three Coca-Cola 600 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Joey Logano: As the most recent victor of the NASCAR Cup championship, Joey Logano has secured three championships to date, in 2018, 2022, and 2024. However, his latest championship in 2024 sparked debate due to his achieving it with an average finish of just 17.11—the lowest for any Cup champion to date—prompting calls from fans for a revision of the sport’s format. Throughout his 17-year NASCAR Cup career, Logano has accumulated 36 wins.
