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During NASCAR's first 12 seasons, Lee Petty posted a series-best 53 wins, 227 top-five finishes and 327 top-10s in 418 starts between 1949-60 -- and was the Cup Series champion in 1954, '58 and '59.Which Cup Series driver had the best four-year run?
By NASCAR.COM
December 16, 2008
03:43 PM EST
December 16, 2008
03:43 PM EST
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With NASCAR's 60th season in the rear-view mirror -- and the ripple effect of Jimmie Johnson's third consecutive Cup Series championship still making its way across the landscape -- the debate is raging over the No. 48 team's place in history.
Regardless of the Chase system, the race results speak for themselves. It is those race results, broken into four-year intervals, which NASCAR.COM has examined and now presents with no preconceived notion of which driver is the "best" in regards to era, point system or rule changes (read: lucky dog passes).
• Check the stats and then weigh in with your choice
for which Cup Series driver had the best four-year run.
Four-Year Leaders
| Years (Races) |
Starts | Wins | Top-5s | Top-10s | Avg. Finish | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-08 (144) |
16 tied | 144 | J.Johnson | 26 | J.Johnson | 61 | J.Johnson | 92 | J.Johnson | 10.910 |
| 2001-04 (144) |
13 tied | 144 | J.Gordon | 17 | J.Gordon | 62 | J.Gordon | 89 | J.Gordon | 12.333 |
| 1997-00 (133) |
11 tied | 133 | J.Gordon | 33 | D.Jarrett | 78 | D.Jarrett | 98 | D.Jarrett | 9.639 |
| 1993-96 (123) |
14 tied | 123 | R.Wallace | 25 | D.Earnhardt | 69 | D.Earnhardt | 86 | D.Earnhardt | 9.032 |
| 1989-92 (116) |
14 tied | 116 | D.Earnhardt | 19 | M.Martin | 54 | D.Earnhardt | 78 | M.Martin | 10.422 |
| 1985-88 (115) |
12 tied | 115 | B.Elliott | 25 | D.Earnhardt | 60 | D.Earnhardt | 82 | D.Earnhardt | 9.156 |
| 1981-84 (121) |
8 tied | 121 | D.Waltrip | 37 | D.Waltrip | 73 | D.Waltrip | 90 | B.Allison | 8.769 |
| 1977-80 (122) |
7 tied | 122 | C.Y'borough | 29 | C.Y'borough | 86 | C.Y'borough | 95 | C.Y'borough | 7.049 |
| 1973-76 (118) |
3 tied | 118 | R.Petty | 32 | R.Petty | 77 | R.Petty | 86 | D.Pearson | 8.225 |
| 1969-72 (181) |
J.Hylton | 176 | R.Petty | 57 | R.Petty | 121 | J.Hylton R.Petty |
138 | R.Petty | 6.024 |
| 1965-68 (202) |
W.Scott | 190 | R.Petty | 55 | R.Petty | 99 | R.Petty | 107 | D.Pearson | 7.333 |
| 1961-64 (222) |
N.Jarrett | 210 | R.Petty | 33 | R.Petty | 117 | N.Jarrett | 153 | J.Weatherly | 7.289 |
| 1957-60 (192) |
L.Petty | 172 | L.Petty | 27 | L.Petty | 96 | L.Petty | 141 | L.Petty | 7.157 |
| 1953-56 (175) |
L.Petty | 159 | H.Thomas | 32 | B.Baker | 94 | B.Baker | 126 | B.Baker | 6.962 |
| 1949-52 (181) |
L.Petty | 87 | T.Flock H.Thomas |
16 | T.Flock | 47 | L. Petty | 64 | L.Petty | 8.379 |
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© 2001-2012 NASCAR | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. NASCAR.COM is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network.
