Since its rather humble beginnings as a sanctioning body in 1948, NASCAR has evolved from the dusty dirt tracks of the Southeast into a mainstream sport that recently raced through the streets of the nation’s second largest city.
From Red Byron and Richard Petty to Dale Earnhardt and Joey Logano, Bill France’s vision for the future of stock car racing has produced a long list of ordinary men whose unique driving ability brought them unprecedented fame and fortune.
As part of NASCAR’s 75th anniversary, a blue-ribbon panel has narrowed that extensive list to recognize the sport’s 75 Greatest Drivers.
The unranked collection of the sport’s greatest drivers features 25 new names that were added to the list of those selected among the 50 Greatest Drivers during NASCAR’s 50th anniversary in 1998.
The additions were determined by a committee of former drivers, team owners, industry personnel, NASCAR executives and current and former media members.
The list of 75 Greatest Drivers includes 34 of the 35 NASCAR Cup Series champions; three generations of Earnhardts; 42 of the 61 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees; and 10 drivers who are still active in the NASCAR Cup Series.
■ The following individuals comprised the original list of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers:
Bobby Allison, Miami, Fla. — 1983 NASCAR Cup Series champion. Won 84 Cup Series races, including three Daytona 500s (1978, ’82, ’88).
Davey Allison, Hueytown, Ala. — Won 19 Cup Series races, including the 1992 Daytona 500, in only 191 series starts.
Buck Baker, Charlotte, N.C. — First driver to win consecutive NASCAR Cup Series titles (1956-’57).
Buddy Baker, Charlotte, N.C. — Won the 1980 Daytona 500 at a record speed of 177.602 mph, a mark that still stands.
Geoff Bodine, Chemung, N.Y. — Graduate of the NASCAR Modified division. Topped 18 Cup Series races, including the 1986 Daytona 500.
Neil Bonnett, Hueytown, Ala. — Won 18 Cup Series races in 362 series starts.
Red Byron, Anniston, Ala. — Claimed the first NASCAR Modified division championship in 1948 and the inaugural Cup Series title in 1949.
Jerry Cook, Rome, N.Y. — Earned six NASCAR Modified division championships (1971, ’72, ’74-’77), including four straight.
Dale Earnhardt, Kannapolis, N.C. — Record-tying seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (1980, ’86-’87, ’90-’91, ’93-’94).
Ralph Earnhardt, Kannapolis, N.C. — 1956 NASCAR Sportsman division champion.
Bill Elliott, Dawsonville, Ga. — 1988 Cup Series champion. Won 44 Cup Series races, including a pair of Daytona 500s (1985, ’87).
Richie Evans, Rome, N.Y. — King of the NASCAR modifieds. Earned nine modified titles, including eight in a row. (1973, ’78-’85).
Red Farmer, Hueytown, Ala. — Three-time NASCAR Last Model Sportsman division champion (1969-’71). Still racing at age 90.
Tim Flock, Fort Payne, Ala. — Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (1952, ’55).
A.J. Foyt, Houston, Texas — Won seven Cup Series races, including the 1972 Daytona 500.
Harry Gant, Taylorsville, N.C. — His 18 Cup Series triumphs include four in a row during the fall of 1991.
Jeff Gordon, Vallejo, Calif. — Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (1995, ’97-’98, 2001) with 93 series victories.
Ray Hendrick, Richmond, Va. — Estimates put his total number of modified and late model sportsman victories at more than 700.
Jack Ingram, Asheville, N.C. — Two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion. (1982, ’85).