Choosing the all-time greats of any sport is one of the hardest things to do. When it comes to Motorsports, it’s one of the hardest things to do. The technological development over the years makes it hard to conduct a fair assessment. But there will always be a generational talent who dominates his competitors until his successor comes up.
The case is similar in NASCAR as well. The premier stock car racing championship has seen 3,047 drivers making their debut, 35 of them have won the premier cup championship, and 203 have won at least a cup race event. The drivers who won the championship are only sometimes the best around, as there are drivers like Mark Martin and Denny Hamlin with a record number of wins but no championships.
Ok.
Earnhardt Sr
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) December 6, 2022
Cale Yarborough
Pearson
Jimmie Jam
Petty
Jeff Gordon
Kyle Busch
Bobby Allison
Waltrip
Harvick
Three drives will always be in the Top 10 list regardless of who is making it, and they are Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson. All three of them have seven cup championships each. An accolade that can never be overlooked. Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of the modern-day greats of the sport, was asked to list his top-5 all-time greatest NASCAR drivers by cup driver Corey LaJoie. Jr instead gave an all-time top-10 list that has two active drivers.
The list starts with his father, Dale Earnhardt, at the top, followed by Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Jimmie Jam (Johnson), Richard Petty (the King), Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Bobby Allison, his former teammate Michael Waltrip and Kevin Harvick.
How did NASCAR fans react to Dale Jr.’s list in 2022?
The list by Dale Earnhardt Jr. seems solid, as it recognizes the top athletes who made this sport great. But, he did miss out on some important figures such as three-time cup champions Tony Stewart and Mark Martin. Etc. Some fans were surprised to see Kevin Harvick on the list as they don’t see him making the top 10. Few also shred their distaste for the addition of Michael Waltrip.
Dale was already in the cup series for 20 years at that point your talking about the final 5 years of his career…guys start to decline at that age and jeff was in his prime. It would be like wizards Jordan vs prime Lebron
— Tim Manzella (@1liTjm) December 6, 2022
Nascar Champion
60 wins
Daytona 500 champ
3 time brickyard champ
2 time Southern 500 champ
2 time Coke 600 champ
All star winnerYou name the accolade in the sport and Kevin Harvick has accomplished it. Most several times. Plus top 10 all time in wins. He’s there. Easily.
— Mike Champagne (@M_Champ4) December 6, 2022
No he didn’t. He wasn’t around long enough to say whether or not he was one of the best ever
— Bradley Karnes (@BradleyKarnes13) December 7, 2022
What exactly do you mean "does Kyle Busch have the Kevin harvick stats"? They have the same number of wins, and Kyle has one more championship…
— Joe Benoit (@BostonBlueMoon) December 8, 2022
This is a solid list. Born in 1971 I grew up in the stands at Charlotte Motor Speedway when that was its name. Fell asleep as a child in the middle of The 600. Bobby Allison remains my favorite driver ever. My family HATED Petty but watching these icons race was truly an honor.
— Chambermaid to Wulfie & Neville Mr Longbottom (@agador4) December 8, 2022
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