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Racing: Top 10 most unbreakable records across Formula One, NASCAR and IndyCar

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 31: Balloons are launched in the air past the pagoda prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 31, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 31: Balloons are launched in the air past the pagoda prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 31, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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JOLIET, IL – SEPTEMBER 15: NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Petty (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
JOLIET, IL – SEPTEMBER 15: NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Petty (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /

#4 – Richard Petty’s 123 NASCAR Cup Series poles

Richard Petty’s 123 career NASCAR Cup Series poles over the course of his 35-year career in the sport sit atop the all-time poles list in the history of the sport, and while there is one pole total that is somewhat close to his, there may never be another total in the sport’s future that gets close, much less approaches and passes his.

Only three other drivers in the history of the Cup Series have pole totals that are more than half of the pole total that Petty has. The closest driver to Petty on that list is David Pearson, who started 113 races from the pole position over the course of his 28-year career in the sport despite never driving a full season.

Among active drivers, 40-year-old Ryan Newman has the top pole total of 51 in 16 full seasons in the sport, so he is not in the running to catch and pass Petty in the poles category.

Among drivers who are not likely to retire within five years of Newman, Kyle Busch probably has the best chance to finish his Cup Series career with the highest pole total. Busch, 32, has 27 career poles to his name so far through 13 seasons of full-time Cup Series competition. However, this means that he is also realistically nowhere near having a chance to catch and pass Petty in the poles category.

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