# The 29 Greatest NASCAR Cup Series Drivers of All Time

> Seven-time champions share the grid with one-off giants and short-track heroes from every era of stock car racing.

*By YPB Team · Published October 21, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-29-greatest-nascar-cup-series-drivers-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Jimmie Johnson** — score 1000/1000
   Won a record-tying seven titles, five of them in a row (2006-2010).
2. **Dale Earnhardt** — score 814/1000
   The Intimidator, seven-time champion who died at Daytona in 2001.
3. **Denny Hamlin** — score 745/1000
   Multiple Daytona 500 winner with dozens of wins but no title yet.
4. **Fred Lorenzen** — score 745/1000
   Golden Boy of the 1960s with 26 wins in a short career.
5. **Davey Allison** — score 683/1000
   Rising star who won 19 races before his death in 1993.
6. **Chase Elliott** — score 660/1000
   2020 champion and multiple-time Most Popular Driver.
7. **Jeff Gordon** — score 660/1000
   Four-time champion who modernized NASCAR's stock car image.
8. **Bobby Allison** — score 610/1000
   Hall of Famer with 84 wins and the 1983 title, leader of the Alabama Gang.
9. **Dale Earnhardt Jr.** — score 553/1000
   Fan favorite and two-time Daytona 500 winner carrying a famous name.
10. **Bobby Isaac** — score 553/1000
   1970 champion known for his record pole count.
11. **Martin Truex Jr.** — score 488/1000
   2017 champion who peaked late in his career at Furniture Row and Joe Gibbs.
12. **Darrell Waltrip** — score 488/1000
   Three-time champion and 84-time winner, famous for his brashness.
13. **Buck Baker** — score 488/1000
   First driver to win back-to-back Cup titles in 1956-57.
14. **Kevin Harvick** — score 413/1000
   2014 champion and 60-time winner who replaced Earnhardt at Richard Childress Racing.
15. **Kyle Busch** — score 413/1000
   Two-time champion with the most wins of any active driver.
16. **Red Byron** — score 325/1000
   Champion of the first NASCAR season in 1949.
17. **Bill Elliott** — score 325/1000
   Awesome Bill from Dawsonville, 1988 champion and speedway record setter.
18. **Ryan Blaney** — score 325/1000
   2023 champion and a Penske stalwart.
19. **Cale Yarborough** — score 325/1000
   Only driver to win three straight Cup championships in the 1970s.
20. **Tony Stewart** — score 325/1000
   Three-time champion known for his fierce versatility across racing series.
21. **Rusty Wallace** — score 325/1000
   1989 champion with 55 wins and a long run at Penske.
22. **Ricky Rudd** — score 222/1000
   Won a race in 16 straight seasons from 1983 to 1998.
23. **Joey Logano** — score 222/1000
   Three-time champion known for clutch playoff performances.
24. **Buddy Baker** — score 222/1000
   Hall of Famer and 1980 Daytona 500 winner, a superspeedway master.
25. **Brad Keselowski** — score 222/1000
   2012 champion and Roger Penske's longtime star.
26. **Kurt Busch** — score 222/1000
   2004 champion and 2017 Daytona 500 winner.
27. **Carl Edwards** — score 222/1000
   Backflipping winner who fell one point short of the 2011 title.
28. **Mark Martin** — score 0/1000
   Perennial title contender with 40 wins who never won the championship.
29. **Matt Kenseth** — score 0/1000
   2003 champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner.

Tags: usa, racing, drivers, nascar, motorsport