List of NASCAR owner-drivers


An owner-driver in NASCAR is a NASCAR driver who owns the car they are driving. The practice has been established since the beginning of NASCAR in 1949. However, owner-drivers are almost nonexistent today in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, primarily due to the expense and responsibilities involved, essentially having two jobs in one. However, there are many owner-driver teams in the lower tier Xfinity Series and Gander Outdoors Truck Series. Owner-driver is not to be confused with a driver who owns a separate team, such as Dale Earnhardt, who fielded his own team but still drove for RCR.

History

When NASCAR started in the late 1940s nearly all drivers owned their cars and would drive their car to the track. While sponsorship was useful, it was not essential to win at this time, leaving less burden for the driver. But by the 1970s and 1980s more and more drivers drove for another team. From 1980 to now, with the exception of Alan Kulwicki and Tony Stewart, no NASCAR Cup Series champion was an owner-driver.

Notable owner-drivers in NASCAR's national series

The following list is a list of owner-drivers: