Jeff Burton’s first victory came in an Ard Motorsports car. After a head injury at the close of the ’84 season ended his driving career, Ard remained in the sport as a team owner. Ard scored 22 wins in three years of competition in what is now called the Xfinity Series, rolling to the championship in consecutive years in 1983-84. Sam Ard: A standout on the former Late Model Sportsman circuit, Ard continued his tradition of winning once the tour was elevated to a NASCAR national series in 1982. He has also won in each of his 19 full-time Cup Series seasons. Kyle Busch has registered 62 Cup Series wins with two championships (2015, 2019), and ranks atop the record books as the all-time wins leader in both the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series. Kyle Busch: Known also by his nickname of “Rowdy,” the younger of the Busch brothers has amassed more than 200 NASCAR national-series victories and counting in his career. Busch also added nine victories combined in the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series. Among those 34 victories were a Daytona 500 triumph (2017) and a Coca-Cola 600 win (2010). Kurt Busch: The first champion of the premier series’ playoff era, Busch established a long career with wins in 19 of his 22 seasons as a Cup regular. (Listed by most recent addition first - last updated May 5) Read on to reacquaint yourself with the original 50 Greatest Drivers, plus the newest members of the elite list as they are revealed, and celebrate all of their accomplishments on the track.

We’ll reveal roughly one addition per day, five per week, for the next set of 25 drivers in the weeks leading up to throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway, where the entire group of 75 will be honored. The 50 Greatest Drivers form the foundation of the 75 Greatest Drivers - there will be 25 new names added to the list first established 25 years ago. Naming the 75 Greatest Drivers is a continuation of the popular program established in 1998 recognizing the 50 Greatest Drivers for NASCAR’s golden anniversary. In honor of NASCAR’s 75th Anniversary, NASCAR will celebrate the 75 Greatest Drivers throughout its history.

Staff Engineer by Will Larson