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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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FORT WORTH, TEXAS – APRIL 07: Team owner Richard Petty (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – APRIL 07: Team owner Richard Petty (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

#3 – Richard Petty’s 61 NASCAR Cup Series wins from pole

Richard Petty’s 61 career NASCAR Cup Series wins from pole over the course of his 35-year career in the sport sit atop the all-time wins from pole list in the history of the sport, and there are no other win from pole totals that are even close to his. There may never be another total in the sport’s future that even comes close, either.

Only one driver in the history of the Cup Series has a win from pole total that is more than half of the win from pole total that Petty has, and that driver was a part-time driver who never drove a full season in the Cup Series in his 28-year career.

That driver, David Pearson, won 37 of the 113 races he started from the pole position throughout his Cup Series career, a total that is only barely half of Petty’s total of 61. There are only three other drivers in the history of the sport whose overall pole totals are more than Petty’s win from pole total.

Among active drivers, 42-year-old Jimmie Johnson has the top win from pole total of 15 in 16 full seasons, so he literally has no chance catch and pass Petty in the wins from pole category.

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

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