Top 10 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR History
Three Part Series from Different NASCAR Era's
Part Two: Modern Era
By Richard Tix
Second of a three part series ranking the greats in NASCAR history. Part one looked at the All-Time greats, which included everyone except current drivers. Part two will be on the "Modern Era" drivers, or what is known as the Era staring in 1972-Present. This was when NASCAR's first Major sponsor headlined the top tier series (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company). All stats are only from the Modern Era. If a driver also raced in the previous era those stats were not included in the ranking).
10. Dale Jarrett
Wins: 32
Top 5: 163
Top 10: 260
Championships: 1
Starting off this list is Dale Jarrett, son of Ned. Dale may have ended up higher on this list had he actually driven the Big Brown Truck in a Cup race, unfortunately NASCAR never allowed this. Dale won the 1999 Winston Cup Championship and also won the Daytona 500 three times, including right after he won his Championship. He is a 2014 HOF inductee.
9. Bill Elliott
Wins: 44
Top 5: 175
Top 10: 320
Championships: 1
Million Dollar Bill also makes this list with his entire career being part of the "Modern Era." In 1985 Elliott won 11 races and also had 11 Pole Awards in 28 races. In that season he ended up runner up to Darrell Waltrip (1st of 3 times being runner up). After winning NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award 16 times he pulled his name in 2002.
8. Rusty Wallace
Wins: 55
Top 5: 202
Top 10: 349
Championships: 1
Another driver from the "All-Time Drivers" list, Rusty also did all of his work during this Modern Era in NASCAR. Rusty won his lone Championship in 1986 and was the runner up in 1988 to Bill Elliott by just 24 points (a two time runner up). In 1993 he had 10 wins, 19 top 5's, 21 top 10's, lead 2,860 laps, and had 3 poles, which were all more then Dale Earnhardt but he still lost the Championship by 80 points. Rusty was close to getting another Championship but just never quite could.
7. Tony Stewart
Wins: 48
Top 5: 182
Top 10: 300
Championships: 3
NASCAR Behind the Wall's first driver who is still competing currently, Smoke finds himself 7th. Could he be higher? Sure, but he still has time to move up. When you think of the 2000's in NASCAR you think of a dominate Tony Stewart. He has won 3 Championships in his career so far including winning one during the Jimmie Johnson reign. Smoke had won a race in 15 straight seasons before 2014 but that all came to an end. He will have his last shot at moving up this list in 2016, as he announced his retirement and stated 2016 would be his last run in Cup.
6. Richard Petty
Wins: 60
Top 5: 240
Top 10: 311
Championships: 4
1972 marked the date NASCAR had a major sponsor, it also marked the first time the King ran another color on his car other then his base Petty Blue (The red/orange was added in 1972, but not to the delight of Petty). In 1972 they also ran less races, cutting down to 31 (and for the rest of his career an average of about 30 races a season). Many, look to his stats and say it's all the extra races they ran and such, yet he still won four of his seven Championships from 72 and on. So even only taking into his Modern Era stats he still had 60 wins, a great career, and a statement to not leave him off this list. (Stats are only from 1972-Retiring). Birthday Fit for a King
5. Cale Yarborough
Wins: 69
Top 5: 197
Top 10: 231
Championships: 3
Cale won all three of his Championships in the Modern Era of NASCAR (three straight from 1976-78). His legacy was actually mostly made up of racing in this Era and that is why NASCAR Behind the Wall has him nudging out Petty. Cale still won 69 of his 83 races from 1972 and on and was one of the most dominate drives in the mid-late 70's.
4. Darrell Waltrip
Wins: 84
Top 5: 276
Top 10: 390
Championships: 3
When Cale Yarborough's dominance started to fade a bit Darrell Waltrip stepped in. The early 80's were DW's time to become a true star in NASCAR. He won his first of three Championships in 1981 and then decided to win another back-to-back in 1982. He was also a runner up in the standings three times in his 29 years running Cup.
3. Jimmie Johnson
Wins: 75
Top 5: 207
Top 10: 314
Championships: 6
Why isn't Jimmie Johnson higher? Well I will tell you. I am not projecting the future on this list (Chasing History), so I am taking Jeff Gordon's full well rounded career over JJ's dominance since 2006 (I do have one more rankings, so be patient JJ fans). However, one can not overlook what he has done so far in his career. If you think about it, number 3 for a guy only 15 years into his career would be ridiculously high, if it wasn't JJ. He has won 75 races already on his way to 6 Championships with a chance to catch and pass Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for career Championships. When he gets to the stage Gordon is at, he will have taken his spot and possibly the next spot as well, so be patient JJ Faithful.
2. Jeff Gordon
Wins: 93
Top 5: 325
Top 10: 475
Championships: 4
Jeff Gordon won NASCAR's ROY award in 1993 after finishing 14th in the standings and ever since then he has never finished outside the top 10 other than 2005 (11th). When you think of NASCAR in the 90's it is hard not to think of the wonder kid Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, that is what he has meant to the sport of NASCAR. He already has 95 career wins which places him 3rd all time as his career comes to an end in 2015. His four Championships put him in a class only three other drivers are a part of, four or more Championships (Petty, Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson).
1. Dale Earnhardt
Wins: 76
Top 5: 281
Top 10: 428
Championships: 7
Dale Earnhardt was NASCAR racing in the late 80's and early 90's. He did all of his work in the Modern Era of NASCAR. For the Modern Era, it is much easier to find a true number one because he was just that good (It is a toss up between Dale and Petty for All-Time). He won 7 Championships, 76 races, 281 top 5's, and 428 top 10's and unfortunately this was all cut way too short. No matter the list of NASCAR Greats or the time period, any fan of the sport will think of Dale Earnhardt as one of the sports greatest drivers.
Just missing the list: Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, and Bobby Allison
Don't like the mix of current day drivers and guys who were around for the start of the "Modern Era?" Part Three will be up next and is on the Greatest Chase Era Drivers (starting in 2004-Present). Take a look back at Part One Here.
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