Top 5 Best Xfinity Drivers (NOT named Kyle Busch)


Top 5 Best Xfinity Drivers (Not Named Kyle Busch)

List Compiled by Brian Cotnoir

          Let me just come out and say it—even though I don’t want to—Kyle Busch is and always will be the Best Xfinity Driver who ever lived.  Period.  As of the writing of this article he has 92 Wins in the Busch/Nationwide/Xfinity Series, and that number is growing and will never be broken.  He has won over 10 races across 4 seasons (including a Series high 13 in 2010).  He is the 2009 Series Champion, and the greatest of All-Time.  He’s also only 2 wins away from being the all-time leader in the Truck series Wins.  However, I think that’s still super unfair!  I mean, he’s the Big fish in a small pond.  That’d be like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton playing for both the Yankees and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and having the stats count for both.  It’s unnecessary, and Kyle Busch isn’t the only offender here; Mark Martin, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Brad Keselowski, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and now even Kyle Larson often spoil the fun and steal wins from Xfinity Series regulars be competing in the Xfinity Series despite being Super Stars in NASCAR.         
     So I decided once again to take a look at the Best Busch/Nationwide/Xfinity Drivers since the series inception in 1982.  I will not be considering any of the drivers mentioned above.  Also, no active Cup Series drivers (Chase Elliot, Erik Jones, William Byron, Daniel Suarez, Austin Dillon, etc.) as we have yet to see if they can live up to their potential, and finally I will not be considering drivers who won Championships in the Truck Series, so sorry no Todd Bodine or Johnny Benson.

5.) Jeff Green

Jeff Green dominated the 2000 Busch Series season with 6 wins in route to the championship.  Green, unfortunately had little success in the Cup Level despite driving for some top tier teams like Richard Childress, Dale Earnhardt, and Richard Petty.   Green is still active in the Xfinity Series, but mostly runs as a Start & Park driver and hasn’t had a decent or competitive ride with an Xfinity team since 2002, but for one Magical Season, Green absolutely Dominated the Series.


4.)  Tommy Houston

Presently tied for 10th All-Time In series Wins, Tommy Houston was one of the early pioneers of what was known as the Busch Grand National Series.  Houston never captured a championship in the Busch Series, his best finish was 2nd, in 1989, that year the championship would be won by a shocking up & comer named Rob Moroso.  Houston is the Uncle of Teresa Earnhardt, the wife of the Late Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Father of former driver Andy Houston.   Houston’s 24 wins have him tied with Dale Earnhardt Jr. (who I think would be his Great Step-Nephew, once removed???  …I don’t know)  


3.)  Larry Pearson

The Son of NASCAR Hall of Famer and Legend, Larry Pearson, did not have the same success as his father in the Cup Level, but made a name for himself in the Busch Series winning 15 total races and back to back championships driving for his family’s team with his father’s old number on his car (Seriously, the comparisons to Dale Earnhardt Jr, are uncanny here).   I was torn between putting Pearson on this list and one of my favorite Drivers, Randy Lajoie, because they both won back-to-back championships and 15 wins, but decided to give the spot to Pearson, because he had a higher career average finish.


2.)  Sam Ard

There’s no telling how many races Sam Ard could have won had it not been for a career ending accident in 1984, Ard’s career might have reached Monumental Standards.  Ard retired from racing in 1984 as a two-time series defending champion.  Ard finished his career with 22 career wins, 2 championships, and an average finish of 3.5 having only ever run 3 full-time seasons.


1.) Jack Ingram.

He’s a NASCAR Hall of Famer, and a two-time champion (including the first in series history).  Jack Ingram’s greatest success came in the Busch Grand National Series.  His 31 Career Wins presently have him ranked as 6th All Time in Series wins, and he was also an owner-driver for most of his career.




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