Dirt Legends: Who are the Best Dirt Racers of All Time?

Dirt racing can be linked back to the early 1900s when “daredevils” would modify Ford Model T style cars into racing machines. The earliest forms of dirt racing turned into what we know today as wingless sprint cars. Before NASCAR or USAC were sanctioning races, drivers from all over the country were competing in dirt races.

Who were the earliest dirt racers and pioneers of our sport? Who were some of the best drivers over the years and what types of cars did they compete in? Who are the modern day dirt racing legends?

1900-1940 (The Pioneers)

• From 1910-1920, the Elgin National Road Races were held in Illinois. Although the event was not a “road’ race, as the course at the time was made up of dirt and gravel surfaces. “Smiling” Ralph Mulford would win the inaugural Elgin Road Race.
• In the early 1920’s, one of the first ever “racing rivalries” was born between Tommy Milton and Jimmy Murphy. Milton would win 23 AAA Championship races between 1920-1924, while Murphy would capture 19 victories.
• Frank Lockhart, considered by many as one of the first dirt racing legends, won 9 AAA Championship races in just two seasons. Lockhart was ultimately killed during an attempt to break a speed record at Daytona Beach in 1927.
• The early 1930’s saw a boom in dirt automobile racing. One of the most popular events at the time took place in Los Angeles at what is now known as LAX Airport. The track was called Mines Field Speedway and they held the first race for an estimated 75,000 spectators in 1934. “Stubby” Stubblefield was declared the winner after judges took the victory away from Pacific Coast Champion, Al Gordon.
• Cavino “Kelly” Petillo would win another race at Mines Field in front of some 50,000 people just a year before he went on to win the Indianapolis 500.
• In 1934, Ted Horn would run a rigorous sprint car campaign through the midwest and east. His skills attracted Indianapolis 500 car owners Harry Miller and Harry Hartz.
• African American race driver Rajo Jack would win the 200 mile national championship by a full two laps at Minesfield in 1936.

1940-1950

• In 1940, the open-wheel racing career of Johnnie Parsons would begin in California. Parsons would go on to be the AAA Midwest Midgets Champion in 1948.
• Before founding NASCAR, Bill France competed in races during the early 1940s. France would immediately take part in promoting races at Seminole Speedway before eventually opening Occoneechee Speedway in 1947.
• Roy Hall was the National Stock Car Champion in 1939, 1941, and 1945. Like many early dirt racers, Hall was involved in the moonshine trade. He would win multiple races at the Daytona Road Course before being arrested for a bank robbery in 1946.
• Red Byron, who began his career in sprint cars and midgets, won his first race in 1941. Byron would go on to be the first ever NASCAR Modified Champion.
• Along with Red Byron, Bob Flock is widely considered to be one of the best drivers from the 1940s. Known for his aggressive driving style, Flock would take over Bill France’s ride in 1946.
• In 1946, Bill Holland won 16 sprint car races, including the first ever race at Sellinsgrove Speedway.
• In 1948, Red Farmer would run his first ever race. Some estimate that by time his career was over, Farmer would win somewhere between 700-900 races.

1950-1960

This is where things become more well-documented in the dirt racing world. NASCAR was off and running and former dirt racing drivers Lee Petty, Curtis Turner and Buck Baker would become household names in the sport.

• The late 1940s and early 1950s saw New Jersey native, Frankie Schneider, burst onto the dirt racing scene. By time his career was over, it was believed that he won at least 750 races.
• Budd Olsen won the 1951 National Auto Racers Sprint Car Championship. Olsen would later be inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame and become a household name for dirt modified chassis’.
• In 1953, the incredible racing career of A.J. Foyt would begin in dirt midget competition. His first USAC Midget race would take place in 1956. Foyt would go on to be known as a “driver of everything” and one of the best dirt and pavement racers of all time.
• Dick “Toby” Tobias would get his dirt racing career started at the Hilltop Speedway in Pennsylvania in the early 1950’s. Tobias would later change the way dirt modified frames were built forever with his own homebuilt tubular steel frame. He has since been inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.
• Bob Sweikert won the 1955 Midwest Sprint Car Championship. He was also the winner of the 1953 Hoosier 100, a race that some called the “best race ever run.”
• Jimmy Bryan won the 1958 Indianapolis 500. Bryan was killed in a racing accident at the Langhorne Speedway in 1960

1960-1970

• Buzzie Reutimann was kicking off his dirt racing career in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. He won the 1966 championship at East Windsor and continues to race in Florida today!
• In 1961, the first ever Knoxville Nationals was won by Roy Robbins.
• Kenny Weld began his dirt racing career in 1961 and would go on to win the 1964 Knoxville Nationals at just 18 years old.
• Sammy Reakes won back to back track championships at Weedsport Speedway in 1961-1962. He was later inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame.
• After collecting multiple Sportsman championships, Sammy Beavers would win his first modified race in 1963. Beavers would go on to win 14 races at Nazareth and dabble in some URC Sprint Car racing.
• “Jumpin” Jack Johnson started his dirt racing career at the Fonda Speedway in 1966. Johnson would go on to win 428 modified races at over 35 tracks throughout his career.
• “Mr. Excitement” Kenny Brightbill got his decorated dirt racing career started in 1967. Brightbill would go on to win 441 professional races and get inducted into multiple racing hall of fames.
• Bobby Allen moved to Hanover, Pennsylvania and built his first sprint car in 1968. He would go on to claim more than 276 sprint car wins.
• In 1969, Joe Saldana was collecting wins at Eagle and Knoxville Raceway. He would go on to win the Knoxville Nationals and the track championship in 1970.

1970-1980

• 1970 was the inaugural season for the All Star Circuit of Champions. Jan Opperman was the first ever winner.
• Doug Wolfgang got behind the wheel of a dirt race car for the first time at Huset’s Speedway in 1970. Wolfgang would go on to win 140 World of Outlaws race and 37 All Star races, as well as five Knoxville National titles.
• In 1971, a young Sammy Swindell was an “outlaw” before the Outlaws. He joined the World of Outlaws during the first season in 1978 and would go on to win over 600 sprint car races throughout the country.
• In 1974, Jimmy Horton would win his first track championship at the Orange County Speedway. He would also win the track championship at Bridgeport in 1975. Horton is still actively racing dirt modifieds in the Northeast today.
• “Barefoot” Bob McCreadie would pick up the first of his 507 career wins in 1975. He would win 29 different points championships during his 30-year career.
• Before collecting 920 Super DIRTcar Series wins, Brett Hearn was set to make his series debut in 1975. Hearn would earn nearly 80 different championships throughout his dirt modified career.
• Also in 1975, Billy Pauch was just getting started in racing. Pauch, known for his versatile driving skills, won over 700 races in modifieds, sprint cars and midgets.
• Jac Haudenschild won his first sprint car race in 1975 at Lakeville Speedway.
• Between 1976-1978, Gary Balough won the Syracuse 200 for dirt modifieds.
• In 1977, Brad Doty got his first opportunity behind the wheel of a sprint car before winning 13 races at Lakeville in 1979.
• Steve Kinser would start his reign as the sprint car racing “king” in 1978, when he raced at the first ever World of Outlaws race at Devil’s Bowl. Kinser would go on to win 690 Outlaw features and 20 championships.
• In 1978, the dirt late model career of Billy Moyer was just getting started. Moyer has since won over 700 late model races and has become known as one of the best dirt late model drivers in history.
• “Fast” Freddie Rahmer began his historic sprint car career by racing modifieds in 1978. Rahmer didn’t win in a sprint car until 1984, but would go on to win over 400 sprint car races in his career.

1980-1990

• Bobby Davis. Jr would make his World of Outlaws debut in 1980. He would go on to win 66 Outlaw features and be inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.
• 1980 also marked the beginning of Scott Bloomquist‘s career in California. With over 600 dirt late model victories under his belt, Bloomquist is considered by many as the best dirt late model driver of all time.
• Billy Decker made his dirt racing debut at Penn Can Speedway in 1981. Decker is still going strong, and has won over 310 dirt races throughout his career.
• 1983-1984 saw Jeff Purvis win back to back Dirt Late Model Dream’s at Eldora.
• The 1984 USAC Silver Crown Championship was won by Dave Blaney. He would go on to win the World of Outlaws championship in 1995 (and 95 total Outlaw races) before having a career in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Doug Hoffman won his first Super DIRTcar Series race at Bridgeport in 1984. Hoffman would win over 480 races at 40 different tracks during his career.
• In 1986-1987, Jack Hewitt won the USAC Silver Crown series title. Hewitt’s 23 Silver Crown wins puts him second on the all time wins list. He also won 56 All Star sanctioned races over his career.
• Donnie Moran won his first World of Outlaws Late Model race in 1988. He would later become the “million dollar man” after winning the original Eldora Million in 2001.
• Before winning 222 sprint car races in his career, Stevie Smith won his first World of Outlaws race at Lincoln Speedway in 1988.
• Danny Lasoski won his first of 11 Knoxville Raceway track championships in 1986. He would become a World of Outlaws champion in 2001 and collect 122 Outlaw wins over his career.
• After a few years running micro sprints, Lance Dewease was ready to move up to full sized sprint cars in 1986. He would win his first sprint car race at Hagerstown in 1986. Dewease has since won over 300 sprint car races and continues to add to that number today.
• The “Doctor” Danny Johnson would win the first of his of his four Mr. Dirt Championships. Johnson has earned over 600 victories in dirt modified competition and is still actively racing in New York today.

1990-2000

• Dave Darland won his first USAC feature in 1993. “The People’s Champ” would go on to win the 2001 and 2002 USAC midget championship and become the all time winningest driver in USAC Sprint Car competition.
• Tim Fuller was the Mr. Dirt 358 Modified Champion in 1993. He has since won over 260 races and won the World of Outlaw Late Models rookie of year in 2007.
• Earl Pearson Jr. hopped in a dirt late model for the first time in 1993 and won 11 races. He went on to win four consecutive Lucas Oil Late Model championships from 2005-2008.
• In 1997, Donny Schatz would win the World of Outlaws rookie of the year. Schatz has since won over 300 WoO races, 10 WoO championships and 11 Knoxville Nationals.
• In 1999, a young Jonathan Davenport was winning the Legend Cars Semi-Pro National Championship. He would move over to a dirt late model full time and win three Lucas Oil Late Model Championships and five Dirt Late Model Dreams at Eldora.
• The rookie season of big block modified star “Super” Matt Sheppard began in 1999 in sportsman competition. Sheppard has the most Super DIRTcar Series Championships with 10. He had 41 wins in 2022, a number that could only tie his career record for a season.
• 1999 saw another modified superstar begin his career in Stewart Friesen. Friesen has won nearly 400 races in modified and sprint car competition and has since migrated to the NASCAR Truck Series. He still runs a dirt modified as much as he can.

2000-2010

• In 2005, Brad Sweet took a chance and moved from California to Indiana in hopes of finding a sprint car ride. His gamble paid off, as he has won five consecutive WoO Championships and earned 90 Outlaw wins.
• Bryan Clauson made his USAC National Sprint Series debut in 2005. He would go on to win the USAC National Midget Series championship three times, the USAC National Drivers Championship three times and the USAC National Sprint Car Series Championship two times.
• Brandon Sheppard began his career in 2007. Sheppard has since climbed to the top of the WoO Late Models all time win list, with over 80 victories going into the 2024 season.
• In 2008, Kyle Larson moved to Indiana and race whatever he could get his hands on. Larson swept the Four-Crown Nationals in 2011, and caught the attention of NASCAR car owners. He won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2021 and still races sprint cars, late models and midgets as much as possible.