Today’s NASCAR grid is stacked with big names and even bigger statistics. Joey Logano has racked up not one, not two, but three Cup Series championships (2018, 2022, and 2024), and he’s still charging. Denny Hamlin just logged his 700th career start, all while chasing that elusive first title. Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney—this generation has no shortage of talent, trophies, or Twitter followers.

But as dominant and polished as these modern drivers are, there’s a different kind of grit missing. A level of endurance that doesn’t show up in highlight reels or playoff points. And when you look back 40 years, one legendary milestone by none other than “The King” puts the entire modern era into perspective. And maybe makes today’s star drivers feel just a little… softer.

Richa

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