1: Ricky Rudd
Entering NASCAR at the ripe old age of 18 is a dream for many aspiring fans, but Rudd pulled it off. Entering the racing world in 1975, Rudd managed to carve quite the reputation for himself early on as a steady hand at the wheel. Rudd was part of an elite group of drivers who took NASCAR to new heights of popularity, including Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Rudd has a whopping 374 top 10s under his belt, a feat many drivers can only aspire to.
He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and still races Go-Karts in the Charlotte area at the GoPro Motorplex. Ricky Rudd has also been a television personality hosting SPEED Center and a series of other sportscast. Rudd eventually worked his way up to being a part-time analyst for NASCAR events.