NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers is a list of NASCAR drivers. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ...

In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to select "The 50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time." It was inspired in part by the NBA's decision to select the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History on its 50th anniversary in 1996. An independent group of 50 individuals representing various NASCAR roles were asked to give their objective and educated opinions on who the 50 greatest drivers in NASCAR history were. To quote Bill France, president of NASCAR: Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... A committee is a (relatively) small group that can serve one of several functions: Governance: in organizations too large for all the members to participate in decisions affecting the organization as a whole, a committee (such as a Board of Directors) is given the power to make decisions. ... “NBA” redirects here. ... The 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball Association History (also referred to as the NBAs 50th Anniversary All-Time Team) were chosen in 1996 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). ...

"These are the men who define the competition of our sport. Their accomplishments are the benchmark that much of our history is identified by. Honoring them in this way, at the beginning of the NASCAR 50th Anniversary celebration, is one way of showing our true appreciation for them and the invaluable contribution they have given over the past 50 years. These are the drivers who made and make NASCAR fans stand on their feet and cheer. These are the drivers who are NASCAR history."

The living members of this group were honored on February 15, 1998 during pre-race festivities for the 1998 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap, 500 mile (805 km) NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. ... Daytona International Speedway is a superspeedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. ...

List of The 50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time (as of 1998)

* - Deceased at time of announcement.

• Bobby Allison
• Davey Allison*
• Buddy Baker
• Buck Baker
• Geoff Bodine
• Neil Bonnett*
• Red Byron*
• Jerry Cook
• Dale Earnhardt
• Ralph Earnhardt*
• Bill Elliott
• Richie Evans*
• Red Farmer
• Tim Flock
• A.J. Foyt
• Harry Gant
• Carl Edwards
• Ray Hendrick*
• Jack Ingram
• Bobby Isaac*
• Ernie Irvan
• Dale Jarrett
• Ned Jarrett
• Junior Johnson
• Alan Kulwicki*
• Terry Labonte
• Fred Lorenzen
• Tiny Lund*
• Mark Martin
• Hershel McGriff
• Cotton Owens
• Marvin Panch
• Benny Parsons
• David Pearson
• Richard Petty
• Lee Petty
• Tim Richmond*
• Fireball Roberts*
• Ricky Rudd
• Marshall Teague*
• Herb Thomas*
• Curtis Turner*
• Rusty Wallace
• Darrell Waltrip
• Joe Weatherly*
• Bob Welborn*
• Rex White
• Glen Wood
• Cale Yarborough
• LeeRoy Yarbrough*

Bobby Allison (born December 3, 1937) was one of the first NASCAR drivers and was named one of NASCARs 50 greatest drivers. ... David Carl Davey Allison (February 25, 1961 - July 13, 1993) was a NASCAR race car driver, best known as the driver of the Robert Yates Racing #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford. ... Elzie Wylie Buddy Baker, Jr. ... The Legend Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. ... Geoffrey Bodine (born April 18, 1949 in Chemung, New York) is the oldest of the three Bodine brothers (Brett Bodine and Todd Bodine) who are all NASCAR drivers. ... Neil Bonnett (July 30, 1946 - February 11, 1994) was a NASCAR driver who compiled 18 victories and 20 poles over his 18-year career. ... Robert Red Byron (March 12, 1915 - November 11, 1960) was a NASCAR driver who was successful as the series began. ... Jerry Cook (born in Rome, New York) is a NASCAR championship racing car driver. ... This article is about the elder Dale Earnhardt. ... Ralph Earnhardt (died 1973) was a NASCAR racing legend and father of Dale Earnhardt. ... Bill Elliott car that set the record for the fastest recorded time in a stock car - 212. ... Richard Ernest Evans (b. ... Charles Red Farmer (October 15, 1931 or [[October 15}}, 1932- was a racecar driver. ... Tim Flock was one of NASCARs early pioneers. ... A. J. Foyt (born January 16, 1935) is considered by many as the greatest race car driver of all time. ... Harry Gant Harry Phil Gant (born January 10, 1940 in Taylorsville, North Carolina) is best known for driving the number 33 Skoal Bandits car on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit. ... Carl Michael Edwards, II (born August 15, 1979) is a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and Busch Series driver for Roush Fenway Racing. ... Ray Hendrick (born April 1, 1929, died September 28, 1990), was known as Mr. ... Jack Ingram is a former race car driver in the NASCAR Busch Series. ... Bobby Isaac (born August 1, 1932 or 1934, the exact year is disputed - died August 14, 1977) is a former NASCAR Grand National (now Nextel Cup) Series champion. ... Ernie Irvan (born January 13, 1959 in Salinas, California) is a former race car driver in NASCAR. Wife: Kim Baker Irvan Married: November 21, 1992 Children: Jordan (August 12, 1993), Jared (February 9, 1998) Parents: Vic & Jo Irvan Career highlights 15 career NASCAR Winston Cup victories 22 career NASCAR Winston... Dale Arnold Jarrett (born November 26, 1956 in Newton, North Carolina) is an American race car driver. ... Ned Jarrett (born October 12, 1932 in Newton, North Carolina) was a two-time NASCAR champion. ... Robert Glen Johnson, Jr. ... Alan Kulwicki (December 14, 1954 - April 1, 1993) was an American NASCAR driver. ... Terry Labonte, on the right, shows the frame of a race car in 2005, courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard. ... Fred Lorenzon (born December 30, 1934 in Elmhurst, Illinois), was a former NASCAR driver. ... DeWayne Louis Lund (November 14, 1929-August 17, 1975), affectionally known as Tiny due to his rather large and imposing size, was born in Harlan, Iowa, and started racing at a young age - first motorcycles, then trying his hand at sprints and midgets. ... 2006 car Mark Anthony Martin (born January 9, 1959 in Batesville, Arkansas) is a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver for Ginn Racing, driving the #01 U.S. Army Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS/Impala, and is also a part-time driver in the Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series for Hendrick... Hershel McGriff won three races during his brief career in the NASCAR Grand National Series. ... Everett Cotton Owens the King of the Modifieds (born May 21, 1924 at Union, South Carolina) was a NASCAR driver. ... Marvin Panch (born May 28, 1926, in Menomonie, Wisconsin) is a former NASCAR driver. ... Benny Parsons (born July 12, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan, currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina) is an American NASCAR announcer/analyst on NBC and TNT. He became famous as the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup (now NEXTEL Cup) champion. ... David Pearson (born December 22, 1934 in Whitney, South Carolina) is a former American NASCAR racecar champion. ... Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937) is an American former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver. ... Lee Petty (March 14, 1914 (near Randleman, North Carolina) - April 5, 2000) was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 60s. ... Tim Richmond (June 7, 1955 - August 13, 1989) was an American NASCAR race car driver. ... Edward Glenn Fireball Roberts, Jr. ... Ricky Rudd in 2005, courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Ricky Rudd racing at the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. ... Marshall Teague (February 17, 1922 - February 11, 1959) was an American race car driver. ... Herbert Watson Thomas (April 6, 1923–August 9, 2000) was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series most successful drivers in the 1950s. ... Curtis Turner (born April 12, 1924 in Floyd, Virginia - died October 14, 1970) was an early NASCAR driver. ... Russell William Rusty Wallace (born August 14, 1956 in Fenton, Missouri) is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Busch Series car owner, and television broadcaster with ESPN and ESPN on ABC. Wallace had his first live broadcast of the Indy 500 on May 28, 2006. ... Darrell Lee Waltrip (born February 5, 1947 in Owensboro, Kentucky) is a three-time former NASCAR Winston Cup champion, the 1989 Daytona 500 winner, and current television race commentator with Fox Broadcasting Company. ... Joe Weatherly (May 29, 1922 - January 19, 1964) was a two-time NASCAR championship driver. ... Robert Bob Joe Welborn (May 5, 1928 - August 10, 1997) of Denton, North Carolina is a former NASCAR Grand National (now NEXTEL Cup) driver. ... Rex White is a former NASCAR champion. ... ..... ... William Caleb Cale Yarborough (born March 27, 1939 in Timmonsville, South Carolina, near the Famous Darlington Raceway), is a former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and was one of the series engaging personalities. ... LeeRoy Yarbrough (born September 17, 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida, died December 7, 1984) was a NASCAR auto driver. ...

External links

• NASCAR.com's listing
• The Inside Groove.com - Historical NASCAR Image Gallery