Only 17 drivers in premier series history have won 40 races -- and just one, Jimmie Johnson, will be an active driver in 2017.
It's a story that bears watching in 2017 as three drivers have 40 in their sights. It's worth noting that of the 17 drivers, from Richard Petty (200 wins) to Mark Martin (40), everyone eligible for the NASCAR Hall of Fame has either been inducted, or in Martin's case, will be inducted.
Jeff Gordon (93 wins) and Tony Stewart (49 wins) aren't eligible yet, but widely are considered locks to be enshrined as well.
Here's a look at three current drivers with 40 in their sights, as well as a full list of drivers with 40 or more wins in NASCAR's history.
Kyle Busch
Career wins: 38
Rank all time: Tied for 19th
Outlook: Given that Busch has won nine races in two years with Adam Stevens as his crew chief, it will be a surprise if he doesn't reach 40 in 2017. A banner season (which we'll qualify as six wins or more) would put him in range of catching Bill Elliott on the all-time list.
Matt Kenseth
Career wins: 38
Rank all time: Tied for 19th
Outlook: Be cautiously optimistic about Kenseth's chances. He's run slightly hot and cold since joining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013, at least when it comes to wins. Including that season, his wins per year have been: 7, 0, 5, 2. On one hand, he's due for an uptick. On the other, there aren't many 44-year-olds who suddenly see a surge in performance.
Kevin Harvick
Career wins: 35
Rank all time: 22nd
Outlook: Harvick needs five wins to get to 40, and he's done that in his career twice before, most recently in 2014. Although he and crew chief Rodney Childers have fielded one of the fastest cars in the garage for three years, he's probably more likely to reach 40 wins in 2018, given that Stewart-Haas Racing is undergoing a manufacturer change from Chevrolet to Ford and hinky issues likely will pop up throughout the season.
Drivers with 40 or more premier series wins
| Rank | Driver | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Richard Petty | 200 |
| 2. | David Pearson | 105 |
| 3. | Jeff Gordon | 93 |
| t-4. | Bobby Allison | 84 |
| t-4. | Darrell Waltrip | 84 |
| 6. | Cale Yarborough | 83 |
| 7. | Jimmie Johnson | 80 |
| 8. | Dale Earnhardt | 76 |
| 9. | Rusty Wallace | 55 |
| 10. | Lee Petty | 54 |
| 11. | Ned Jarrett | 50 |
| 12. | Junior Johnson | 50 |
| 13. | Tony Stewart | 49 |
| 14. | Herb Thomas | 48 |
| 15. | Buck Baker | 46 |
| 16. | Bill Elliott | 44 |
| 17. | Mark Martin | 40 |