Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are the only four drivers in NASCAR history to secure victories in all the crown jewel races, a remarkable milestone in stock car racing.
Initially, the crown jewel races included just three iconic events: the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600, and the Southern 500. In 1994, NASCAR expanded the list by adding the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To date, only four drivers have achieved wins at all these prestigious events.
Here’s a look at these legendary drivers and their performances in the crown jewel races:
#4. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., a former NASCAR Cup Series driver from Kannapolis, North Carolina, secured eight victories across the crown jewel races. His journey began with a win at the Daytona 500 in 1998, followed by a dominant performance in the Coca-Cola 600. At the Charlotte Motor Speedway, he triumphed three times in 1986, 1992, and 1993.
Earnhardt Jr. also clinched three victories at the Southern 500, held at the Darlington Raceway, in 1987, 1989, and 1990. He completed his crown jewel achievement by winning the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1995. Notably, he also became the NASCAR Busch Series champion in 1998 and 1999.
#3. Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick, the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion, first won the Brickyard 400 in 2003, defeating competitors Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray. He followed this with two more wins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2019 and 2020. Harvick added the Daytona 500 to his record in 2007 and secured two Coca-Cola 600 victories at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2011 and 2013.
His crown jewel sweep was completed with two Southern 500 wins in 2014 and 2020. Harvick’s stellar 2014 championship season included five wins, while in 2020, he finished fifth overall with an impressive nine wins and 27 top-ten finishes.
#2. Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson, nicknamed “Superman,” has achieved the crown jewel grand slam three times. His first victory came in the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he won four times (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2014).
Johnson claimed his first Southern 500 victory in 2004, followed by another in 2012 while driving for Hendrick Motorsports. Reflecting on his 2012 win, Johnson said:
“It’s hard to describe how special that one is. It’s forever on the wall. To get the 200th in the Southern 500, a crown jewel event, too, it was awesome.” (via Hendrick Motorsports)
He also won the Daytona 500 twice (2006 and 2013) and the Brickyard 400 four times (2006, 2008, 2009, and 2012), cementing his legacy as one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers.
#1. Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon, a four-time Cup Series champion, holds the record for the most wins in the crown jewel races, with 17 victories across the four tracks. Gordon showcased dominance in the Coca-Cola 600, winning three times (1994, 1997, 1998), and at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he triumphed five times (1994, 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2014).
As one of the drivers in the inaugural Brickyard 400, Gordon reflected on the race’s significance:
“To celebrate that inaugural event is pretty amazing… That day, if you look at NASCAR’s popularity, it was a game-changer—not just for me and my career but for the whole industry and motorsports in general.” (via NASCAR)
Gordon also dominated the Southern 500, securing six wins at Darlington Raceway (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2007). He completed his crown jewel sweep with three victories in the Daytona 500 (1997, 1999, and 2005), solidifying his position as the greatest crown jewel racer in history.
