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 75th anniversary of NASCAR.
History In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to select the "50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time". 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. 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.
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 Source for lists:
1998 list of 50 drivers
Bobby Allison*Davey Allison†*Buck Baker*Buddy Baker*Geoff BodineNeil Bonnett†Red Byron†*Jerry Cook*Dale Earnhardt*Ralph Earnhardt† Bill Elliott*Richie Evans†*Red Farmer*Tim Flock*A. J. FoytHarry 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 PanchBenny 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 BiffleJeff Burton*Kurt Busch*Kyle Busch Dale Earnhardt Jr.*Carl Edwards*Chase Elliott #Denny Hamlin #Kevin Harvick* Ron Hornaday Jr.*Jimmie Johnson *#Kasey KahneMatt Kenseth*Brad Keselowski # Bobby Labonte*Randy LaJoieKyle Larson #Joey Logano #Sterling Marlin Ryan NewmanLarry Phillips†*Mike Stefanik†*Tony Stewart*Martin Truex Jr.
† = Deceased at the time of list announcement# = Driver currently active in NASCAR on full or part-time basis as of the 2026 NASCAR season* = NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee (opened 2010)
See also 1998 in NASCAR 2023 in NASCAR List of all-time NASCAR Cup Series winners List of members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame List of NASCAR champions
References
External links
NASCAR.com's listing (Archived link) The Inside Groove.com – Historical NASCAR Image Gallery NASCAR official site's article of 75 Greatest Drivers