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m Davebirnell1991 moved page NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers to NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers over redirect: List was updated from 50 to 75. This pages has already been updated to feature the newest drivers added which would make this an updated title and not a seperate pages
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{{short description|none}}
{{short description|none}}
'''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.
{{Multiple issues|
{{One source|date=April 2023}}
{{Primary sources|date=April 2023}}
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'''NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers''' is an alphabetical list of [[NASCAR]] drivers.


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==History==
In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a [[Committee|panel]] to select the "50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time." It was inspired in part by the [[National Basketball Association|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.
In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to select the "50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Center |first1=Bill |last2=Moore|first2=Bob |date=September 23, 1998 |title=NASCAR 50 Greatest Drivers |url=https://archive.org/details/nascar50greatest0000cent |publisher=Harper Collins |page=8 |isbn= 9780061073304}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2023 |title=What to Expect When NASCAR Adds 25 Drivers to '50 Greatest' List |url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/a43548631/what-to-expect-when-nascar-adds-25-drivers-to-50-greatest-list/ |access-date=May 9, 2023 |website=autoweek.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 28, 1998 |title=THE 50 GREATEST DRIVERS AS SELECTED BY NASCAR |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1998/06/28/the-50-greatest-drivers-as-selected-by-nascar/ |access-date=May 9, 2023 |newspaper=The South Florida Sun Sentinel}}</ref> It was inspired in part by the [[National Basketball Association|NBA's]] decision to select the [[50 Greatest Players in NBA History]] on its 50th anniversary in 1996.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} 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]].
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]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 14, 1998 |title=NASCAR SELECTS 50 GREATEST DRIVERS |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1998/02/14/nascar-selects-50-greatest-drivers/ |access-date=May 9, 2023 |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 1998 |last=Litsky |first=Frank |author-link=Frank Litsky |title=Tim Flock, 73, a Successful And Colorful Nascar Pioneer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/05/sports/tim-flock-73-a-successful-and-colorful-nascar-pioneer.html |access-date=May 9, 2023 |newspaper=New York Times}}</ref>


In 2023, as part of its 75th anniversary celebration, NASCAR announced it would add 25 names to the list, bringing the total to 75.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 8, 2023 |title=NASCAR's 75 greatest drivers: Dale Jr., Tony Stewart, Chase Elliott among additions |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/nascar-75-greatest-drivers-all-time |access-date=May 9, 2023 |website=foxsports.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2023 |last=Hembree |first=Mike |title=NASCAR to announce top 75 driver list beginning next week |url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2023/04/06/nascar-to-announce-top-75-driver-list-beginning-next-week/ |access-date=May 9, 2023 |website=nbcsports.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2023 |last=Miller-Still |first=Ray |title=Kasey Kahne makes top 75 greatest NASCAR drivers list |url=https://www.courierherald.com/news/kayse-kahne-makes-top-75-greatest-nascar-drivers-list/ |access-date=May 9, 2023 |newspaper=The Courier-Herald}}</ref>
In 2023, as part of its 75th anniversary celebration, NASCAR announced it would add 25 names to the list, bringing the total to 75.


== NASCAR's Greatest Drivers ==
== NASCAR's Greatest Drivers ==
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|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Bobby Allison]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Bobby Allison]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Davey Allison]]*''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Davey Allison]]†''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Buck Baker]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Buck Baker]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Buddy Baker]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Buddy Baker]]''
|-
|-
|[[Geoff Bodine]]
|[[Geoff Bodine]]
|-
|-
|[[Neil Bonnett]]*
|[[Neil Bonnett]]†
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Red Byron]]*''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Red Byron]]†''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Jerry Cook]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Jerry Cook]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Dale Earnhardt]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Dale Earnhardt]]''
|-
|-
|[[Ralph Earnhardt]]*
|[[Ralph Earnhardt]]†
|-
|-
|}
|}
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|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Bill Elliott]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Bill Elliott]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Richie Evans]]*''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Richie Evans]]†''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Red Farmer]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Red Farmer]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Tim Flock]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Tim Flock]]''
|-
|-
|[[A. J. Foyt]]
|[[A. J. Foyt]]
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|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Jeff Gordon]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Jeff Gordon]]''
|-
|-
|[[Ray Hendrick]]*
|[[Ray Hendrick]]†
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Jack Ingram (NASCAR)|Jack Ingram]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Jack Ingram (NASCAR)|Jack Ingram]]''
|-
|-
|[[Ernie Irvan]]
|[[Ernie Irvan]]
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{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Bobby Isaac]]*''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Bobby Isaac]]†''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Dale Jarrett]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Dale Jarrett]]''
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|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Ned Jarrett]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Ned Jarrett]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Junior Johnson]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Junior Johnson]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Alan Kulwicki]]*''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Alan Kulwicki]]†''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Terry Labonte]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Terry Labonte]]''
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|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Fred Lorenzen]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Fred Lorenzen]]''
|-
|-
|[[Tiny Lund]]*
|[[Tiny Lund]]†
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Mark Martin (racecar driver)|Mark Martin]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Mark Martin (racecar driver)|Mark Martin]]''
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{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Cotton Owens]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Cotton Owens]]''
|-
|-
|[[Marvin Panch]]**
|[[Marvin Panch]]
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Benny Parsons]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Benny Parsons]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[David Pearson (NASCAR driver)|David Pearson]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[David Pearson (NASCAR driver)|David Pearson]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Lee Petty]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Lee Petty]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Richard Petty]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Richard Petty]]''
|-
|-
|[[Tim Richmond]]*
|[[Tim Richmond]]†
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Fireball Roberts]]*''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Fireball Roberts]]†''
|-
|-
|[[Ricky Rudd]]
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Ricky Rudd]]''
|-
|-
|[[Marshall Teague (racing driver)|Marshall Teague]]*
|[[Marshall Teague (racing driver)|Marshall Teague]]†
|-
|-
|}
|}
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Herb Thomas]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Herb Thomas]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Curtis Turner]]*''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Curtis Turner]]†''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Rusty Wallace]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Rusty Wallace]]''
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|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Darrell Waltrip]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Darrell Waltrip]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Joe Weatherly]]*''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Joe Weatherly]]†''
|-
|-
|[[Bob Welborn]]*
|[[Bob Welborn]]†
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Rex White]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Rex White]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Glen Wood]]**''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Glen Wood]]''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Cale Yarborough]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Cale Yarborough]]''
|-
|-
|[[LeeRoy Yarbrough]]*
|[[LeeRoy Yarbrough]]†
|-
|-
|}
|}
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{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
|[[Sam Ard]]*
|[[Sam Ard]]†
|-
|-
|[[Greg Biffle]]
|[[Greg Biffle]]
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|[[Kurt Busch]]
|[[Kurt Busch]]
|-
|-
|[[Kyle Busch]]
|[[Kyle Busch]]*
|-
|}
|}
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
⚫
|style="background:#eedd82;|''[[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]]''
|-
|-
⚫
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]]''
|[[Carl Edwards]]
|-
|-
⚫
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Carl Edwards]]''
|[[Chase Elliott]]
|-
|-
|[[Denny Hamlin]]
|[[Chase Elliott]]*
|-
|[[Denny Hamlin]]*
|-
|-
|[[Kevin Harvick]]
|[[Kevin Harvick]]
|-
|}
|}
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Ron Hornaday Jr.]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Ron Hornaday Jr.]]''
|-
⚫
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Jimmie Johnson]]*''
|-
|-
|[[Kasey Kahne]]
|[[Kasey Kahne]]
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Matt Kenseth]]''
⚫
|[[Brad Keselowski]]
|-
|-
⚫
|[[Brad Keselowski]]*
⚫
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Bobby Labonte]]''
|-
|-
⚫
|[[Randy LaJoie]]

|}
|}
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
⚫
|[[Kyle Larson]]
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Bobby Labonte]]''
⚫
|[[Sterling Marlin]]
|-
|-
⚫
|[[Randy LaJoie]]
⚫
|[[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]]
|-
|-
⚫
|[[Kyle Larson]]*
⚫
|[[Larry Phillips (racing driver)|Larry Phillips]]*
|-
|[[Joey Logano]]*
|-
⚫
|[[Sterling Marlin]]
|-
|-
⚫
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Mike Stefanik]]*''
|}
|}
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
{|class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
|-
⚫
|[[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]]
|-
⚫
|[[Larry Phillips (racing driver)|Larry Phillips]]†
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Mike Stefanik]]†''
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Tony Stewart]]''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''[[Tony Stewart]]''
|-
|-
|[[Martin Truex Jr.]]
|[[Martin Truex Jr.]]*
|-
|-
|}
|}
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{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
|-
|-
|style="font-size:80%"|Deceased & Hall of Fame as of 2023.
|style="font-size:80%"|Deceased and/ or Hall of Fame as of 2024.
|-
|-
|<nowiki>*</nowiki> = Deceased at the time of the announcement
|† = Deceased at the time of the announcement
|-
|-
|* = Driver currently active in NASCAR on full or part-time basis as of the 2024 NASCAR season
|<nowiki>**</nowiki> = Deceased after the announcement
|-
|-
|style="background:#eedd82"|''Italics and gold background = [[NASCAR Hall of Fame]] inductee (opened 2010)''
|style="background:#eedd82"|''Italics and gold background = [[NASCAR Hall of Fame]] inductee (opened 2010)''
Line 224: Line 233:
* [http://www.nascar.com/kyn/history/drivers/ NASCAR.com's listing] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120111224804/http://www.nascar.com/kyn/history/drivers Archived link])
* [http://www.nascar.com/kyn/history/drivers/ NASCAR.com's listing] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120111224804/http://www.nascar.com/kyn/history/drivers Archived link])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060209171109/http://theinsidegroove.com/pics/james-crabtree-nascar-photo-gallery.php The Inside Groove.com – Historical NASCAR Image Gallery]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060209171109/http://theinsidegroove.com/pics/james-crabtree-nascar-photo-gallery.php The Inside Groove.com – Historical NASCAR Image Gallery]
* [https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/05/09/nascar-75-honoring-nascars-50-greatest-drivers-then-revealing-25-more NASCAR official site's article of 75 Greatest Drivers]


[[Category:1998 in NASCAR|50 Greatest Drivers]]
[[Category:1998 in NASCAR|50 Greatest Drivers]]

Latest revision as of 16:30, 23 May 2024

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.

Bill France Jr.

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.[citation needed] 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 2024.
† = Deceased at the time of the announcement
* = Driver currently active in NASCAR on full or part-time basis as of the 2024 NASCAR season
Italics and gold background = NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee (opened 2010)

See also

References

  1. ^ Center, Bill; Moore, Bob (September 23, 1998). NASCAR 50 Greatest Drivers. Harper Collins. p. 8. ISBN 9780061073304.
  2. ^ "What to Expect When NASCAR Adds 25 Drivers to '50 Greatest' List". autoweek.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "THE 50 GREATEST DRIVERS AS SELECTED BY NASCAR". The South Florida Sun Sentinel. June 28, 1998. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  4. ^ "NASCAR SELECTS 50 GREATEST DRIVERS". Orlando Sentinel. February 14, 1998. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  5. ^ Litsky, Frank (April 5, 1998). "Tim Flock, 73, a Successful And Colorful Nascar Pioneer". New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "NASCAR's 75 greatest drivers: Dale Jr., Tony Stewart, Chase Elliott among additions". foxsports.com. May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  7. ^ Hembree, Mike (April 6, 2023). "NASCAR to announce top 75 driver list beginning next week". nbcsports.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  8. ^ Miller-Still, Ray (April 17, 2023). "Kasey Kahne makes top 75 greatest NASCAR drivers list". The Courier-Herald. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "NASCAR 75: Honoring NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers … then revealing 25 more". NASCAR.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NASCAR%27s_75_Greatest_Drivers&oldid=1225306573"