NASCAR co-GOATs? Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt tie in championship poll

By Asher Fair | Feb 1, 2019

A mural with portraits of racing drivers Dale Earnhardt (left) and Richard Petty, surrounded by the text: 'Welcome Race Fans', at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, 24th August 2001. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Allsport/Getty Images) /

A total of 896 people voted in the championship round of the NASCAR “GOAT” poll. Of these 896 people, 448 voted for Richard Petty and 448 voted for Dale Earnhardt Sr.

After they each defeated three other NASCAR drivers in the round of 16, the round of 8 and the round of 4 of the NASCAR “GOAT” poll, respectively, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. advanced to the championship round.

Seeding for the 16 drivers who were involved in this poll over the past few weeks was determined by a mathematical formula that is based on two variables, championships and race victories. Championship count as 10 points each while race victories count as one point each.

As a result, Petty entered the bracket as the #1 seed while Earnhardt entered it as the #3 seed. Petty’s seven NASCAR Cup Series championships and 200 NASCAR Cup Series victories gave him 270 points while Earnhardt’s seven NASCAR Cup Series championships and 76 NASCAR Cup Series victories gave him 146 points.

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The only driver who was seeded between these two championship participants was Jimmie Johnson, who entered the bracket as the #2 seed as a result of the fact that his seven NASCAR Cup Series championships and 83 NASCAR Cup Series victories gave him 153 points.

Earnhardt defeated Johnson quite soundly (78% to 22%) in the round of 4 after defeating #14 Rusty Wallace quite soundly in the round of 16 (87% to 13%) and then defeating #6 Darrell Waltrip quite soundly in the round of 8 (88% to 12%). Meanwhile, Petty defeated #5 Jeff Gordon (60% to 40%) in the round of 4 after defeating #16 Tim Flock quite soundly in the round of 16 (98% to 2%) and the defeating #8 Bobby Allison quite soundly in the round of 8 (85% to 15%).

A total of 896 people voted in the championship poll between Petty and Earnhardt. Had that total been 895 or 897 people, the result would have been different — guaranteed.

The proof?

Of these 896 people, 448 voted for Petty as the greatest NASCAR driver of all-time. The remaining 448 people voted for Earnhardt as the greatest NASCAR driver of all-time.

With all things considered, it really wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Petty and Earnhardt are the NASCAR “co-GOATs”. However, there will be a tiebreaker in this particular case. And if that tiebreaker doesn’t work, there will be another tiebreaker — and so on.

All of the polls throughout this entire “GOAT” poll process have lasted for exactly 24 hours — from 6:00 a.m. ET on one day through 6:00 a.m. ET on the next.

However, this championship tiebreaker poll is set to last for one week. It is scheduled to begin on our Facebook page at 6:00 a.m. ET on Monday, February 4, and it is scheduled to end at 6:00 a.m. ET on Monday, February 11.

Our plan is to provide updates throughout this seven-day span not only to keep you updated but to encourage those who have not yet voted to vote.

It is set to be run the exact same way that all of the other polls throughout this process, which has included not only NASCAR polls but Formula 1 polls and IndyCar polls as well, have been run, so be sure to vote in it.

Your vote could literally make the difference!

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Thank you to all of the fans who have voted at any point throughout this process thus far! Be sure to vote for either Richard Petty or Dale Earnhardt Sr. as the greatest NASCAR driver of all-time at some point between Monday, February 4 at 6:00 a.m. ET and Monday, February 11 at 6:00 a.m. ET as well!

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