■ The following five drivers have the necessary credentials to be included among this elite group but were among those left on the cutting-room floor when the list was pared to its final count:
Pete Hamilton, Dedham, Mass. — Won four Cup Series races, including the 1970 Daytona 500, in only 64 series starts.
Jack Sprague, Susanville, Calif. — Three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion (1997, ’99, ’01). Won 28 Truck Series races.
Speedy Thompson, Monroe, N.C. — Posted 20 wins and 105 top-10 finishes in 197 NASCAR Cup Series races.
Donnie Allison, Miami, Fla. — Won 10 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the 1970 Coca-Cola 600. Don’t forget the last lap of the 1979 Daytona 500.
Tommy Ellis, Richmond, Va. — 1988 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion. Posted 22 series victories.
This story appeared in the June 28, 2023 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.
