This article about the Top 5 NASCAR drivers born in North Carolina is part of a series of top North Carolina athletes and teams. AsNorth Carolina sports bettinggets set to launch in March, take a look at the top athletes across North Carolina college and professional sports.
Stock car racing’s roots took hold in the southeastern parts of America, with North Carolina being especially influential and paramount to its growth. Subsequently, the Tar Heel state provided many of the early racers in the sport and is home to the highest number of historical drivers overall.
Daytona Beach may well be considered the birthplace of NASCAR, but the organization as we know it today, really took shape in North Carolina. In fact, the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race was held in the state. As a result, many of the sport’s most famous drivers, including the unquestioned GOAT, hail from the Tar Heel state. There are a ton of drivers on the list, but let’s take a look at the Top 5 NASCAR drivers born in North Carolina.
Top 5 NASCAR drivers born in North Carolina
North Carolina is the proud home of the most-ever Cup Series wins and Cup Series Championships. Needless to say, there are quite a few names that could find themselves as one of the top 5 NASCAR drivers born in North Carolina. But, the top 2 spots are currently, and probably forever cemented in North Carolina NASCAR history.
5. Herb Thomas
Born: Olivia, NC
Career: 1949 – 1962
Thomas is an originator of stock car racing, running his first race way back in 1949. During his 10-year career – only six of which included more than 14 races – Thomas found victory lane 48 times. He notched 122 top-5s, and 156 top-10’s, and sat on pole in 39 different races.
Adding to Herb Thomas’ legend are his two Grand National Series Championships in 1951 and 1953. And a six-season stretch from ‘51 to ‘56 which saw him finish the season 5th or better and as champion or runner-up five times.
Herb was elected to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994 and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2013.
4. “Gentleman” Ned Jarrett
Born: Newton, NC
Career: 1953 – 1966
A name familiar to current and the last generation of NASCAR fans for his son Dale, Ned put the Jarrett name on the map for his outstanding career achievements. Although he ran his first race in 1953, Ned Jarrett didn’t really begin his career until the 1959 season.
That year he claimed the first two of his 50 career wins. Beginning the next season, Ned began a six-year streak of finishing no worse than 5th in the season-long standings. He was crowned as Grand National Series Champion twice in 1961 and 1965.
In addition to his 50 wins, Ned Jarrett would accumulate 185 top-5s and 239 top-10s over his 352 career races. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991 and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011.
3. Lee Petty
Born: Randleman, NC
Career: 1949 – 1964
Petty is the most synonymous name with NASCAR and it first entered the sport with Lee in 1949. That first year saw Lee win his first race and finish 2nd at season’s end. This was just the start of what became one incredible career.
Lee would go on to race for 15 more seasons and pile up 53 additional wins, including the inaugural Daytona 500, before retiring after the 1964 season. Most impressive for Lee was that he finished the season standings no worse than 6th during all 12 of his full-time years in the sport (1949 – 1960). During this stretch, Petty would win 3 Grand National Series Championships (‘54, ‘58, ‘59), and finish runner-up twice.
He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990 and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011.
2. Dale Earnhardt “The Intimidator”
Born: Kannapolis, NC
Career: 1975 – 2001
The Intimidator made a career of overwhelming the competition with his aggressiveness and determination on the track. It was evident very early on how good Dale Earnhardt would be. His rookie year in 1979 saw him claim 4 poles, 17 top-10’s, 11 top-5’s, and a win, all leading to him being named Winston Cup Rookie of the Year.
From that season on, until his tragic death during the 2001 Daytona 500, Earnhardt would win 76 races, grab 281 top-5s, and 428 top-10’s. What really separates Dale from his peers though are the 7 Cup Series Championships he won, with six coming in a 9-year span from 1986 to 1994. He also amazingly finished worse than 8th in the season standings just twice during his 22 full-time racing seasons.
Lastly, Dale gifted the NASCAR world his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. who became an instant fan favorite and continues to help usher the sport into the future. Dale Earnhardt was inducted into the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame & part of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class in 2010.
1. Richard Petty “The King”
Born: Randleman, NC
Career: 1958 -1992
As good as each of the previous four drivers were, none come even close to the resume that “The King” Richard Petty put together. That nickname correctly describes Richard Petty as his career accomplishments will likely never be matched. He ran his first race in 1958 and went on to race for 35 years!
During that long career, Richard Petty won 200 top-level (current Cup Series) races, which is 95 more than the next highest in the history of NASCAR. He also holds the records for most poles (123), top-5s (555), and top-10s (712) which can all probably be considered unbreakable.
Richard Petty would win a record 7 Cup Series Championships during his career. That record stood for over 20 years and is now shared with the aforementioned Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. Petty was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1997 and was a part of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class in 2010.
The Richard Petty Legacy continues to this day, as his trademark Cowboy hat can still be seen on race weekends.
Future Top 5 NASCAR drivers born in North Carolina?
Each of the top 5 best NASCAR drivers born in North Carolina is a legend. Drivers like 2023 Cup Series Champion Ryan Blaney, the first champ from the Tar Heel state since 2000 (Dale Jarrett), and 2024 Daytona 500 winner William Byron, are seeking to become the next greats from North Carolina and possibly crack this list. Can they do it?
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