Who is the greatest NASCAR driver of all times?! (Past or present)?

Answer 1

Presently, I would have to go for Jimmy Johnson, Matt Kenseth, and Jeff Gordon. Although I am not a fan of 2 of the names, it's hard to doubt their talents behind the wheel.

Past, I would go with David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Tim Richmond. Not many people know who Tim was, but if you ever saw 'Day's of Thunder', then you watched a movie based on he and his then Crew Chief Harry Hyde. Unfortunately, Tim died on August 13th 1989 and never had the opportunity to ever see the film.

His life and career, along with Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki, Joe Weatherly, Dale Sr, Adam Petty, Rob Moroso, Fireball Roberts, Kenny Erwin, and many others, will forever be pondered as to what might have been, had he not passed on so soon.

Everyone has their own opinions, so each answer here is correct! It's always nice answering questions like this one, especially when over 35 others also chipped in their advice.

Answer 2

David Pearson.

He won the championship 3 of the 4 times he tried. Finished 3rd the year he didn't win. In 1974, competed in only 19 of 30 races and finished 3rd again. If you want to see domination by a few drivers, take a look at the 1974 season via the link provided.

Only 5 drivers won races that year and 4 won multiple races that year. Petty (10), Pearson (7), Allison (2) and Yarborough (10).

Who won the other race? Some dude named Earl Ross, who won at Marty with a 2 year old car. Yarborough lost an engine on lap 421 of 500. Petty lost an engine 22 laps in and Pearson wasn't there.

Pearson competed in 574 races over 27 years, won 105, 301 Top 5 and 366 Top 10 with 113 Poles.

Petty doen't even come in the picture as a lot of his wins were against far less than a full field and many of his 7 championships were under some very strange point systems. Systems where he could finish back in the pack and score more points than the winner.

Earnhardt on the other hand won his 7 Titles under one system, a system that awarded consistancy and winnings were not counted using a "formula" in a convoluted points system.

Earnhardt is in the top 3 all-time, right behind Pearson and ahead of Cale Yarborough.

Gordon is well outside the Top Ten all time, however his car definitely is among the best all time.

Answer 3

Petty Pearson Earnhardt Gordon Bobby Allison putting Junior in this checklist is only blasphemous. There are Soooo many extra drivers previous and latest who're or have been extra clever than Junior. He does not even make the coolest 20. (Mark Martin, Darrell Waltrip, invoice Elliot, Tony Stewart, Jimmy Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Davey Allison, Ernie Irvin, Rusty Wallace, Alan Kulwickie, Cale Yarborough, Terry and Bobby LaBontie, Harry Gant, Dale Jarrett, and many extra drivers might nicely be positioned in this checklist until now Junior's call comes close to to appearing.)

Answer 4

I say it's Dale Earnhardt. Both him and Richard Petty racked up 7 Winston Cup Championships, and although Petty has 200 wins, Dale raced entirely in the modern era, where there is only between 30-36 races a year. Back when Petty won most of his races, he would race more than 70 times a year. Earnhardt's wins and championships came when the greatest talents were racing against him. NASCAR's popularity was growing, so the best drivers in the country would race in NASCAR, not in the local short track series, like they did when Richard Petty raced and won most of his races.

Answer 5

David Pearson. The Silver Fox was not a dirty driver and didn't try to beat the other guys all the time but got the best finish he could. He would pick his spots, race the race track and lay back until it was go time. When the white flag dropped he was usually somewhere near the front with a chance to win. He wasn't the big imposing ego or personality like Sr or Petty but he was more dominant on the track and has a higher winning percentage than either of them.

Answer 6

I think my vote would ahve to go to Richard Petty. His popularity really helped make the sport what it is today. He drove a true Stock car and he was the driver, not just the pilot with someone telling him every move to make. When Nascar really needed a personality to help make it what it is now it starts with Petty, next in line personality and the quality to pick up the sport on its back would be Sr.

Answer 7

Richard Petty of course, He drove against the best drivers in a real Stock Car. In 79 at Daytona , the Imitator couldn't keep up.

Answer 8

Richard Petty

Answer 9

Dale Earnhardt

Answer 10

Well.....Richard Petty has the wins. Earnhardt Sr. has the popularity. DW has the personality. But when you look at how tough it is to win today,and the diverse types of tracks that run on. There are only 2 current drivers that can win at any track or type on the circit. Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. The most sucsessful being Jeff Gordon. In the end it will be him.....