Dale Jr. Names NASCAR Mount Rushmore

Hard Rock Bet sat down with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in advance of the Daytona 500 this weekend to ask the tough questions. Among them, if he, Dale Jr., was to assemble the NASCAR-equivalent of Mount Rushmore… whose getting carved into the mountain? Let’s break down this hypothetical monument to motorsport.

NASCAR Mount Rushmore

NASCAR is blessed with a long, rich history, punctuated by a variety of legendary drivers and characters… so who are the best of the best? Dale Jr. whittled his list down to four (or five) of the greats. Have a listen and let us know… do you agree with Dale Jr.?

Dale Earnhardt

It’s no surprise that Dale Jr.’s personal NASCAR Mount Rushmore begins with none other than his dad, Dale Sr. Dale Earnhardt, “The Intimidator”, made the #3 iconic in route to winning a record-tying seven NASCAR Cup Series Championships from 1980 (1st) to 1994 (last).

Richard Petty

Next up? Richard Petty. While there was a little overlap, the years before Dale Sr. hit his prime were dominated by Richard Petty. Winning his record-setting seventh NASCAR Cup Series Championship in 1979, Petty set a standard that wouldn’t be matched for another fifteen years. What’s more, Petty also won the Daytona 500 a record seven times – nobody else has done it more than four.

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson cemented his place on Dale Jr.’s Mt. Rushmore by winning a record five consecutive NASCAR Cup Series Championships from 2006 – 2010. For five full years only one man touched the Cup, and he didn’t stop there.  Jimmie Johnson followed up his record run of dominance with a sixth title (2013) and a 7th (2016) to join Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty on the mountain top.

David Pearson

While the first three names on the list won’t stir up much debate, the fourth just might. After mentioning both David Pearson and Jeff Gordon as worthy candidates and taking a few moments to deliberate, Dale Jr. gave the nod to David Pearson. Making his debut in 1960, Pearson won three NASCAR Championships in ’66, ’68, and ’69, picking up a Daytona 500 victory in 1976.

Jeff Gordon (honorable mention)

If we’re sticking to the Mt. Rushmore analogy there’s only room for four heads here, so it’s an honorable mention for Jeff Gordon. Gordon was the dominant figure in NASCAR through the late 90s and into the early 2000s, winning Championships in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001. A three-time Daytona 500 winner, Gordon’s name has to be mentioned in any discussion of NASCAR greats.

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