How Many Drivers Competed in Winston Cup?

I'm working on a project (details later...I hope) that took me into one of my favorite (due to my age , I suppose) racing eras....the Winston era for cup racing.

I just received a bit of very special information from our friends over at http://racing-reference.info ....the best racing data base I've ever encountered. Let's see how many of you can come close to guessing the answer. Here is the question:

How many drivers competed in at least one race in the Winston Cup era...1972 -2003?

The winner will receive a free tour (airfare and accommodations not included) of the Goat Rodeo Garage studios in normally sunny Myrtle Beach, SC, a peanut butter sandwich, bag of popcorn, and a cold beverage (whatever we have in the fridge).

WOW this prize is equal to one of us winning the Daytona 500. I have no idea of what the correct answer is but if the winner does not accept the award I will gladly go in their place.

So, can we bid on the sandwich if PKL doesn't like peanut butter??

And today's number would sure be small now that everybody is "locked in" and we don't get "new blood" every week like we used to get.

Buttered, please.

I haven't looked up any info, but I'm gonna throw out the names of Dave Marcis, Ricky Rudd and Terry Labonte as possible candidates for most starts during that time frame.

I would say Richard Petty to that one PK

PK, I was going to ask if you had at least the top-5? Didn't think RP would be in thre since he didn't run the final 11 seasons of Winston sponsorship, but not many who did would have been there in the beginning.

Don't hold out on us too long.

Thanks.... DW never crossed my mind for some reason and I didn't think of Elliott in that bunch, either.

Now... give us the list of all-time most Strickly Stock/GN/Cup starts, which I know IS led by the King.

Now you are talking real racing,not this sissy hamby mamby type of racing old DW reefers to. When dirt was part of life,Racing Life,when you had to perform to your best. Some even had part time jobs at the local general store delivering "stuff" to the farmers back up in the hills... at nite no less..

I'm talking all-time, from 1949-2012 - not pre-Winston.

This is the list as posted on Jayski, but I can't vouch for its accuracy (and nobody else can, either).

All Time Cup Series Starts [wins]:
1) Richard Petty, 1185 [200, 16.9%]
2) Ricky Rudd, 906 [23]
3) Dave Marcis, 883 [5]
4) Terry Labonte, 879* [22]
5) Mark Martin, 841* [40]
6) Kyle Petty, 829 [8]
7) Bill Elliott, 827* [44]
8) Darrell Waltrip, 809 [84, 10.4%]
9) Michael Waltrip, 764* [4]
10) Sterling Marlin, 748 [10]
11) Ken Schrader, 744* [4]
12) Bobby Allison, 718 [84, 11.7%]
13) Rusty Wallace, 706 [55]
14) Buddy Baker, 699 [19]
15) Dale Earnhardt, 676 [76, 11.2%]
16) Dale Jarrett, 668 [32]
16) Bobby Labonte, 668* [21]
18) Jeff Gordon, 667* [85]
19) JD McDuffie, 653 [0]
20) Buck Baker, 636 [46]
21) Jeff Burton, 624* [20]
22) James Hylton, 601 [2]
23) Joe Nemechek, 599* [4]
24) Geoff Bodine, 575 [18]
25) David Pearson, 574 [105, 18.3%]
26) Buddy Arrington, 560 [0]
26) Cale Yarborough, 560 [83]
28) Elmo Langley, 536 [2]
29) Benny Parsons, 526 [21]
30) Morgan Shepherd, 513 [4]
31) Neil Castles, 498 [0]
32) Wendell Scott, 495 [1]
33) Brett Bodine, 480 [1]
34) Tony Stewart, 478* [46]
34) Jimmy Spencer, 478 [2]
36) Harry Gant, 474 [18]
* = active drivers, who ran a race within the last year or so
(unofficial - compiled from many sources)(6-10-2012)

If you had asked me all-time starts I could have nailed positions 1-4!!

Due to the early retirement ages, as well as high death and injury rates, not to mention the low wages, our pioneers are not well represented in the number of starts listings, are they?

My original home track PKL although it was paved when I started in 1956.

It was built as an oil/dirt track. Very fast with banked turns. Half mile.

I went to my first stock car race there as a kid in 1952. I was hooked.

It was one of the most popular tracks in the country when it was dirt.

It was NASCAR Sanctioned and ran weekly races Modified/Sportsman and ran year round. The drivers from the north came down and raced in the winter.

There were usually two to three Grand National races a year held at the track.

Sad to say the track is no longer there. There is a road course on the site now. Palm Beach International Speedway or Raceway (not sure) which.

Tommie,

Here's a 1962 Bobby Day photo of Red Farmer at Palm Beach Speedway as posted on the Bobby Allison web site:

Thanks Dave,

I remember the car.

I was probably at the track when this was taken although I moved from Lantana Florida, just below West Palm in 1962 and came to Georgia.

I was born in Robertson County Tenn just above Nashville and we moved to Florida when I was 8 years old. We moved to Ga. in 1962 and been here ever since.

My Mother was from Georgia. Wheeler County. She was a Sutton.

WOW, all these replies and only one guess...? Did y'all just think since she blurted out an answer that she was right. Doesn't match my answer...and I have the complete list with the number for each driver.

As far as I'm concerned the peanut butter sammich is still up fer grabs.

That car is an Alabama car He ran it in fla too but it is part of those dang sloped top sedans that Alabama Gang built it was in the 60's First place I saw it was Valdosta when they came over to take the trophy home

He has a long following starting in S Fl. I think I still have the Writeup about him somewhere. I will rattle your brain with some stuff you might say Aint no way

Kyle at #6 always stuns me when I see this list. I guess its because I remember race #1 for him overall (ARCA) and Cup (1979 Talladega). Or perhaps it was his single digit # of wins. But to think he ran more races than drivers such as Cale, Bobby, Buddy, and Darrell just blows my mind.

Going to get my Welch's grape jelly, lol!

Draw us a map to the studio so we know where to pick up that sandwich!

Jeff - if you want someone to dig deeper and challenge the answer that PKL has confidently put on the table, you may have to sweeten the offer. Maybe toss in a can of viena sausages and sleeve of crackers? A pack of Nabs perhaps?

Oh no!!!

*Snicker* - Couldn't resist it. I leave little nuggets like that scattered about the interwebs wondering who might find 'em.

Ok.... what does this list represent??

1 Buck Baker
2 Lee Petty
3 Jim Paschal
4 Herb Thomas
5 Richard Petty
6 Tim Flock
7 Junior Johnson
8 Ned Jarrett
9 Jack Smith
10 Speedy Thompson
11 Fonty Flock
12 Wendell Scott
13 Joe Eubanks
14 Tiny Lund
15 Jimmie Lewallen
16 Neil Castles
17 Dick Rathman
18 Bill Blair
19 Roy Tyner
20 Joe Weatherly

My vote is 842.

Ok, I'll take a stab at it..........And just estimating that over the course of a year, there would be 30+ full time drivers, with about 15 or so just running a couple of races a year. Now figure that about every 5 years or so, you'll get, say, 10 new faces......My guess would be 625 (ish)

That list, my dear reader, is the ranking of all-time starts in Strickly Stock/GN, et al in all NASCAR races all years on DIRT Tracks.

I guess it's a good thing I have never knocked Schaeffer's anywhere, anytime!

ish?

You just did by misspelling it. Schaefer only has one "F" in it. haha

According to R-R.info, yes - 792 is the number of drivers who started a Winston Cup race from 1972 through 2003. But my info is that 1971 is considered the 1st year of Winston Cup. Using that as my criterion, I came up with 842. The King won the 1971 championship - and was crowned as the first Winston Cup champion.

I have somewatermelonflavored bbq pickled lips...!

I should have never trusted a woman's spelling, lol!!

Reply by Pkl 47 minutes ago

TMC, I had to laugh. Earlier, I was reading comments under MM's race review. Saw someone praising the value of Schaeffers and just knew it had to be you. I was right! Small world! LOL

You, sir are correct in 1971, not 1972 being the 1st year.

I believe the Daytona twins DID count as official races from 1959 through the Winston's first season in 1971. They were trimmed from the 'official' schedule beginning in 1972. From what I can tell, R-R.info has it coded accurately as to including them in 1971 start totals but excluding them from 1972 forward.

792 1/2-------

Thanks

Harlow Reynolds

Lynchburg,Va.

Give or take a few.......but since some folks 'done went and cheated worse than a crew chief' I guess I'm out of this race. lol

I just love a good debate. Sometimes the best ones get stirred up with the least amount of stimulation.

Here at the RR HQ, we have long been aware that perhaps the most popular era of racing history (to those using the web) would be the Winston Era. But we purposely began attempting to stir the minds of older generation fans/folks andfocusedour early efforts on those who could helpdocumentthe stories for "earlier" pioneers. The earlier era(s) are the toughest because we are losing those folks way too fast and many who can recall those stories are not on the web.

We are working on a project (for a ZMN client) that relates to the Winston Era that just might bring about the opportunity for us to begin our focus on those drivers, crew, and their stories. When I asked for the Winston Era information, I mistakenly asked for 1972 to 2003, and as Dave and TMC first pointed out...the Winston era began in 1971.

So, PKL, it really doesn't matter if the 1972-2003 number is 792 or 794, but it was fun watching you defend your turf. I promise this will not be the last time I attempt to ruffle your feathers. Now that I see how easy it is, I just may stir the pot some more.

The fact that this post and thread stirred so much interest (in such a short time) is proof enough for me...we need to move our focus into those Winston decades. I do not mean we will abandon the earlier years and efforts to continue to seek out those who can tell the great stories from those days, I just mean we will begin paying additional attention to the Winston Era.

And as soon as I'm able to divulge the details of this project (assuming it comes to fruition) I will.

Does anybody know of another topic we can address that would allow us to gang up on PKL?

I loved the "friendly" repartee that was zinging back and forth but.......didn't anyone ever tell you there's a couple things you just don't do. Like tug on superman's cape, spit into the wind or ruffle the feather's of PKL. haha.

There's an old racer here in Florida named Cush Revette with as many feature wins as anybody and I learned a long time ago Never try and pass him on the outside. Tuck in behind him and hope for a rare mistake or be content to come in second cause IF you try the outside you wont be second.lol.

Jeff take a hint from someone much older than you and send her the trophy or a loaf of day old bread but whatever you do do it soon. lol.....great post and good luck with your project.

Tommy, are you referring to West Palm? If so daddy's first GN win came ther in 1956.

Jeff,

Sometimes I miss the point but I knew from your first responce you were being an agitator.

"Agitate: to disturb; to upset; to stir or move with violence; to try to arouse public interest." A first I gave you the benefit of the doubt and thought you were trying to arouse interest, but after "Now that I see how easy it is, I just may stir the pot some more."I'm not so sure now. LOL. Think you are enjoying it now. LOL. As that guy on TV says "We kid because we care."

That Peanut Butter sandwich gonna get stale ---unless someone answered the 64 cent question.

I cant believe it went quiet so fast. Almost like maybe a rain day at the track--everybody that knows must be setting back waiting on the puddles to soak in ..

Pierogi recipes.

I'm glad that I just read the posts instead of giving the correct answer. That would have ruined it.

Later ya'll.

Misogynist,,,,? Is that allowed in the ROE?

Is that the doc my wife sees annually?

I think she sees the Mr. Gynist.