Decades ago, it was believed NASCAR Cup drivers reached their peak at ages 35-45. Clearly, that's not always the case.
This list shows the number of races the top 10 drivers on NASCAR’s Cup Series all-time wins list won during that 10-year span (age 35-45 stretch), how old they were when they won the most races in a season, and the team they were with at that time.
Richard Petty - 27 wins in 1967 (age 30 season)
Richard Petty – 200 career victories, 49 wins between ages 35-45. Most wins during a season occurred in 1967. He won 27 of the 48 races in which he competed. There were 49 races that year. He was 29 when the 1967 season began and celebrated his 30th birthday that July. He also claimed his second championship that year. Team: Petty Enterprises.
David Pearson - 16 wins in 1968 (age 33 season)
David Pearson – 105 victories, 48 wins between ages 35-45. Most wins during a season occurred in 1968. He won 16 of the 48 races in which he competed. There were 49 races in 1968. He was 33 years old. He claimed his second championship that year. Team: Holman-Moody.
Jeff Gordon - 13 wins in 1998 (age 27 season)
Jeff Gordon – 93 victories, 18 wins between ages 35-45. Most wins during a season occurred in 1998. He won 13 of 33 races. He was 26 years old when the season began and celebrated his 27th birthday in August of that year. He won his third championship that season. Team: Hendrick Motorsports.
Bobby Allison - 11 wins in 1971 (age 33 season)
Bobby Allison – 85 victories, 40 wins between ages 35-45. Most wins during a season occurred in 1971. He won 11 of the 42 races in which he competed. There were 48 races that year. He was 33 years old. Teams: Bobby Allison Racing; Holman-Moody; Melvin Joseph.
Darrell Waltrip - 12 wins in 1981, '82 (age 34, 35 seasons)
Darrell Waltrip - 84 victories, 45 wins between ages 35-45. Most wins during a season occurred in 1981 and 1982. Twelve of 31 races in 1981 and 12 of 30 races in 1982. He was 34 years old in 1981 and 35 in 1982. He won the championship each year. Team: Junior Johnson and Associates.
Jimmie Johnson - 10 wins in 2007 (age 32 season)
Jimmie Johnson – 83 victories: 31 wins between ages 35-45. Most wins during a season occurred in 2007. He won 10 of 36 races. He was 31 when the season began and celebrated his 32nd birthday in September of that season. Four of those victories occurred after he turned 32. He won his second straight championship that year. Team: Hendrick Motorsports.
Cale Yarborough - 10 wins in 1974, '78 (age 35, 39 seasons)
Cale Yarborough – 83 victories. 63 wins between ages 35-45. Most wins during a season occurred in 1974 and 1978. He won 10 of 30 races in each of those seasons. He was 35 years old in ’74 and age 39 in ’78. He won his third consecutive championship in 1978. Team: Junior Johnson and Associates.
Dale Earnhardt - 11 wins in 1987 (age 36 season)
Dale Earnhardt – 76 victories. 53 wins between ages 35-45. Most wins during a season occurred in 1987. He won 11 of 29 races. He was 36 years old. He won his third championship that year. Team: Richard Childress Racing.
Kyle Busch - 8 wins in 2008, '18 (age 23, 33 seasons)
Kyle Busch – 63 victories. 4 wins between ages 35-45. Most wins during a season occurred in 2008 and 2018. He won eight of 36 races in both seasons. In 2008, he was age 23 when the season started and celebrated his 24th birthday in May. In 2018, he was 33 when the season started and celebrated his 34th birthday in May. Team: Joe Gibbs Racing.
Kevin Harvick - 9 wins in 2020 (age 44 season)
Kevin Harvick – 60 victories. 44 wins occurred ages 35-45. Most wins during a season occurred in 2020. He won nine of 36 races. He was 44 years old. Team: Stewart Haas Racing.
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