NASCAR: Top 10 active drivers from an all-time perspective

By Asher Fair | Aug 16, 2017

MARTINSVILLE, VA - APRIL 02: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, leads Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Tide Pods Toyota, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

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BROOKLYN, MI – AUGUST 11: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s/Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 11, 2017 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

BROOKLYN, MI – AUGUST 11: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s/Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 11, 2017 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

#1 – Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet

Jimmie Johnson, 41, is #1 in these rankings as the top active driver from an all-time perspective, and there is no one else even relatively close to him. His total of seven championships is tied with the totals of all-time greats Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most in NASCAR history, and he may not be done winning titles quite yet.

Currently in his 16th full-time season in the Cup Series, Johnson has won seven of the past 11 championships, including five in a row at one point, and is the defending champion of the sport at this very moment. Since Hendrick Motorsports recently signed him through the 2020 season, he could very well add to his championship total before he retires, which may not even be in 2020.

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His total of seven championships is also higher than the totals of all other active drivers combined. The five drivers from #2 through #6 in these rankings are the only other active former champions, and they have all won one championship each, giving them five titles combined, a total that is still not greater than Johnson’s seven that he has won on his own in just 15 full-time seasons.

Johnson’s total of 83 victories is tied for the 6th highest amount among all drivers in NASCAR history, and it is a total that is greater than twice the amount of total victories of any other active driver. The next highest win total of an active driver is 39, a total that belongs to 2015 champion Kyle Busch, who is #2 in these rankings.

This illustrates the fact that no active driver is even close to Johnson’s level from an all-time perspective, and until he retires, there will likely be no one that takes over or even comes close to taking over this #1 spot.

Next: NASCAR Driver Power Rankings after Michigan

Which active Cup Series drivers do you think have been the best throughout their careers? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow Beyond the Flag on both Instagram and Twitter. Also, don’t forget to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it.