NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers
NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers is a list of famous and successful NASCAR racing drivers.
In 1998, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, NASCAR set up a committee to determine the 50 greatest NASCAR drivers of all time. This endeavor was inspired in part by the list of the 50 best players in NBA history issued by the NBA on its 50th anniversary in 1996. An independent group of 50 people representing different roles in NASCAR were asked for their opinions on which drivers are among the 50 greatest in NASCAR history. Bill France Junior , President of NASCAR, said:
- "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. "
- German translation: “These are the men who shaped the competition in our sport. Your performance is the measure by which our history is identified. The way we honor you at the NASCAR 50th Anniversary Celebration is one way we show you our true appreciation for you and your invaluable contributions over the past 50 years. These are the drivers that NASCAR fans stand up for and cheer for. These are the drivers in NASCAR history. "
The surviving members of the group of drivers were honored on February 15, 1998 during the festivities marking the start of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway .
List of 50 greatest NASCAR drivers of all time (as of 1998)
* - Already died at the time of appointment.
| Surname | * | † | First race | Last race |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Allison | 1937 | 1961 | 1988 | |
| Davey Allison * | 1961 | 1993 | 1985 | 1993 |
| Buck Baker | 1919 | 2002 | 1949 | 1976 |
| Buddy Baker | 1941 | 2015 | 1959 | 1992 |
| Geoff Bodine | 1949 | 1979 | 2011 | |
| Neil Bonnett * | 1946 | 1994 | 1974 | 1993 |
| Red Byron * | 1915 | 1960 | 1949 | 1951 |
| Jerry Cook | 1943 | |||
| Dale Earnhardt | 1951 | 2001 | 1975 | 2001 |
| Ralph Earnhardt * | 1928 | 1973 | 1956 | 1964 |
| Bill Elliott | 1955 | 1976 | 2012 | |
| Richie Evans * | 1941 | 1985 | ||
| Red Farmer | 1953 | 1975 | ||
| Tim Flock | 1924 | 1998 | 1949 | 1961 |
| AJ Foyt | 1935 | 1963 | 1994 | |
| Harry Gant | 1940 | 1973 | 1994 | |
| Jeff Gordon | 1971 | 1992 | 2015 | |
| Ray Hendrick * | 1929 | 1990 | 1967 | 1974 |
| Jack Ingram | 1936 | 1982 | 1991 | |
| Ernie Irvan | 1959 | 1987 | 1999 | |
| Bobby Isaac * | 1932 | 1977 | 1961 | 1976 |
| Dale Jarrett | 1956 | 1984 | 2008 | |
| Ned Jarrett | 1932 | 1953 | 1966 | |
| Junior Johnson | 1931 | 1953 | 1966 | |
| Alan Kulwicki * | 1954 | 1993 | 1985 | 1993 |
| Terry Labonte | 1956 | 1978 | 2014 | |
| Fred Lorenzen | 1934 | 1956 | 1972 | |
| Tiny Lund * | 1929 | 1975 | 1955 | 1975 |
| Mark Martin | 1959 | 1981 | 2013 | |
| Hershel McGriff | 1927 | 1950 | 1993 | |
| Cotton Owens | 1924 | 2012 | 1950 | 1964 |
| Marvin Panch | 1926 | 1951 | 1966 | |
| Benny Parsons | 1941 | 2007 | 1963 | 1988 |
| David Pearson | 1934 | 2018 | 1960 | 1986 |
| Lee Petty | 1914 | 2000 | 1949 | 1964 |
| Richard Petty | 1937 | 1958 | 1992 | |
| Tim Richmond * | 1955 | 1989 | 1980 | 1987 |
| Fireball Roberts * | 1929 | 1964 | 1950 | 1964 |
| Ricky Rudd | 1956 | 1975 | 2007 | |
| Marshall Teague * | 1921 | 1959 | 1949 | 1952 |
| Herb Thomas | 1923 | 2000 | 1949 | 1962 |
| Curtis Turner * | 1924 | 1970 | 1949 | 1968 |
| Rusty Wallace | 1956 | 1980 | 2005 | |
| Darrell whale trip | 1947 | 1972 | 2000 | |
| Joe Weatherly * | 1922 | 1964 | 1952 | 1964 |
| Bob Welborn * | 1928 | 1997 | 1952 | 1964 |
| Rex White | 1929 | 1956 | 1964 | |
| Glen Wood | 1925 | 2019 | 1953 | 1964 |
| Cale Yarborough | 1939 | 1957 | 1988 | |
| LeeRoy Yarbrough * | 1938 | 1984 | 1960 | 1972 |