Stock car racing is the most well-known sport of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). Not to mention that Stock Car Racing is a male-dominated sport, but imagine females competing in it; it’s quite a spectacle.
With that in mind, are you looking for the top Nascar drivers in the sport? Also, do you know what distinguishes a NASCAR driver as one of the best in history?
Don’t be concerned; you’ve come to the correct place. Here, we will discuss the top 12 best NASCAR drivers, their accomplishments, and career information. So, stay on to learn some fascinating facts about these fantastic NASCAR racers.
The World’s Top 12 NASCAR Drivers
The top 12 best NASCAR drivers, including both male and female drivers, are listed below.
| Rank | Names | Status |
| 1 | Richard Petty | Retired |
| 2 | David Pearson | Expired |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Expired |
| 4 | Jimmie Johnson | Inactive |
| 5 | Jeff Gordon | Retired |
| 6 | Danica Patrick | Retired |
| 7 | Junior Johnson | Expired |
| 8 | Patty Moise-Sawyer | Retired |
| 9 | Edward Glenn ‘Fireball’ Roberts Jr. | Expired |
| 10 | Shawna Robinson | Retired |
| 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Retired |
| 12 | Johanna Long | Inactive |
12. Johanna Long
Johanna Long is ranked 12th among all-time great NASCAR drivers. Long never ceases to amaze us when it comes to driving. Johanna, who was born in Pensacola, Florida, is a gorgeous and talented female NASCAR racer who started in the Camping World Truck Series in 2010 and made 24 starts.
Aside from regular-season events, she is the reigning Snowball Derby champion since 2010. In 2011, she began driving her family’s no.20 Toyota. Long finished in 21st place, earning her best World Truck Series points.
Similarly, her debut in the Xfinity Series in 2012 saw her make 41 starts and finish in 20th place.
11. Darrell Lee Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip is ranked 11th among NASCAR drivers on today’s list. Waltrip, on the other hand, is a retired driver. Waltrip was born on February 5, 1947, in Owensboro, Kentucky, United States.
To be more specific, Waltrip is a motorsports expert, author, former national television presenter, and former stock car driver from the United States.
Waltrip competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from 1972 to 2000, most notably driving the No.17 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
Until Jeff Gordon arrived, Darrell Waltrip was the only driver who could get under Dale Earnhardt’s thick skin, and Waltrip did it better. Similarly, Waltrip won 84 races in 29 years, with Budweiser as his primary sponsor.
Most noteworthy, Waltrip won the Winston Cup Series three times in 1981, 1982, and 1985.
10. Shawna Robinson
Shawna Robinson is the tenth best NASCAR driver of all time, according to today’s ranking. The retired American professional was a terrific competitor in all three NASCAR national touring series.
Robinson’s dedication, talent, and love for the sport have propelled her to where she is today. On November 30, 1964, in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Robinson was named the most popular driver in the Charlotte/Daytona Dash Series in 1988 and 1989.
She also raced in the Sprint Cup Series eight times in 1995. Similarly, her greatest finish was 52nd place in 2002, which is extremely intriguing. She also made 61 starts in the Xfinity Series in 1991.
9. Edward Glenn ‘Fireball’ Roberts Jr.
On today’s list, Edward Glenn Roberts Jr., commonly known as “Fireball,” is ranked ninth among the top NASCAR drivers. Being a Nascar driver was the best experience of his life.
Before this, Roberts was a baseball fanatic. The former professional American was born on January 20, 1929, in Tavares, Florida, USA.
Roberts had been in the sport for nearly 15 years.
He won 33 races while being sponsored by Depaolo Engineering. Furthermore, he was named the most popular driver in the Grand National Series in 1957. Unfortunately, Glenn Roberts passed away on July 2, 1964, at the age of 35, in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States.
Complications from a racing crash on May 24, 1964, during the 1964 World 600, contributed to his death.
8. Patty Moise-Sawyer
Patty Moise-Sawyer, a former NASCAR racer, is ranked eighth on the list of the top NASCAR drivers. But, maybe most importantly, she is the wife of Elton Sawyer, a former NASCAR driver.
Patty Moise was born on December 29, 1960, in Jacksonville, Florida. Moise competed in several notable races during her professional racing career.
She also competed in five Winston Cup Series races from 1987 to 1989, as well as 133 Busch Series races from 1986 to 1998. Similarly, she competed in 133 NASCAR Xfinity Series races over 12 years, finishing 22nd in 1990.
Similarly, she competed in 5 NASCAR Cup Series races over three years, finishing 59th in 1988. In addition, Micheal Waltrip Racing purchased Patty Moise’s squad and signed her to drive the vehicle in 1998.
Despite finishing in the top ten at Bristol, she finished 37th in points, which was somewhat troubling. She hasn’t raced in NASCAR since.
7. Junior Johnson
Robert Glenn Johnson Jr., better known as Junior Johnson, was an American NASCAR driver in the 1950s and 1960s. During his professional career, the American NASCAR great won 50 NASCAR races before retiring in 1966.
In addition, in the 1970s and 1980s, he owned a NASCAR racing team. Johnson is also credited with popularizing the drafting tactic in stock car racing. He was dubbed “The Last American Hero” because of his legacy.
6. Danica Patrick
Danica Sue Patrick is an American former professional racing driver who is now ranked sixth in NASCAR. Not to add that Patrick is the most successful woman in American racing history.
Above importantly, her success in the 2008 Indy Japan 300 is the only time a woman has won an IndyCar Series race. Patrick also raced in five Barber Dodge Pro Series races in 2002.
She later raced in the Toyota Atlantic Series for two years in a row. Finally, Patrick became the first woman to earn a pole position in the 2004 season. Similarly, in 2015, Patrick broke the Sprint Cup Series record for the most top-ten finishes by a woman.
She did, however, retire after the 2018 Daytona 500 and the 2018 Indianapolis 500.
5. Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael Gordon is a former professional stock car racing driver from the United States who is now the CEO of Hendrick Motorsports and a Fox NASCAR broadcaster.
In terms of his racing career, Gordon raced professionally from 1993 to 2015. During his professional career in the former NASCAR Winston Cup Series and Sprint Cup Series, he drove the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
During the 2016 season, Gordon also filled in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in a few races.
He is widely recognized as one of NASCAR’s most influential and talented drivers.
4. Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is the fourth-ranked American professional car racing driver and is regarded as one of the top NASCAR racers in the world.
Johnson also races for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NTT IndyCar Series on his Honda. He is also a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. From 2002 through 2020, he raced full-time in his Chevrolet.
Johnson’s accomplishments and victories have led many observers to rank him as one of the greatest and best NASCAR drivers of all time. Aside from that, he is a two-time Daytona 500 winner (2006 and 2013).
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr., an American professional stock car driver, and team owner is regarded as one of the best NASCAR drivers of all time. He is an extraordinary talent in the sport and is ranked third on today’s list.
In terms of his professional career, he raced in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1975 to 2001. As a racer for Richard Childress Racing, his No. 3 Chevrolet was a symbolic figure on the track.
As strange as it may sound, the number three appears to have lingered with him from beginning to end because, despite his third ranking and the renowned No. 3 Chevy, he was also the third kid among his siblings.
Earnhardt won 76 Winston Cup races throughout his 26-year professional career. Furthermore, he is the first driver in NASCAR’s modern era to have won at least one race in each of four separate decades.
2. David Pearson
David Gene Pearson, the second-ranking famous NASCAR figure, was an American stock car driver and champion. He was regarded as one of the top NASCAR drivers, racing professionally in the NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series from 1960 to 1986.
Pearson was most known for driving the No. 21 Mercury for Wood Brothers Racing. He also won the NASCAR Rookie of the Year award in 1960, as well as three Cup Series championships in 1966, 1968, and 1969.
When it came to racing, however, he never missed a beat. Pearson competed in every race he entered throughout his career. Pearson was so dedicated to the sport that NASCAR designated his 1974 season as evidence of his “consistent greatness.”
1. Richard Petty
There isn’t a single individual who isn’t familiar with this name in the world of stock car racing. Richard Lee Petty, dubbed “The King,” is an American former stock car racing legend and the best NASCAR driver.
This legend raced in the (old) NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series from 1958 to 1992. Most significantly, Petty’s No. 43 Plymouth/Pontiac was the most recognizable and well-liked car on the track.
Petty was also the first NASCAR driver to win the Cup Series championship seven times. In addition, he won 200 races, including the Daytona 500. (seven times).
To be more specific, Petty is the most accomplished driver in NASCAR history, as well as one of the most revered people in the motorsports industry.
Conclusion
As the sun rises after setting, new talent is born in the sport in the days ahead. Richard Petty may be the best NASCAR driver in the world, but another legend may one day overtake him and spread their legacy. Follow us on our daily postings and material for comparable topics.
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