NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers
NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers is a list of NASCAR drivers.
In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to decide what "The 50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time" would be. 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. This was no easy task, and their results were debated and contested accordingly, but none the less, their results were announced by NASCAR, and declared definitive. To quote Bill France, president of NASCAR:
- "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.
[edit] 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
- Jeff Gordon
- 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*
