Brother Act: Brothers with the Most Wins
by Tom Jensen October 11, 2022
NASCAR has always been a family sport, which is reflected in the many connections in the list of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Petty Enterprises founder Lee Petty (Class of 2011) is in, as are sons Richard (2010) and Maurice (2014) Petty and their cousin, Dale Inman (2012).
You also have a host of other father-son duos:
- William H.G. (2010) and William C. (2010) France;
- Dale (2010) and Dale Jr. (2021) Earnhardt;
- Bobby (2011) and Davey (2019) Allison;
- Ned (2011) and Dale (2014) Jarrett;
- Buck (2013) and Buddy (2020) Baker;
And certainly, let’s not forget brothers Glen (2012) and Leonard (2013) Wood.
In fact, today’s blog post is all about brothers behind the wheel, including six Hall of Fame inductees who have brothers who also won premier series races, as well as a pair not yet eligible for induction, ranked by combined premier series race victories.
When Terry Labonte (left) won his first NASCAR championship, his brother Bobby was one of his crew members. Photo courtesy of Jamie Squire/Getty Images
6. Terry and Bobby Labonte, 43 wins
Easily the most egalitarian brothers of the bunch, and the only pair of Hall of Famers in this list, Terry Labonte (2016) won 22 premier series races in his career while younger brother Bobby (2020) captured 21 victories. Both Texas-born drivers are also premier series champions: Terry won titles in 1984 driving for Billy Hagan and in ’96 for Rick Hendrick (2017), while Bobby was the 2000 champion with car owner Joe Gibbs (2020).
Brothers Herb and Donald Thomas qualified on the front row in their Hudson Hornets for a 1954 race at Oglethorpe Speedway in Savannah, Georgia. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
5. Herb and Donald Thomas, 49 wins
If the Labonte brothers were virtual statistical equals on the track, the Thomas brothers were the exact opposite. Herb Thomas (2013) won 48 races and was NASCAR’s first two-time premier series champion, while Donald’s only victory came in the final race of the 1952 season, when he qualified his Fabulous Hudson Hornet on the pole and took the 100-lapper at Atlanta’s Lakewood Speedway. The 1955 Chevrolet Herb Thomas won the Southern 500 with is on display in the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of our Great Hall exhibit, “Chevrolet: Winningest Brand in the NASCAR Cup Series.”
Brothers Fonty (from left), Tim and Bob Flock feted their father Carl (right), a championship speedboat racer, at a 1950s awards banquet. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
4. Fonty, Tim and Bob Flock, 62 wins
One of the most acclaimed racing families of the 1950s, the Flock brothers, along with sister Ethel Mobley, raced extensively in NASCAR’s early days. Tim Flock (2014) was a two-time premier series champion and won 39 races. Fonty Flock won 19 races and finished in the top five in points four times, including a runner-up effort in 1951, while Bob won four times.
Brothers Darrell Waltrip (left) and Michael Waltrip each captured Daytona 500 and NASCAR All-Star Race victories in their careers. Photo courtesy of David Taylor/Allsport
3. Darrell and Michael Waltrip, 88 wins
A three-time premier series champion, Darrell Waltrip (2012) ranks fourth on the all-time win list with 84 victories, a number that trails only fellow Hall of Famers Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon (2019). Meanwhile, Darrell’s younger brother, Michael, won four points races, including a pair of Daytona 500s and the NASCAR All-Star Race. Darrell Waltrip’s 1981 championship Buick is featured as part of our “Dale Jr.: Glory Road Champions” exhibit.
Donnie (left) and Bobby Allison were two of the fiercest competitors in NASCAR. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images
2. Bobby and Donnie Allison, 94 wins
As of October 2022, brothers Bobby (2011) and Donnie Allison are tied for most career victories by brothers who each won at least one race. Bobby won 84 races, according to the official NASCAR records, while Donnie added 10 more victories to the family win column. With both drivers long since retired, those numbers won’t change. Bobby Allison’s DiGard Racing championship-winning Buick is on display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame as s part of our “Dale Jr.: Glory Road Champions” exhibit.
The next time either Kurt (left) or Kyle Busch wins a premier series race, they will become the all-time leaders among NASCAR race-winning brothers. Photo courtesy of Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR
1. Kurt and Kyle Busch, 94 wins
It’s only a matter of time before brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch become the all-time winningest siblings in NASCAR history. They are tied for the lead right now and both are still actively racing, although Kurt has been on hiatus after suffering a concussion earlier this season. Kyle, the younger of the two, has won 60 races and two premier series championships in 2015 and 2019, while Kurt has 34 wins and was the 2004 champion.
