NASCAR is a very competitive field. There is fierce competition between many drivers trying to grab the best position on the track. Many drivers, however, do not deserve the ride that they have because their temper takes control, or they are just bad. So who are the worst drivers ever?

Danica Patrick

Patrick began racing full-time in the Cup Series in 2013 for Stewart-Hass Racing in the No. 10 car. She retired from full-time racing in 2017. Across her five full-time years, she had an average finish of 24. In 2013, Patrick finished 27th in the standings, and recorded five DNFs, with just one top-ten finish. The following season, she finished 28th in the standings, in the top ten three times, and had four DNFs. In her final three years (2015-2018), Patrick had 19 DNFs, just three top tens, and never finished top 20 in points. In 191 starts in the Cup Series, Patrick had a best finish of 24th place, seven top tens, one pole, and no wins. Her top ten rate over her five full-time years was 3.6%, with her laps led rate being .1%.

Jesse Iwuji

Not much to say about him. This guy has been parked twice in the truck series for being slow. He ran full-time in the K&N series in 2016 and 2017, finishing last in the standings (for full-time drivers). In 39 K&N starts, he has finished on the lead lap, ZERO times. Let’s not forget his awareness. During a caution, Iwuji was not paying attention and wrecked leader Ty Gibbs.

Michael Waltrip

Where do I even begin? Waltrip had a career with bad crashes, bad luck, and it was not better as an owner. In 2005, Waltrip made a gesture that resulted in a fine and gave him a bad impression on screen. In 2007, his team was involved in a fuel scandal, when an illegal fuel additive was found in the engine. The team was fined $100,000. Let’s not forget when he wrecked all alone at Daytona by himself (first clip). When mentioning Waltrip, you have to bring up “Spingate”. In 2013, Michael Waltrip had a multi-car team consisting of the No. 15, driven by Clint Bowyer, the No. 55, driven by Brian Vickers, and the No. 56, driven by Martin Truex JR. It was the 2013 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway, where two incidents found that Waltrip’s team influenced the race outcome and the Chase positions. Per the rules, 12 drivers made the Chase. With ten laps to go, Bowyer spun intentionally to help out Truex. On the ensuing restart, Vickers would pit to further Truex’s position in the field, where he would clinch a playoff birth over Ryan Newman. Upon further review, NASCAR found Bowyer spun intentionally to influence the outcome of the race. Truex was excluded from the playoffs, and NAPA Auto-Parts withdrew from their sponsorship deal.

“Danica Patrick” by John Steadman is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0