Beyond the Flag
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NASCAR Cup Series: Who is the greatest driver of all-time?

By Asher Fair

11 Feb 1999: A general view of the Gatorade 125''s race two start during the NASCAR Daytona 500 Speedweek at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. Mandatory Credit: David Taylor /Allsport
11 Feb 1999: A general view of the Gatorade 125''s race two start during the NASCAR Daytona 500 Speedweek at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. Mandatory Credit: David Taylor /Allsport /
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CONCORD, NC – JANUARY 27: NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee David Pearson poses with the #21 Motorcraft Ford (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)
CONCORD, NC – JANUARY 27: NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee David Pearson poses with the #21 Motorcraft Ford (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR) /

David Pearson

David Pearson is the only NASCAR Cup Series driver and probably the only athlete in any sport who is even relatively close to being in the discussion as the greatest of all-time without ever having completing a full season of competition, and he is not only relatively close to being in the discussion; he is very much in the discussion.

Throughout his 28-year Cup Series career, Pearson never drove in every race of a season. In fact, in only 12 of his 28 seasons of Cup Series competition did he compete in more than half of the season’s races.

However, Pearson’s career Cup Series win total of 105 is the second highest on the all-time wins list, and it is the only win total that is more than half of that of the driver whose win total is the top win total of all-time. He earned these 105 victories in 574 career starts despite the fact that a total of 1,096 races were contested throughout the 28 seasons during which he competed.

In three of his 12 seasons as a driver who competed in more than half of the season’s races, the 1976 Daytona 500 winner won the championship. In fact, he won his three championships in a four-year span, and he earned a combined total of 42 victories in his three championship seasons. Of the 152 races that were contested during these three seasons, he competed in 141 of them.

Keep in mind the fact that when Pearson was missing races, winning races and winning championships, there were no “waivers” for missed races.

Who else can be considered the greatest NASCAR Cup Series driver of all-time?

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