Who Is a Famous NASCAR Driver?

A famous NASCAR driver is Richard Petty, widely known as “The King” for his record 200 NASCAR Cup Series victories and seven championships. His dominance, longevity, and cultural impact make him a defining figure in American motorsports, and his legacy anchors the broader story of NASCAR’s most celebrated stars.

Richard Petty: The King of Stock Car Racing

Richard Petty’s résumé remains the most decorated in NASCAR Cup Series history. Racing primarily in the No. 43, Petty amassed 200 Cup wins and seven season championships (1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979). He also won the Daytona 500 a record seven times and was inducted into the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010. Beyond the numbers, Petty’s signature cowboy hat and sunglasses, fan outreach, and decades-long presence as a team owner and ambassador helped define the sport’s public image.

Petty’s Career Milestones

The following highlights summarize why Petty is often the first name cited when discussing NASCAR’s most famous figures, tying together his record-setting achievements with his enduring influence on the sport.

• 200 career NASCAR Cup Series wins, the most all-time.
• Seven Cup Series championships (1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979), tied for the record.
• Seven Daytona 500 victories, the most by any driver.
• Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee (2010), cementing his status as a foundational figure.
• Iconic No. 43 car and decades as a team owner and ambassador for the sport.

Taken together, these milestones explain why Petty’s name has become shorthand for stock car excellence and why he remains central to NASCAR’s identity.

Other Legends and Modern Stars

While Petty is a quintessential answer, NASCAR’s history is filled with other famous drivers whose achievements and personalities shaped eras, broke records, and drew millions of fans to the track and television.

• Dale Earnhardt: “The Intimidator,” seven-time Cup champion (tied for most) with 76 wins; 1998 Daytona 500 victor; a cultural icon whose 2001 Daytona 500 death marked a watershed moment for safety.
• Jimmie Johnson: Seven-time Cup champion (2006–2010, 2013, 2016) with 80-plus wins; Hall of Famer (Class of 2024) known for a modern dynasty with crew chief Chad Knaus.
• Jeff Gordon: Four-time Cup champion (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001) with 93 wins; helped propel NASCAR’s 1990s–2000s mainstream boom; three-time Daytona 500 winner.
• Kyle Busch: Two-time Cup champion (2015, 2019); more than 60 Cup wins and 200-plus victories across NASCAR’s top three national series.
• Tony Stewart: Three-time Cup champion (2002, 2005, 2011) known for versatility and grit; later co-owner of a major Cup team.
• Joey Logano: Two-time Cup champion (2018, 2022) and Daytona 500 winner; consistent playoff force in the modern era.
• Chase Elliott: 2020 Cup champion and multiple-time Most Popular Driver, carrying forward a celebrated NASCAR family name.
• Denny Hamlin: Three-time Daytona 500 winner (2016, 2019, 2020) with 50-plus Cup wins; perennial title contender.
• Kevin Harvick: 2014 Cup champion with 60 career wins; retired from full-time driving after 2023 and transitioned to broadcasting.
• Ryan Blaney: 2023 Cup Series champion, emblematic of NASCAR’s new generation of front-runners.

These drivers—spanning eras, teams, and driving styles—illustrate how “fame” in NASCAR comes from a blend of championships, marquee race wins, consistency, and a compelling connection with fans.

What Makes a NASCAR Driver “Famous”?

Fame in NASCAR is built on results and resonance. Championships and crown jewels like the Daytona 500 matter, but so do longevity, rivalries, and personality. Drivers who sustain winning habits over years, influence safety and strategy, and command fan loyalty—in person and on TV—become the faces of the sport. In that sense, Petty, Earnhardt, Johnson, and Gordon are pillars, while contemporary stars like Logano, Elliott, Hamlin, and Blaney carry the torch into the current era.

Summary

Richard Petty is a famous NASCAR driver, thanks to his unmatched 200 Cup wins and seven titles. Alongside icons like Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon—and modern champions such as Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney—Petty’s legacy explains how winning, longevity, and fan connection elevate a driver from successful to legendary.

What celebrity became a NASCAR driver?

The primary example of a contemporary “celebrity” becoming a NASCAR driver is Frankie Muniz, the former child star of “Malcolm in the Middle”, who is now a full-time driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the 2025 season. He pursued his passion for racing after his acting career and has competed in various series, including the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, before securing a full-time ride. 
Frankie Muniz’s Journey

• From Child Star to Racing Fan: Opens in new tabMuniz was a lifelong fan of motorsports but didn’t seriously pursue it until his acting career shifted. 
• Early Racing Experience: Opens in new tabHe participated in Pro Celebrity races and later competed in Formula BMW USA and the Champ Car Atlantic Series in the mid-2000s. 
• Stock Car Focus: Opens in new tabAfter a break from professional racing, Muniz began his stock car career in 2021. 
• Full-Time in NASCAR: Opens in new tabHe made his NASCAR Xfinity debut in 2024 and is now a full-time driver for Reaume Brothers Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series for the 2025 season. 

Other Notable Figures
While Muniz is a prominent current example, other celebrities have also been involved in motorsports: 

• Paul Newman: Opens in new tabThe famous actor was a highly successful race car driver, winning national championships and being inducted into the Motor Sports Hall of Fame. 
• Marty Robbins: Opens in new tabThe country music singer was a passionate racer who funded his own NASCAR team and competed part-time in the Winston Cup series from 1966 to 1982. 

Who is the top NASCAR driver?

There isn’t one definitive “best” NASCAR driver, but a consensus often includes historical legends like Richard Petty and David Pearson, known for their unmatched win totals, and modern greats such as Jimmie Johnson, lauded for his seven championships and consistent dominance across different eras. Drivers like Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, and Kyle Busch are also consistently mentioned among the top drivers of all time due to their significant wins and championship records.
 
Historical Legends

• Richard Petty (The King): Opens in new tabWidely considered the greatest, Petty holds the record for most career wins (200) and tied for the most championships (seven). 
• David Pearson: Opens in new tabRanks second in wins (105) and is noted for his high win percentage and for winning championships on fewer full-time seasons. 
• Dale Earnhardt: Opens in new tabKnown as “The Intimidator,” he also achieved seven championships, solidifying his legendary status. 

Modern Era Greats

• Jimmie Johnson: Opens in new tabDominant in the modern playoff era, Johnson won seven championships, including an unprecedented five consecutive titles, showcasing remarkable consistency and success. 
• Jeff Gordon: Opens in new tabA prolific winner with 93 Cup Series wins and four championships, he was a key figure during the “Chase” era of the playoffs. 
• Kyle Busch: Opens in new tabA versatile driver, Busch holds the record for all-time wins in the Xfinity and Truck Series and has won two Cup Series championships. 

Other Notable Drivers 

• Tony Stewart: A two-time champion and owner-driver known for his aggressive style.
• Kevin Harvick: Known for his consistent performance over a long career, including a 2014 championship.
• Martin Truex Jr.: Transformed a less-successful team into a championship-contending powerhouse, winning the 2017 title.

Who is the most famous NASCAR driver in history?

Richard Petty is called “The King” for good reason. Petty has racked up most wins (200), most poles (123), tied for most championships (seven), most wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10) and most starts (1,185).

Who was the most famous race car driver?

There is no single “most famous” race car driver, as fame varies by racing discipline and region, but Richard Petty (“The King”) is the most accomplished driver in NASCAR history with a record 200 wins, and Ayrton Senna is often considered the most famous and influential driver in Formula 1. Other highly famous drivers include NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt and Mario Andretti, who achieved success across multiple racing series.
 
NASCAR:

• Richard Petty: Opens in new tabNicknamed “The King,” he is NASCAR’s all-time winningest driver with 200 victories, seven Daytona 500 wins, and seven championships. 
• Dale Earnhardt: Opens in new tabKnown as “The Intimidator,” his aggressive style and legendary rivalries made him one of NASCAR’s most feared and respected figures, per this YouTube video. 

Formula 1:

• Ayrton Senna: Opens in new tabVoted the best F1 driver of all time by his peers in a 2010 poll, Senna was a three-time World Champion known for his humanitarian efforts and legendary career before his death in 1994. 
• Michael Schumacher: Opens in new tabA contemporary rival of Ayrton Senna, Schumacher is another legendary figure in Formula 1, per this DirecTV article. 
• Lewis Hamilton: Opens in new tabHamilton has tied Schumacher’s record of seven Formula 1 world championships. 

Multi-Discipline Success: 

• Mario Andretti: An icon across multiple motorsports, Andretti is the only driver in history to have won races in Formula 1, IndyCar, the World Sportscar Championship, and NASCAR, per this Reddit thread.