Johnson rounds out NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers list

Kelly Crandall

May 11, 2023 at 7:50 PM·7 min read

In saving one of the best in the sport for last, seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson’s announcement as one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers has completed the new list.

As it celebrates its 75th anniversary season, NASCAR added 25 names to the list of the 50 greatest drivers announced during its golden anniversary in 1998. A panel made up of various individuals within the industry voted on the list.

There are nine active drivers included on the list: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, and part-timer Johnson.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins his father in being recognized, while Kyle and Kurt Busch became the second set of brothers on the list after Bobby Labonte joined brother Terry.

The newest 25 drivers on the list:

Tony Stewart: three-time Cup Series champion and winner of 49 races.

Kasey Kahne: former Rookie of the Year and 18-time winner in the Cup Series.

Mike Stefanik: seven-time Modified champion, a two-time champion in the Busch North Series, and named to the NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2021.

Randy LaJoie: a two-time Xfinity Series champion.

Kyle Larson: a winner in all three national series and the 2021 Cup Series champion.

Greg Biffle: a former champion in both the Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series and winner of 19 Cup Series races.

Sterling Marlin: a two-time Daytona 500 winner.

Ryan Newman: an 18-time winner in the Cup Series, including the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400.

Denny Hamlin: winner of 49 Cup Series races to date, including three in the Daytona 500.

Chase Elliott: former Xfinity Series champion and 2020 Cup Series champion.

Carl Edwards: a 28-time winner in the Cup Series and former Xfinity Series champion.

Ron Hornaday Jr.: a NASCAR Hall of Fame member and four-time Craftsman Truck Series champion.

Jeff Burton: a former Cup Series rookie of the year and winner in both the Cup Series and Xfinity Series.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: a two-time Xfinity Series champion, two-time Daytona 500 champion, and winner of 26 races in the Cup Series.

Bobby Labonte: a former champion in the Xfinity Series and Cup Series. A winner of 21 Cup Series races, including the Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500, and Brickyard 400.

Martin Truex Jr.: a two-time Xfinity Series champion and the 2017 Cup Series champion.

Brad Keselowski: a former Xfinity Series champion and the 2012 Cup Series champion. Winner of 35 Cup Series races.

Larry Phillips: a five-time champion in what is now the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.

Sam Ard: a two-time Xfinity Series champion.

Kyle Busch: winner of more than 200 national series races, a two-time Cup Series champion, and former Xfinity Series champion.

Kurt Busch: a winner in all three national series, including the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. The inaugural champion in the playoff era.

Kevin Harvick: a two-time Xfinity Series champion and former Cup Series champion. A winner of 60 races to date in the Cup Series, including the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400.

Joey Logano: a two-time Cup Series champion and Daytona 500 winner.

Matt Kenseth: a winner of 39 Cup Series races, including the Coca-Cola 600 and two in the Daytona 500. Won the last Cup Series champion under the traditional format.

Jimmie Johnson: a seven-time Cup Series champion and winner of 83 races, including two in the Daytona 500.

NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers from 1998:

Bobby Allison: a former Cup Series champion and winner of three Daytona 500s.

Davey Allison: a winner of 19 Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500, and former Rookie of the Year.

Buck Baker: the first driver to win two consecutive NASCAR championships in 1956 and ’57 and winner of 46 races.

Buddy Baker: a winner of 19 races in the Cup Series, including the Daytona 500. He was the first driver to eclipse the 200mph mark on a closed course while testing at Talladega Superspeedway.

Geoff Bodine: a winner of 18 races, including the Daytona 500.

Neil Bonnett: a winner of 18 races, including two consecutive in the Coca-Cola 600.

Red Byron: won NASCAR’s first race in 1948 and championship (Modified Division) and the first Cup Series championship.

Jerry Cook: a six-time Modified champion.

Dale Earnhardt: a seven-time Cup Series champion and winner of 76 races.
Ralph Earnhardt: the 1956 Sportsman champion.

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