who is the greatest driver ever?

[dirtcrazy4u]

Well I will say this, The drivers of the 60's had much less protection than drivers of today. They had concrete walls that stopped them. They had tires that compared to today are garbage. That along with other things seperated drivers in each of there careers. Mario has that F 1 title which pushes him above others. Larson stays healthy I think he can go down as one of the best. I hope he does run at indy, I do not like the open wheel racing you see today, it's mostly who brings the most money to the table racing. I can see Ganassi offering Kyle a indy ride, and his cars are always front runners at the speedway. If he wins the knoxville nationals this week social media is going to go crazy. Sponsorship commitments may keep him away from dirt racing if he wins the title in nascrap. I say enjoy it while you can, he is 1 of the best out there right now.

[Barbecueboy]

Greatest ever I have no idea……great that doesn’t get the recognition they should I could talk about.

Let’s start with David Pearson and Mark Donahue.

[Bforwarned]

Too much variables to consider. Steve Kinser has to be near the top with 20 World Titles. John Force with 11 World Titles but I am not sure if that is driving or just hanging on for the ride LOL.

[Josh Bayko]

As far as pure talent?

Kyle Larson, and it's not close.

[NeedforLM$peed]

Too much variables to consider. Steve Kinser has to be near the top with 20 World Titles. John Force with 11 World Titles but I am not sure if that is driving or just hanging on for the ride LOL.

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

[TerryM]

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

Apparently loosely. Very loosely.

[CIRF]

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]

Junior Banks from Hot Spot Kentucky.

[ride height]

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

[t3r3e3]

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]

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]

Terry Phillips?

[dirtcrazy4u]

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]

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]

“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.