Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Feb 16, 2010 12:26pm
Who is the best of all time.
I will throw out some names that I think should be in the discussion.
Richard Petty
David Pearson
Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Jeff Gordon
Jimmy Johnson
Whats your thoughts?
I will throw out some names that I think should be in the discussion.
Richard Petty
David Pearson
Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Jeff Gordon
Jimmy Johnson
Whats your thoughts?
gerb131
Posts: 9,932
Feb 16, 2010 12:37pm
I cringe to say this and I'am a big Earnhardt fan but Jeff Gordon if we are strictly talking about Sprint Cup cars. If not than Robby Gordon is the best driver, he doesn't even need wheels to drive.
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Feb 16, 2010 12:55pm
Yeah that had to hurt for a Earnhardt fan. I'm a Gordan fan but my pick I think is David Pearson. I believe he only run a few complete seasons for money reasons and won three championships. He is second all time to Petty in wins with 105 and didn't run nearly the number of races.gerb131 wrote: I cringe to say this and I'am a big Earnhardt fan but Jeff Gordon if we are strictly talking about Sprint Cup cars. If not than Robby Gordon is the best driver, he doesn't even need wheels to drive.
G
Gardens35
Posts: 4,929
Feb 16, 2010 1:03pm
I think that Tim Richmond falls into the shoulda/coulda list. If things had worked out differently he may have worked his way to NASCAR's poster child status.
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Feb 16, 2010 1:17pm
Great talent but not in the discussion. 185 starts with only 13 wins. 5 of those wins were on a road course.Gardens35 wrote: I think that Tim Richmond falls into the shoulda/coulda list. If things had worked out differently he may have worked his way to NASCAR's poster child status.
M
mtrulz
Posts: 2,905
Feb 16, 2010 1:22pm
Jimmie Johnson cheats..no way he should be up there with the GOATs.
GoChiefs
Posts: 16,754
Feb 16, 2010 1:23pm
Not even debatable. Lol The best driver ever is 1 of 3 guys...Petty, Pearson, Sr.
Terry_Tate
Posts: 7,606
Feb 16, 2010 1:51pm
I'd have to go with this order:
Dale Earnhardt
David Pearson
Jeff Gordon
Richard Petty
Beyond that, I think Cale Yarborough is probably number 5, but could make strong cases for Darrell Waltrip and Jimmie Johnson(hard to believe he can be considered among the greats and just started in 2002).
Dale Earnhardt
David Pearson
Jeff Gordon
Richard Petty
Beyond that, I think Cale Yarborough is probably number 5, but could make strong cases for Darrell Waltrip and Jimmie Johnson(hard to believe he can be considered among the greats and just started in 2002).
Speedofsand
Posts: 5,529
Feb 16, 2010 2:21pm
1. Richard Petty
2. David Pearson
3. Dale Earnhardt Sr
4. Cale Yarborough
5. Junior Johnson
6. Jeff Gordon
7. Jimmie Johnson
8. Mark Martin
9. Darrell Waltrip
10. Tony Stewart
2. David Pearson
3. Dale Earnhardt Sr
4. Cale Yarborough
5. Junior Johnson
6. Jeff Gordon
7. Jimmie Johnson
8. Mark Martin
9. Darrell Waltrip
10. Tony Stewart
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Feb 16, 2010 2:50pm
Some stats to think about.GoChiefs wrote: Not even debatable. Lol The best driver ever is 1 of 3 guys...Petty, Pearson, Sr.
Winning percentage.
David Pearson 18.3%
Richard Petty 16.9%
Jimmy Johnson 16.1%
Jeff Gordon 14.1%
Dale Earnhardt 11.2%
Top 5 finishes
David Pearson 52.4%
Richard Petty 46.9%
Jeff Gordon 45.2%
Dale Earnhardt 41.5%
Jimmy Johnson 40.2%
Top 10 finishes
David Pearson 63.8%
Dale Earnhardt 63.3%
Jeff Gordon 62.1%
Jimmy Johnson 61.8%
Richard Petty 60.1%
Winning the pole percentage.
David Pearson 19.7%
Jeff Gordon 11.7%
Richard Petty 10.3%
Jimmy Johnson 7.9%
Dale Earnhardt 3%
It's debatable. We also have to consider the different era's. The cars these days resemble more of an IROC series than 30-40 years ago.
GoChiefs
Posts: 16,754
Feb 16, 2010 2:55pm
Regardless of numbers...no way can you put Gordon or Johnson ahead of Sr. or Petty...Pearson..maybe.
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Feb 16, 2010 3:20pm
Winning percentage
Junior Johnson 15.9%
Cale Yarborough 14.8%
Darrell Waltrip 10.4%
Top 5 %
Cale Yarborough 45.5%
Junior Johnson 38.6%
Darrell Waltrip 34.1%
Top 10 %
Cale Yarborough 56.9%
Darrell Waltrip 48.2%
Junior Johnson 47.3
Junior Johnson 15.9%
Cale Yarborough 14.8%
Darrell Waltrip 10.4%
Top 5 %
Cale Yarborough 45.5%
Junior Johnson 38.6%
Darrell Waltrip 34.1%
Top 10 %
Cale Yarborough 56.9%
Darrell Waltrip 48.2%
Junior Johnson 47.3
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Feb 16, 2010 3:25pm
Numbers don't matter?GoChiefs wrote: Regardless of numbers...no way can you put Gordon or Johnson ahead of Sr. or Petty...Pearson..maybe.
How do you determine the who the best is?
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Feb 16, 2010 3:30pm
Dale. Not close for me.
Petty and Dale are on top though. Only number that matters is championships in this sport--both have 7. When 2nd place comes in at 4, you know 7 is unreal.
Petty and Dale are on top though. Only number that matters is championships in this sport--both have 7. When 2nd place comes in at 4, you know 7 is unreal.
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Feb 16, 2010 3:38pm
Good point but if they had not changed the championship format Gordon would have 6.SQ_Crazies wrote: Dale. Not close for me.
Petty and Dale are on top though. Only number that matters is championships in this sport--both have 7. When 2nd place comes in at 4, you know 7 is unreal.
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Feb 16, 2010 3:41pm
That's a huge assumption. And 7 is still more than 6. Gordon is definitely one of the best ever, but Sr. and Petty are far ahead of everyone else IMO.
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Feb 16, 2010 3:45pm
Thats not an assumption.
I don't put Gordon as #1. I believe Pearson was the best. He ran limited schedules and posted great numbers.
I don't put Gordon as #1. I believe Pearson was the best. He ran limited schedules and posted great numbers.
P
pkebker
Posts: 760
Feb 16, 2010 4:00pm
One thing to think about is that I believe today's NASCAR has the toughest competition. There's a lot of money in a lot of quality organizations. I think its harder to win a race these days.
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Feb 16, 2010 4:11pm
Considering he has 4, that is an assumption.
coyotes22
Posts: 11,298
Feb 16, 2010 4:29pm
This.Speedofsand wrote: 1. Richard Petty
2. David Pearson
3. Dale Earnhardt Sr
4. Cale Yarborough
5. Junior Johnson
6. Jeff Gordon
7. Jimmie Johnson
8. Mark Martin
9. Darrell Waltrip
10. Tony Stewart
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
Feb 16, 2010 4:29pm
Pearson
GoChiefs
Posts: 16,754
Feb 16, 2010 4:32pm
You can't get an accurate assumption from numbers from past drivers and drivers of today..look at Petty for example..his numbers are:Darkon wrote: Numbers don't matter?
How do you determine the who the best is?
Races - 1184
Wins - 200
Top 5 - 555
Top 10 - 712
now you compare that to Gordon
Races - 582
Wins - 82
Top 5 - 263
Top 10 - 361
Gordon still needs 20 more races before he's raced in even HALF as many races as Petty. How are you going to reach a good assessment of the drivers based on that when one driver has twice as many races under his belt than the other? If you want to go by numbers...it's hands down Richard Petty. Nobody has come close to having the numbers he has.
GoChiefs
Posts: 16,754
Feb 16, 2010 4:33pm
Correct..it is an assumption..but I agree...he'd have 6 had the format not been changed..there was a couple times when the points were reset with 10 races to go...he had a 2 to 300 point lead on the rest of the field. That's almost impossible to make up in 10 races.SQ_Crazies wrote: Considering he has 4, that is an assumption.
GoChiefs
Posts: 16,754
Feb 16, 2010 4:37pm
Agree with that as well..but then again..I think Jimmie's feat of 4 championships today are more impressive..especially being consecutive championships...the level of competition back then was no where close to being what it is today. Hell..back then..you'd only have 5 or 6 cars finish on the lead lap!SQ_Crazies wrote: When 2nd place comes in at 4, you know 7 is unreal.
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Feb 16, 2010 4:52pm
I'm not sure it's better or worse. One thing that was more impressive about past champions is that the whole season mattered more and consistency is what it's all about.