Beyond the Flag
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
BRISTOL, TN – AUGUST 17: Team owner Richard Petty (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BRISTOL, TN – AUGUST 17: Team owner Richard Petty (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Richard Petty

Richard Petty makes it almost impossible to consider anyone else in the discussion as the greatest NASCAR Cup Series driver of all-time. A large majority of NASCAR fans consider “The King” to be the greatest driver in the sport’s history, and for good reason.

Petty became the first driver to win four Cup Series championships when he won his fourth title in the 1972 season, and he went on to become the first driver to win five, six and seven championships in the 1974, 1975 and 1979 seasons, respectively. He is one of only three drivers who have earned seven career Cup Series titles. He won his seven championships in a 16-year span.

More from NASCAR Cup Series

Petty drove in 1,184 races over the course of his Cup Series career, and he earned 200 victories throughout those races. No other driver has earned more than 105 victories throughout his Cup Series career, and there is really not much of a chance that anyone well ever come close to accomplishing what Petty accomplished.

As far as unbreakable records go, Petty’s career win total is just one of them. He earned 27 victories in a single season, and the next closest win total in a single season not earned by him is 16. He earned 123 pole positions and 61 wins from the pole position, and he also won the Daytona 500 on seven different occasions.

If anybody, including present drivers and future drivers, ever even comes close to breaking any of Petty’s records, that driver will undoubtedly be in the discussion as the best driver or best driver of his or her generation, possible even the undisputed best driver of his or her generation.

Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark

Which of these five drivers do you believe it is easiest to make a case for as the greatest NASCAR Cup Series driver of all-time? Do you believe that there are any other drivers for whom you could make a case for as the greatest driver in the history of the sport?

Home/NASCAR Cup Series