NASCAR is one of the most prestigious racing events in the world after Formula 1. With a history spanning over 75 years, it still captivates the hearts of millions. The sport has surpassed some of the greatest achievements through seven decades and introduced some of the greatest drivers and teams to the world. Most successful NASCAR drivers have brought up the most successful teams the world has ever seen. This article will delve into the top 10 most successful teams in NASCAR history.
Top 10 Most Successful NASCAR Teams
These teams are the best in every class of NASCAR series. From the National Cup to Truck Adrenaline, they have proved themselves to be the best you need to give everything on and off the track. Let us look at the top teams that gave the sport a new look in the global motorsport genre.
10. Chip Ganassi Racing
Founded: 1996
Total Cup Wins: 98
Championship Titles: 4
Notable Drivers: Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya
Chip Ganassi Racing is an American auto racing company with a diverse portfolio in American motorsports. The team competes in the IndyCar Series, the FIA Endurance Championship, and the NASCAR Cup Series. It is owned by Chip Ganassi, who has achieved success in NASCAR. With drivers like Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray, the team has won 98 races and four championships.
9. Wood Brothers Racing
Founded: 1950
Total Cup Wins: 99
Championship Title: 0
Notable Drivers: David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnett
Wood Brothers Racing is one of the oldest racing teams in NASCAR history. Despite not winning any championship series, they were famous on the grid because of their revolutionized pit stop strategy and technique. The team was founded by Ray Lee, Clay, and Leonard in 1950. Today, the racing team is sponsored by their grandson and grandchildren. The Woods Brothers had a close relationship with Ford, and because of this, they have run several Ford cars for decades as their main manufacturers.
8. Richard Childress Racing
Founded: 1960
Total Cup Wins: 166+
Championship Title: 6
Notable Drivers: Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer
The team was founded by Richard Childress in the late 1960s. About its racing organization, the team has cooperation with technical alliances like Ford, Coca-Cola, and Monster Energy. Their legacy includes numerous wins and championships across different eras of NASCAR. Drivers like Dale Earnhardt have made this team to be positioned on your list with more than 100+ wins and six championship titles.
7. Stewart-Haas Racing
Founded: 2002
Total Cup Wins: 69
Championship Title: 2
Notable Drivers: Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch
Stewart-Haas Racing, A name Haas sounds familiar, right? Yes, Gene Haas has also adopted a racing team in the NASCAR league. The team was founded in 2002 with a mutual partnership between three-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Tony Stewart and F1 team owner Gene Haas. The team is very young when compared to other teams on this list. Their technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports helped them become immediate contenders upon their formation.
6. Penske Racing/Team Penske
Founded: 1966
Total Cup Wins: 140+
Championship Titles: 8
Notable Drivers: Rusty Wallace, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano
Penske Racing, or now Team Penske, is a motorsport racing company that drives in the IndyCar Series, NASCAR, and IMSA Championships. It is owned by Roger Penske and is a renowned name in motorsport. The team has achieved 15 championships across various racing series, including 14 in NASCAR. With 5 driver’s titles and more than 140 wins, this team will be one of the best teams in the upcoming years.
5. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing/RFK Racing
Founded: 1988
Total Cup Wins: 141
Championship Titles: 2
Notable Drivers: Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, also known as Roush Fenway Racing. Fenway Sports, a sports business company, was founded in the late 1980s through a joint venture with businessman John W. Henry. Later on, it became RFK racing when engineer and designer Brad Keselowski became a co-owner. It is one of the richest and largest teams present on the grid.
4. Junior Johnson & Associates
Founded: 1953
Total Cup Wins: 153
Championship Titles: 6
Notable Drivers: Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip
Junior Johnson & Associates was one of the best NASCAR racing teams in history. It is one of the oldest teams to be listed. The team was founded by former driver Junior Johnson, but due to a financial crisis, the team was shut down in the late 1980s. With drivers like Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip, the team achieved six championships and numerous wins, solidifying its place among the all-time greats.
3. Joe Gibbs Racing
Founded: 1992
Total Cup Wins: 200+
Championship Titles: 5
Notable Drivers: Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte
The team was founded by NFL Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs. JGR became one of the most promising NASCAR teams since its debut in 1992. The racing team has successfully developed multiple championship-winning drivers. The first 16 seasons were raced by General Motors, and then later Toyota won the championship with Kyle Busch.
2. Petty Enterprises/Richard Petty Motorsport
Founded: 1992
Total Cup Wins: 200+
Championship Titles: 5
Notable Drivers: Richard Petty, Lee Petty, Kyle Petty
Petty Enterprises was one of the very first teams to be raced in all tiers of NASCAR season. It was founded by an engineer, Lee Petty, in 1949 and then later owned by one of the most successful drivers, Richard Petty. Under Richard Petty Motorsport, the team achieved hundreds of race wins in the early 1960s. In 2023, due to financial problems, the team rebranded as Legacy Motor Club.
1. Hendrick Motorsport
Founded: 1984
Total Cup Wins: 300+
Championship Titles: 14
Notable Drivers: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase Elliott
When talking about the most successful racing team, there is none other than Hendrick Motorsport. Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has grown into NASCAR's modern powerhouse. With more than 300 wins and still counting, the team is considered one of the most successful NASCAR teams in history.
Which is your favorite NASCAR team? Please let us know in the comments below.
