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Dale Earnhardt Edges David Pearson: NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Drivers Tourney

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

June 24, 2009 1:02 pm UTC 4 Comments

It’s Earnhardt at the flag!

After over 60 head-to-head match ups between 64 of NASCAR’s Greatest All-time drivers, the votes are in. In hundreds of blog comments, Twitter tweets and radio interviews,  On Pit Row’s listeners and readers narrowly chose Dale Earnhardt as the winner of our 64 Greatest Drivers of NASCAR Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

Earnhardt’s supporters gave him victories over Bobby Isaac, Rex White, Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson leading up to the Four Wide Final.

There, The Intimidator’s fans voted him over Darrell Waltrip and finally, David Pearson to win the tourney.

Here is a sample of some of the comments we got from voters in the final face-off between Earnhardt and Pearson.

…Pearson was untouchable at Charlotte and Darlington, Earnhardt the best at Talladega. Had Pearson run full schedules his entire career, who knows how many titles he would have won? Bottom line, though, in a head-to-head race in comparable equipment at almost any track, I’d pick Pearson–unless Earnhardt wrecked him. – Reid Spencer

my vote is for the 7 time champ – Steve1381

For me it has to be a split decision. Dale Earnhardt Sr. gets my vote for charisma, showmanship and heart. While David Pearson for mechanical driving skill, determination and heart.Dream season would have been to have the two on the track at the same time! Now that would have put the butts in the seat. - Zoey

It’s always difficult to compare great drivers who raced in different eras under different circumstances. Are we guaging talent…or impact on the sport? I don’t think there is really a balanced way to compare talent between these two since they didn’t compete. But, in my opinion, Earnhardt’s personal accomplishments and impact on the sport were greater than Pearson’s. – Jeff Gilder

DALE EARNHARDT ALL THE WAY. – donnie lee redd jr.

Dale Earnhardt all the way. Dale is arguably the most talented driver in Nascar history. Seven championships in first sixteen seasons is remarkable. He also started at a much later age than drivers today. Second is point standings at age 49 remarkable achievement. – Dave Watson

Here’s the complete bracket for the tournament. Thanks to everyone.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media Inc

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt, Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends 

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Junior Johnson vs Dale Earnhardt: NASCAR’s 8 Greatest Drivers Face off

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

April 29, 2009 1:17 pm UTC 21 Comments

Hard scrabble beginnings didn’t hold these two back. It was all about winning and they both won a bunch themselves and then went on to win some more as car owners. Elite doesn’t really describe the caliber of drivers that remain in the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

Junior Johnson won 50 times as a driver and his drivers won 139 races and six Cup series championships for him as an owner. But this tourney isn’t about owners. Johnson won the second ever Daytona 500. He had 46 career poles in 313 starts. Tom Wolfe wrote an article for Esquire magazine in ’65, calling Johnson “The Last American Hero”. He wasn’t that, but he was one of the greatest.

Dale Earnhardt won 76 times in 676 Cup Series starts and was one of only two seven time series champions. His win total is seventh best all-time. He won consecutive titles three different times and was a series runner-up three times. Earnhardt only won the Daytona 500 once – in ’98 – but is the all-time leader in wins at Daytona International Speedway with 34.

Earnhardt got by the popular Ned Jarrett in the round of 16 while Junior Johnson won a close one with Awesome Bill Elliott. I think this will be a tough one. Closer than most and maybe the toughest match up yet. Tell us who you think should move on to the final, four-wide finish.

Filed under: Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends 

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Stop Jeff Gordon Or Not: Last Day to Vote in the Sweet 16 Greatest NASCAR Drivers

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

April 22, 2009 10:42 am UTC 2 Comments

Mindy Monday says pu-lease don’t let Jeff Gordon win. But you can vote your bias any way you want. Here’s the recap of the Sweet 16 in the  NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

We’ll leave the voting open until midnight PST.  Join Bootie Barker, Geoff Bodine, Bobby Labonte and many others and let us know who you like.

Filed under: Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, Modified Racing, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, Terry Labonte, The King, The Pettys 

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Dale Earnhardt vs Ned Jarrett: NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Drivers Sweet 16

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

April 19, 2009 2:15 pm UTC 21 Comments

Our final Sweet 16 match up in the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie has the fathers of two of NASCAR’s most popular stars squaring off for the final Elite Eight spot in the Bench Racing region. Ironhead against Gentleman Ned. 

Dale Earnhardt won 76 times in 676 Cup Series starts and was one of only two seven time series champions. His win total is seventh best all-time. He won consecutive titles three different times and was a series runner-up three times. Earnhardt only won the Daytona 500 once – in ’98 – but is the all-time leader in wins at Daytona International Speedway with 34.

 

Ned Jarrett is better known to most fans today as the father of Dale Jarrett and one of NASCAR’s best announcers. But ”Gentleman Ned” won two Sprint Cup Championships in the sixties and had 50 wins – tied for tenth all-time –  in 352 career starts. Jarrett won an amazing 28 races during the ’64 and ’65 seasons. He actually won the Southern 500 by 14 laps, the largest victory margin in NASCAR history.

Ned defeated the Busch Series demon Jack Ingram in round two and the legendary Cotton Owens in the round of 64. Earnhardt squeaked by Bobby Isaac in a near upset in the opener and bested Rex White in the second. Earnhardt has had some scares and this is his toughest opponent yet. Tell us who you like in the comment section.

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Dale Jarrett, Darlington Speedway, Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR, NASCAR & the Media, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, Sprint Cup Series 

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Jack Ingram vs Ned Jarrett: 64 Greatest NASCAR Drivers Round 2

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

April 8, 2009 2:23 pm UTC 9 Comments

One of the most dominant drivers ever to run the Busch Series gets a crack at a second round bracket match with a 50 race, two-time Cup champ in the Bench RacingNASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

Jack Ingram won three consecutive Grand National Division championships (’72-’74). He then won two more in ’82 and ’85. His 31 Busch Series wins were the most ever until Mark Martin passed him in ’97.  29 of his 31 wins were on short tracks. Ingram is also one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers.

Ned Jarrett is better known to most fans today as the father of Dale Jarrett and one of NASCAR’s best announcers. But “Gentleman Ned” won two Sprint Cup Championships in the sixties and had 50 wins – tied for tenth all-time –  in 352 career starts. Jarrett won an amazing 28 races during the ’64 and ’65 seasons. He actually won the Southern 500 by 14 laps, the largest victory margin in NASCAR history.

Jarrett edged Cotton Owens in the first round and Ingram won over Buddy Baker in a close one. This is Two Cup championships against five Busch titles. Please leave us your comments.

Filed under: Busch Series, Mark Martin, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, Nationwide Series 

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Ned Jarrett vs Cotton Owens: NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Drivers Match Up

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

March 19, 2009 5:19 pm UTC 7 Comments

Two of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers square off in this first round toss up. This one is definitely for those who remember how it was “back in the day”.  NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie continues with the round of 64.

Ned Jarrett is better known to most fans today as the father of Dale Jarrett and one of NASCAR’s best announcers. But “Gentleman Ned” won two Sprint Cup Championships in the sixties and had 50 wins – tied for tenth all-time –  in 352 career starts. Jarrett won an amazing 28 races during the ’64 and ’65 seasons. He actually won the Southern 500 by 14 laps, the largest victory margin in NASCAR history.

Cotton Owens doesn’t have Ned Jarrett’s numbers. He had nine Cup series wins in 160 starts with 84 top tens and ten poles. In 1961 he had 11 top fives in only 17 starts. Then he retired. He came out of retirement in 1964 – supposedly to prove that he could beat his neighbor, David Pearson. He beat Pearson for his last win, and two races later, in his last career race, he finished second – to Ned Jarrett.

Both of these gentleman are among NASCAR’s Fifty Greatest Drivers. It’s your job to decide who goes to the round of 32 in our tournament. Leave a comment.

Filed under: Dale Jarrett, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends 

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