# The 18 Greatest American Racing Drivers of All Time

> Ovals, road courses, dirt tracks and stock cars each produced their own kind of great. Pick the record you would defend in an argument.

*By YPB Team · Published August 19, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-18-greatest-american-racing-drivers-of-all-time*

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## Current results (4 votes)

1. **A.J. Foyt** — 50% (2 votes · score 1000/1000)
   Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner who also took Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring.
2. **Mario Andretti** — 50% (2 votes · score 855/1000)
   The only driver to win the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500 and the Formula 1 world championship.
3. **Richard Petty** — 0% (0 votes · score 610/1000)
   The King of NASCAR, with a record 200 Cup wins and seven championships.
4. **Dale Earnhardt** — 0% (0 votes · score 553/1000)
   Seven-time NASCAR champion whose black No. 3 defined stock-car racing in the 1980s and 90s.
5. **Mark Donohue** — 0% (0 votes · score 553/1000)
   Won the 1972 Indianapolis 500 and dominated Trans-Am and Can-Am for Penske.
6. **Rick Mears** — 0% (0 votes · score 488/1000)
   Four Indianapolis 500 wins and six poles for Penske.
7. **Jeff Gordon** — 0% (0 votes · score 488/1000)
   Four NASCAR titles and 93 Cup wins, the driver who took stock cars mainstream.
8. **Dan Gurney** — 0% (0 votes · score 488/1000)
   Won grands prix, Indy cars, NASCAR and Le Mans, and built his own Eagle F1 car.
9. **Jimmie Johnson** — 0% (0 votes · score 413/1000)
   Won five straight NASCAR championships and seven in total.
10. **Bobby Allison** — 0% (0 votes · score 413/1000)
   Alabama Gang leader with 84 NASCAR wins and the 1983 title.
11. **Bobby Unser** — 0% (0 votes · score 413/1000)
   Three-time Indy 500 winner and a master of Pikes Peak.
12. **Tony Stewart** — 0% (0 votes · score 413/1000)
   Won titles in IndyCar and NASCAR, then built a sprint-car empire.
13. **David Pearson** — 0% (0 votes · score 325/1000)
   The Silver Fox, with 105 NASCAR wins from barely half a career of full seasons.
14. **Al Unser Sr.** — 0% (0 votes · score 325/1000)
   One of only four men with four Indianapolis 500 victories.
15. **Phil Hill** — 0% (0 votes · score 222/1000)
   The first American to win the Formula 1 world championship, with Ferrari in 1961.
16. **Parnelli Jones** — 0% (0 votes · score 222/1000)
   First man to qualify at Indianapolis above 150 mph, and the 1963 winner.
17. **Al Unser Jr.** — 0% (0 votes · score 222/1000)
   Two-time Indy 500 winner and CART champion, the third Unser to conquer the Brickyard.
18. **Cale Yarborough** — 0% (0 votes · score 98/1000)
   The only driver to win three consecutive NASCAR championships.

Tags: usa, racing, drivers, legends, motorsport