who is the greatest driver ever?

**TerryM** · 08-13-2021, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by NeedforLM$peed

Those are considered world titles? Or is that term used loosely

Apparently loosely. Very loosely.

**CIRF** · 08-13-2021, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Josh Bayko

As far as pure talent?

Kyle Larson, and it's not close.

You may well be correct. I certainly am not qualified to dispute your statement. All I'm saying is there was the constant reminder in the form of regular driver deaths back when there were no roll cages, or fire suits and the helmets were little more than glorified football helmets of that time. It took immense testicular dimensions to strap your ass into those death traps. Larson may well have those dimensions at his disposal but we'll never know. It took raw, undiluted bravery to survive and win in open c0ckpit, open wheel cars that had no roll cages and very little fire protection. THAT is the variable that cannot be downplayed or ignored.

A driver doesn't have to possess that kind of bravery to be a great wheel man, but they had to have that kind of bravery to drive those cars without fire suits, full containment seats, cages, wings and halo's.

**4Barrel** · 08-14-2021, 09:06 AM

Junior Banks from Hot Spot Kentucky.

**ride height** · 08-14-2021, 09:15 AM

A.J. but Larson is definately in the running.

**t3r3e3** · 08-14-2021, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by ride height

A.J. but Larson is definately in the running.

The rest of the world would probably say Ayrton Senna, and in terms of pure talent they�d have a strong case. The 80�s F1 turbo cars were insane, and F1 is generally seen as the pinnacle of motorsports. Senna ran great in all conditions, and could consistently take middling cars and get quality finishes. The guys running Group B rally were also nuts, but several of the best didn�t live through Group B.

Stateside, Foyt and Andretti will always be at the top because they won in multiple disciplines, including dirt, F1, LeMans, Indycar, NASCAR, etc. Guys with crossover talent like Stewart and if he continues, Larson, also fit that mold. Other guys like Pearson, Petty, Earnhardt, Gordon, Johnson, Kinser, Schwartz, Moyer, Bloomquist, Glidden, Force, dominated individual series but didn�t cross into other disciplines.

**CIRF** · 08-14-2021, 10:29 AM

Mario Andretti is on record as saying that back when he began winning on a regular basis he would get Christmas cards in July from some of his peers. Mario said he would seek out those who sent those Christmas cars in July to ask why they would do such a thing. They all said that at the rate he was going he wouldn't live to see another Christmas so they wanted to send their greeting while he was still alive.

**Snake X3** · 08-14-2021, 10:50 AM

Terry Phillips?

**dirtcrazy4u** · 08-14-2021, 12:01 PM

Pure talent ? Let's all remember one thing. Guys today have wrap around seats, neck restraints, power steering, wings and downforce, fresh air or cold air systems. Your drivers of today could not drive the cars of yesteryear period. Wasn't it Lagano ? I know someone did, that drove a nascar car of yesteryear, and when he came in the first words out of his mouth where 'I don't know how they did it'.

**Highside Hustler25** · 08-14-2021, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by TerryM

Indy is a joke. I would never include that racing in any greatest driver discussion.

Lol, you'd wet yourself at those speeds. Who you kiddin.

**ride height** · 08-14-2021, 12:15 PM

�A.J. , we couldn�t beat that SOB no matter what we tried�... Smokey Yunick. That�s a compliment, trust me. Us older guys remember A.J. actually racing and the younger people weren�t around and that�s not their fault, but A.J. was something, I assure you youngsters.

**ride height** · 08-14-2021, 12:16 PM

Kyle Larson though....wow. He�s something too....just needs to keep doing that. Too early.

**ride height** · 08-14-2021, 12:27 PM

This is a good video for those who never saw Foyt in person....it�s Smokey talking https://youtu.be/KGoMKX-Hra4

**Highside Hustler25** · 08-14-2021, 12:27 PM

Anthony Foyt Jr. hands down. No contest.

**JabberJaws83** · 08-14-2021, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Highside Hustler25

Anthony Foyt Jr. hands down. No contest.

It�s either AJ or Mario and everyone else is fighting for third

**GrocMax** · 08-14-2021, 02:55 PM

Watch the Daytona race Mario won. Now you really know what 'loose' is.

**obamaracing#1** · 08-14-2021, 10:41 PM

Gary Balough

**TerryM** · 08-14-2021, 10:45 PM

Gotta love the old people who think nothing new could be as good as anything old lol. These are the same idiots who scold the neighbor kid because the kid hit a whiffle ball into their yard.