DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 13,
1998)
NASCAR's 50-year
history can be told from many different perspectives --
track history, promoter history or manufacturer history.
But the one that adds the color and drama, and ignites
our imaginations, is NASCAR history seen through the eyes
of those who made it on the track.
As part of its 50th Anniversary
celebration, NASCAR is honoring its past and present by
naming its 50 greatest drivers. This list is a
"Who's Who" of the greatest talent to ever
strap themselves into race cars at NASCAR-sanctioned
events. From
the dirt ovals that hosted NASCAR's early races to the
modern speedways of today, the list of the 50 greatest
drivers begins with NASCAR's first champion Red Byron to
11 active drivers of today. The 50 drivers are not only
from the NASCAR Winston Cup Series as it includes
Modified champions like Richie Evans as well as division
champions like Ralph Earnhardt, Jack Ingram and Hershel
McGriff. Twenty-two
of these drivers have won at least one NASCAR Winston Cup
Series championship and 13 have won more than one.
Enhancing the sports long tradition of family, there are
five father-son combinations among the 50. The drivers
were introduced this evening at Daytona USA, the
"Ultimate Motorsports Attraction," on the
grounds of Daytona International Speedway. "These
are the men who define the competition of our
sport," said Bill France, president of NASCAR.
"Their accomplishments are the benchmark that much
of our history is identified by. Honoring them in this
way, at the beginning of the NASCAR 50th Anniversary
celebration, is one way of showing our true appreciation
for them and the invaluable contribution they have given
over the past 50 years. These are the drivers who made
and make NASCAR fans stand on their feet and cheer. These
are the drivers who are NASCAR history." An
independent group of 50 individuals -- drivers, team
owners, crew chiefs, media members, track operators and
others -- participated in selecting the 50 greatest
NASCAR drivers of all time. The voters were asked to give
their objective and educated opinions on drivers from all
NASCAR years, series and divisions. The
chosen group of drivers will be the backbone to many
NASCAR 50th Anniversary projects throughout the year,
including television, online, publications and other
special projects. A key
element of the tribute is the unveiling of a limited
edition lithograph produced by PRESS PASS. The signed
lithographs will be sold for $25,000 each, and are
projected to raise $1,000,000 for charity. All
contributions will be made in the names of all 50 drivers
to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Special Olympics, Leukemia
Society, Speedway Children's Charities and Give Kids the
World. Tonight
one of the 250 lithographs produced, which are signed by
each of the 34 living members of the 50 greatest drivers,
will be auctioned with a starting price of $25,000.
Proceeds from the auction will be donated to the
Foundation Fighting Blindness in memory of T. Wayne
Robertson, the president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company's Sports Marketing Enterprises, who lost his life
Jan. 14 in a boating accident. In
addition, PRESS PASS has introduced a "retro"
line of trading cards that will be a part of the
company's 1998 PRESS PASS Race Cards race brand, a
150-card collection. The "retro" cards
represent the 50 greatest NASCAR drivers and will be
packaged with a single card in every two packs. The cards
will feature a "retro" 2x3 size, uv coating and
feature a foil stamping. The
34 living members of this select group will also be
honored Feb. 15 during pre-race festivities for the 1998
Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The
following are the 50 greatest NASCAR drivers of all time: