[EmpireWF]

Just wanted to ask a question to all you Nascar buffs....all-time, who is the #1 most famous racer ever?

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

Just wanted to ask a question to all you Nascar buffs....all-time, who is the #1 most famous racer ever?

i really think thats a very good question

i bet the old timers would be quick to answer Richard Petty hands down

but im not so sure

he has been out of racing awhile now.....and with the many newer fans and wide commercialization of the sport i bet Jeff Gordon may be wider known the Petty around the world.............and JG may not be the only one better known then Petty, or he wont be theyonly one for much longer i bet

[EmpireWF]

better question...both, all-time wise

1) Who is the most famous Nascar racer?
2) Who is hands down the best?

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

better question...both, all-time wise

1) Who is the most famous Nascar racer?
2) Who is hands down the best?

famous all-time i think the older drivers are negated just by how much they are away from the sport now

way more people in the world today know who Tony Stewart is then Bobby Allison.........but i guess that is true for any sport, more people probably know who Tom Brady is then Roger Staubach for the same reasons

id say Gordon is the most famous and Dale Earnhardt is the best ever

[LSC9901]

I would chime in and say Earnhardt Sr. at this point in time. In death he has become another Elvis. In and during his driving career he was a force and a leader within the sport. He was not without faults. When Bob Tanner gets back on line he'll give you the definitive answer and why. It will undoubtedly be someone who for the most part is unknown to many of today's fans. Bob is the info master of all the top secret NASCAR info.

[oncea3fan]

I don't know if I'd dismiss Petty so quick, he was the king for many years, and was brought back into the lime lite with Dale Sr. tying his 7 championships, but if it isn't the king, then I would say that it would have to be Dale Sr. which will then be Dale Jr.. in the fame catorgroy.

Dale Sr. is was the best there has ever been, but I could see Stewart taking that title if he keeps going on his current trend.

[wingkey1]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

better question...both, all-time wise

1) Who is the most famous Nascar racer?
2) Who is hands down the best?

Many, many "right" answers here due to the endless variations of measure, time (era for/to some), location, change and definition associated with "most famous" and "best".

At any given time "yet to be determined" is valid.

Put todays "famous & best" in yesterdays equipment and yesterdays tracks - who knows. Same can be said in the reverse direction.

Looking forward to all of the right answers. Every time I get close to posting my choices, I am able to convince myself of an alternate.

Giving me a headache.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

Many, many "right" answers here due to the endless variations of measure, time (era for/to some), location, change and definition associated with "most famous" and "best".

At any given time "yet to be determined" is valid.

Put todays "famous & best" in yesterdays equipment and yesterdays tracks - who knows. Same can be said in the reverse direction.

Looking forward to all of the right answers. Every time I get close to posting my choices, I am able to convince myself of an alternate.

Giving me a headache.

The great thing about your answer Wing is that there are too many good choices that have many good reasons. There is no clear cut answer to this question. There are many ways to look for the answer and they are all right. Do you go on stats alone, popularity, ability even though stats may not confirm it, personal likes ... the list goes on and on and on............


I'll not vote for DW. (Dim Wit)

[simple simon]

well i couldnt say at this point in time that Petty is best or most famous

i think most of his wins were due to superior equipment.....also there was a large talent gap back then

when Dale senior drove Winston cup talent and equipment overall were much more even.........id say his championships are worth more (were harder to come by) then Pettys

as for famous........i still think i would give that nod to JG.......with his Pepsi and Frito-Lay sponsorship he went global.......on top of tht he has been guest host on that Regis and Kelly show and that has given him exsposure to people that are not race fans...........due to those reasons i bet maybe millions more people know about JG then know about Petty

[Nevadastars]

Earnhardt Sr hands down, his memorablia sales are still near the top of the charts........six years after his death. Doubtlful that will happen with Gordo or Petty.
Heck, I'm drinking coffee out of a mug with big "3" on it, using an Earnhardt mousepad, the welcome mat in my garage is black with RCR and 3 on it, the license plate frame on my wifes cars says "Dale Earnhardt, the Man", and I still have about 50 of his diecast in a closet.
I still see a lot more Earnhardt T-shirts, decals, etc. than I do any other driver. You would have to live under a rock to not know who The Intimidator was.

[azrael492]

I would have to go with Dale Sr for most famous. I used to see his name everywhere. He has his memorabilia lines that have nothing to do with NASCAR, and they were always sold out. They even made a movie about his life. I haven't seen anybody come close to his level.

As for who is best, I can not answer that. I have not watched the sport for very long. I just recently got into it. My first choice would be Petty. If I remember correctly, nobody has won more races than he did.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

Earnhardt Sr hands down, his memorablia sales are still near the top of the charts........six years after his death. Doubtlful that will happen with Gordo or Petty.
Heck, I'm drinking coffee out of a mug with big "3" on it, using an Earnhardt mousepad, the welcome mat in my garage is black with RCR and 3 on it, the license plate frame on my wifes cars says "Dale Earnhardt, the Man", and I still have about 50 of his diecast in a closet.
I still see a lot more Earnhardt T-shirts, decals, etc. than I do any other driver. You would have to live under a rock to not know who The Intimidator was.

all thats good and well......but youre a fan.........im just saying that to the non-fan i think JG may get more exsposure.......hey im not happy about it either i cant stand the bugger but i do think its true

Originally Posted by azrael492

My first choice would be Petty. If I remember correctly, nobody has won more races than he did.

thats very true

Petty has 200 wins and the next closest is David Pearson with 105.......but as with anything most wins doesnt always make you best

youre a baseball fan so ill put it in baseball terms.......lets say your Reds go 20-10 against Tampa Bay.........and the Red Sox go 15-15 against the Yankees..........the Reds have more wins but does it really mean they are better......their wins came against the Devil Rays

all competition now for the most part is Yankees-Red Sox..........Petty most always played the Devil Rays

hope that explains my point better

[azrael492]

all thats good and well......but youre a fan.........im just saying that to the non-fan i think JG may get more exsposure.......hey im not happy about it either i cant stand the bugger but i do think its true

I think his memorabilia sales are a testament to his exposure. I have never been a huge fan of racing, but I always knew who Earnhardt was, and he drove #3. He was everywhere. I have a friend that collects knives. He had Earnhardt signed hunting knives with his logo embossed in them. He had his name on anything anybody would pay him for. Gordon may be closing in on him, but I think he is still number one especially since his death.

Petty has 200 wins and the next closest is David Pearson with 105.......but as with anything most wins doesnt always make you best

youre a baseball fan so ill put it in baseball terms.......lets say your Reds go 20-10 against Tampa Bay.........and the Red Sox go 15-15 against the Yankees..........the Reds have more wins but does it really mean they are better......their wins came against the Devil Rays

all competition now for the most part is Yankees-Red Sox..........Petty most always played the Devil Rays

hope that explains my point better

I see your point, and I don't know who should be considered the best yet. I am still learning. By your analogy it could be said that Petty was the Yankees. He could have been that much better than everybody else that there was no competition. He also should not have his advanced technology held against him. It is not his fault that other teams did not try to improve. To use your analogy again does it mean the Yankees are not a great team because their owner can pay for the best players?

[soriano33]

Im pretty sure Dale Sr. is the most famous hands down. People young and old know who he is. Anyone can mention his name and people know who you are talking about.

[LSC9901]

I wouldn't argue anyones vote for who is the most famous. The one thing here is to determine what is the requirement for fame ? It is more than likely something different to everyone. Races won, Championships won, sales of NASCAR stuff, funniest commercials ..... on and on. Many drivers are famous for one thing or another, some good ... some not so good.