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Anowner–driver inNASCAR is a NASCAR driver who fully or partially owns the team they are driving for full-time or part-time. The practice has been established since the beginning of NASCAR in 1949. However, owner–drivers are almost nonexistent today in theNASCAR Cup Series, primarily due to the expense and responsibilities involved, essentially having two jobs in one.[1] However, there are many owner–driver teams in the lower tierXfinity Series andCraftsman Truck Series. Owner–driver is not to be confused with a driver who owns a separate team, such asDale Earnhardt, who fieldedhis own team but still drove forRCR.
When NASCAR started in the late 1940s nearly all drivers owned their cars and would drive their car to the track. While sponsorship was useful, it was not essential to win at this time, leaving less burden for the driver. But by the 1970s and 1980s more and more drivers drove for another team. Since 1980, with the exception ofAlan Kulwicki andTony Stewart (1992 and 2011, respectively), noNASCAR Cup Series champion was an owner–driver.
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The following list is a list of owner–drivers:[2]