NASCAR Ranking the Greats ("Modern Era" Drivers)

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

Races: 668
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

Races: 828
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

Races: 706
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

Races: 590
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

Races: 619
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

Races: 366
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

Races: 809
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

Races: 507
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

Races: 797
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

Races: 676
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.

NASCAR Ranking the Greats (All-Time Drivers)

Top 10 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR History

Three Part Series from Different NASCAR Era's

Part One: All-Time

By Richard Tix

First of a three part series ranking the greats in NASCAR history. Part one is ranking NASCAR's all time greats from the beginning of its start until current day. (Note, it does not include active NASCAR drivers).

11. Bill Elliott (Dropped out of the Top 10 when Jeff Gordon Retired).

Races: 828
Wins: 44
Top 5: 175
Top 10: 320
Championships: 1



Million Dollar Bill is 19th in career top 5's (175) and was also the 1988 Winston Cup Championship. During his long career he was also a two time Daytona 500 winner. He made the tail end of this list not only for his career stats but because of his longevity in the sport and the fact that he was also a very popular driver (won NASCAR's most popular driver award 16 times). He has a good chance at making the NASCAR HOF this year.

10. Rusty Wallace

Races: 706
Wins: 55
Top 5: 202
Top 10: 349
Championships: 1






Rusty Wallace shows up number 9 on this list and is also a new NASCAR HOF member (2013 class). Rusty ran NASCAR full time for the first time in 1984 and finished that season as NASCAR's Rookie of the Year. He went on to win the 1989 Winston Cup Championship.

9. Ned Jarrett

Races: 352
Wins: 50
Top 5: 185
Top 10: 239
Championships: 2





Ned Jarrett has to make most fans list as a top 10 driver, but where do you place him? Ned comes in at 8 on NASCAR Behind the Wall's list. He has 50 wins, 185 top 5's, 239 top 10's all in a modest 352 races. Before Jarrett retired at the young age of 34 he had already won 2 Championships. He is also a member of the NASCAR HOF (2011 class).

8. Lee Petty

Races: 427
Wins: 54
Top 5: 231
Top 10: 332
Championships: 3




The first ever winner of the Daytona 500 has to make the top 10 right? Aside from that fact, and that he was one of the first real super stars of Stock Car racing, Lee also won 54 races, 231 top 5's, 333 top 10's, and ran in 427 career races. Lee won the Championship 3 times during his career. Side note: Being Richard Petty's father doesn't hurt his resume.

7. Darrell Waltrip

Races: 809
Wins: 84
Top 5: 276
Top 10: 390
Championships: 3





DW's spot can be debated by many. Some will say he could be higher based on his achievements but some may have him lower giving credit to guys from the past and there full impact on the sport. For the most part I am looking at a mix of stats AND impact (my opinion probably weights towards stats more, but I considered both). He can also find his spot high or low just like his career. At one time he was one of the most hated drives and then became one of the most popular. DW's stats can go on and on, but lets start with the fact that he is a 3-Time Champion and also a 3-Time runner up. He had 7 straight wins at Bristol Motor Speedway (12 total). DW won 84 career Cup races (Tied for 4th most with Bobby Allison). He also had 276 top 5's, 390 top 10's, 59 Poles (2nd all time), and ran 809 career races. To top it off he won the Daytona 500 in 1989 and is in the NASCAR HOF (2012 class).

6. Bobby Allison

Races: 718
Wins: 84
Top 5: 336
Top 10: 446
Championships: 1




2011 HOF inductee Bobby Allison comes in number 5 and could have been higher if he had won at least one more Championship. However, you still have to look at his career and respect what he did. Allison won the Winston Cup Championship in 1983 and was also a 3 time Daytona 500 winner. He is "tied" with DW for the fourth most wins in NASCAR history with 84 (this is debated, as he could have a win or two more). He was also a 7 time Most Popular Driver.

5. Cale Yarborough

Races: 562
Wins: 83
Top 5: 255
Top 10: 319
Championships: 3


If you have any question about Cale, you just have to look at his three title run from 1976-78. 3 straight is something not many have done, not Richard Petty, not Dale Earnhardt, only Jimmie Johnson has done it.  He is a four time Daytona 500 winner and is 6th in all time wins with 83 total. If you only count drivers with 500 career races he is second in win percentage (14.82%), 9th among all drivers.

4. David Pearson

Races: 574
Wins: 105
Top 5: 301
Top 10: 366
Championships: 3





When we get to the top 3 we find a couple "what could haves" that will forever riddle someone trying to rank NASCAR's greats, the first is David Pearson. He only ran three season's in NASCAR's top level in his career and he won the Championship in all three. If that isn't enough, he finished 3rd in the standings during a season he only ran 19 of 30 races (1974). He is second all time in wins with 84, had 301 top 5's (4th), 366 top 10's (9th) and he did it all in 574 races. He has one of the best winning percentages of any NASCAR driver including being better then Petty, DW, and Dale. Just how many Titles could he have won?

3. Jeff Gordon

Races: 797
Wins: 93
Top 5: 325
Top 10: 475
Championships: 4





When I originally released these rankings Gordon didn't appear on them, why? Well he was still active. Now, Jeff Gordon qualifies and boy did he come from off the board to a nice spot on the All-Time Rankings. Jeff Gordon changed NASCAR in more ways then just one. Not only was he a very successful driver (Third in all time wins with 93 and has 4 career Championships), but he also was a major factor in NASCAR going main stream. Gordon opened up a whole new world of where drivers could come from and also where NASCAR's fan base was from. If it not for the Chase Gordon would have probably had a few more Championships and possibly even pushed his name up higher on this list. Either way, Gordon had one of the best NASCAR careers on and off the track.

2. Dale Earnhardt

Races: 676
Wins: 76
Top 5: 281
Top 10: 428
Championships: 7




The Intimadator, he is still one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR even though he passed away much too young. When you think of NASCAR you think of the black three. If you need more then just the impact he had on the sport, you can take a glimpse at his stats as well. He had 76 total wins, 281 top 5's (5th), and 428 top 10's (5th). He is tied with Richard Petty with 7 Winston Cup Championships. Many believe he was destined to win a NASCAR leading 8th Championship before he was taken from the NASCAR world too early and left many wondering what if.

1. Richard Petty

Races: 1185
Wins: 200
Top 5: 555
Top 10: 712
Championships: 7




Most fans have different top 10's, but almost all of them have either Dale or Petty as number one. The Kings 200 wins will never be touched (never say never, but they just ran way more races then, and he ran too well). He is tied with Dale with 7 Championships and is also a 7-Time Daytona 500 winner. Even though he ran 1,185 career races he still had a very high winning percentage of 16.9%. In his career he has 555 top 5's  (1st) and 712 top 10's (1st). When you think NASCAR there is no way you don't think of Petty pretty close to right away. Want more? Check out NASCAR Behind the Wall's Birthday article, Birthday Fit for a King.


Just missing the list: Junior Johnson, Terry Labante, Fireball Roberts, and Dale Jarrett.

So where do Modern Era Drivers fit into the equation? Part Two is Modern Era (1972-Present) Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All-Time. Three Parts in Three days during Media Week and leading up to the HOF induction. Check back for Part Two!