DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 1, 1985: Bill Elliott became ?Million Dollar Bill? after winning the 1985 Southern 500, NASCAR?s biggest paycheck at that time. (Photo by ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images)

All-time team for all eras at Darlington

By RJ Kraft | Published: August 27, 2019 11

ISC Archives | CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images

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DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 03: Fans look on prior to the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 3, 2017 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sarah Crabill | Getty Images

The throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway celebrates and honors the history of NASCAR. Several of the sport's biggest names found great success at the track "Too Tough to Tame." Who would make up an all-time team from all eras at the South Carolina track? We attempt to take a shot at that with all selections made entirely based on the drivers' stats at Darlington.

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DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 02: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Throwback Toyota, stands on the grid prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 2, 2018 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Honorable mention: Denny Hamlin

Darlington wins: 2 (2010, 2017)
Top fives: 7
Top 10s: 11
Starts: 13
Years raced: 2006-present
Quick hit: Hamlin holds the best average finish among active drivers at 6.2.

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MACON, GA - JUNE 6, 1967: Crew chief Dale Inman (L) goes over a race plan with Richard Petty. The chat paid off, as they won the Macon 300. (Photo by ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images)

ISC Archives | CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images

Honorable mention: Richard Petty

Darlington wins: 3 (1966, sweep in 1967)
Top fives: 25
Top 10s: 34
Starts: 65
Years raced: 1959-1992
Quick hit: Petty's 25 top fives are the most all time at the track, but he did not win in his last 50 starts here.

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DARLINGTON, SC - APRIL 2: Driver Harry Gant celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the TranSouth 500 race on April 2, 1989 at the Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Dozier Mobley/Getty Images)

Dozier Mobley | Getty Images

Honorable mention: Harry Gant

Darlington wins: 4 (1983, 1984, 1989, 1991)
Top fives: 9
Top 10s: 15
Starts: 31
Years raced: 1979-1994
Quick hit: Four of Gant's 18 career Cup wins came at Darlington -- one of the toughest tracks on the circuit.

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DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 1: Driver Bobby Allison poses with trophy while drinking a Coca-Cola on September 1, 1975 after winning the Southern 500 race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Photo by Dozier Mobley/Getty Images)

Dozier Mobley | Getty Images

Honorable mention: Bobby Allison

Darlington wins: 5 (1971, 1972, sweep of 1975 races, 1983)
Top fives: 13
Top 10s: 26
Starts: 45
Years raced: 1966-1988
Quick hit: Four of Allison's five Darlington wins came over a nine-race stretch from 1971 to 1975.

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DARLINGTON, SC - APRIL 8, 1979: Darrell Waltrip survived a last-lap battle with Richard Petty to win the Rebel 500 at Darlington. (Photo by ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images)

ISC Archives | CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images

Honorable mention: Darrell Waltrip

Darlington wins: 5 (1977, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1992)
Top fives: 18
Top 10s: 23
Starts: 55
Years raced: 1973-2000
Quick hit: Waltrip's final Cup victory came at Darlington in his self-owned car.

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DARLINGTON, SC — September 2, 1974: Cale Yarborough holds his trophy in victory lane at Darlington Raceway after winning the Southern 500 NASCAR Cup race. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

Honorable mention: Cale Yarborough

Darlington wins: 5 (1968, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1982)
Top fives: 11
Top 10s: 17
Starts: 49
Years raced: 1957-1987
Quick hit: All five of the South Carolina native's Darlington wins were in Southern 500 races.

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ISC Archives | CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images

4: Bill Elliott

Darlington wins: 5 (sweep of 1985 races, 1988, 1992, 1994)
Top fives: 22
Top 10s: 35
Starts: 52
Years raced: 1977-2008
Quick hit: Elliott owns the most top 10s (35) among all drivers at Darlington and earned the Winston Million there in 1985.

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DARLINGTON, SC - MAY 11: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Cromax Pro Chevrolet, climbs into his car during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on May 11, 2013 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Geoff Burke | Getty Images

3: Jeff Gordon

Darlington wins: 7 (1995, sweep of 1996 races, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2007 )
Top fives: 19
Top 10s: 23
Starts: 36
Years raced: 1993-2016
Quick hit: With crew chief Ray Evernham, Gordon won four straight Southern 500s from 1995 to 1998 -- a feat matched by no driver. Gordon also won the Winston Million with his win in 1997.

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DARLINGTON, SC — September 6, 1987: Dale Earnhardt raises 10 fingers in the air in victory lane at Darlington Raceway after winning the Southern 500 NASCAR Cup race, his 10th Cup win of the year. Earnhardt would add one more victory to his total on his way to the NASCAR Cup title. During the year, Earnhardt finished either first or second in 16 of the 28 Cup races. Earnhardt’s Richard Childress Racing gasman Danny “Chocolate” Myers looks on at left. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

2: Dale Earnhardt

Darlington wins: 9 (1982, 1986, sweep of 1987 races, 1989, sweep of 1990 races, 1993, 1994)
Top fives: 19
Top 10s: 24
Starts: 44
Years raced: 1978-2000
Quick hit: Earnhardt's 2,648 laps led are the most at Darlington and should remain at the top for a very long time. The closest active driver is Kyle Busch at 598 laps led.

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DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 5, 1976: David Pearson after winning the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, one of his 10 NASCAR Cup wins during the year. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

1: David Pearson

Darlington wins: 10 (1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, sweep of 1976 races, 1977, 1979, 1980)
Top fives: 24
Top 10s: 30
Starts: 47
Years raced: 1960-1985
Quick hit: The Spartanburg, South Carolina, native dominated this joint in the 1970s. His 12 poles are the most in the series at the track.