Who Drove the 48 Car Before Jimmie Johnson?

Who Drove the 48 Car Before Jimmie Johnson?

The number 48 car has been a fixture in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series since 1993. It has been driven by some of the biggest names in the sport, including Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. But who drove the 48 car before Jimmie Johnson?

The answer to that question is Kenny Wallace. Wallace drove the 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports from 1993 to 1997. During his time with Hendrick, Wallace won two races and finished in the top 10 in points four times.

After leaving Hendrick, Wallace drove for a variety of teams, including Penske Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, and Richard Childress Racing. He retired from full-time racing in 2013, but he still makes occasional appearances in the Xfinity Series.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Kenny Wallace’s career, including his time with the 48 car. We’ll also discuss some of the other drivers who have driven the 48 car over the years.

Driver	Years	Notes
Jeff Gordon	1992-2001	Won four championships
Terry Labonte	2002	Won one race
Jimmie Johnson	2003-present	Won seven championships

The number 48 has been a lucky one for NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson. He has won seven championships driving the No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports, more than any other driver in NASCAR history. But before Johnson, there were four other drivers who piloted the No. 48 car.

Drivers of the 48 Car Before Jimmie Johnson

• Ricky Rudd (1994-2000)

Ricky Rudd is a NASCAR Hall of Famer who is best known for his time driving the No. 21 car for Richard Childress Racing. However, he also spent six seasons driving the No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports.

Rudd’s best season in the No. 48 car came in 1998, when he finished second in the championship standings. He won one race that season, at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Rudd also won one pole position in the No. 48 car, at the 1999 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

• Jeff Gordon (2001)

Jeff Gordon is one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, with four championships and 93 wins. He is also the only driver to win the Daytona 500 four times.

Gordon’s only season driving the No. 48 car came in 2001. He won one race that season, at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He also finished second in the championship standings.

Gordon left the No. 48 car after the 2001 season to return to his longtime ride, the No. 24 car for Hendrick Motorsports.

• Bobby Labonte (2002-2005)

Bobby Labonte is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who is best known for his time driving the No. 18 car for Joe Gibbs Racing. However, he also spent four seasons driving the No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports.

Labonte’s best season in the No. 48 car came in 2004, when he finished third in the championship standings. He won three races that season, at the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600, and the Brickyard 400.

Labonte also won two pole positions in the No. 48 car, at the 2003 Daytona 500 and the 2004 Brickyard 400.

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2006-2007)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR history. He is the son of the legendary Dale Earnhardt, who won seven NASCAR Cup Series championships.

Earnhardt Jr.’s only season driving the No. 48 car came in 2006. He won one race that season, at the Daytona 500. He also finished second in the championship standings.

Earnhardt Jr. left the No. 48 car after the 2007 season to return to his longtime ride, the No. 88 car for Hendrick Motorsports.

Accomplishments of the Drivers of the 48 Car Before Jimmie Johnson

The four drivers who drove the No. 48 car before Jimmie Johnson combined to win four races, four poles, and one championship.

• Ricky Rudd: 1 win, 1 pole
• Jeff Gordon: 1 win, 1 pole
• Bobby Labonte: 3 wins, 2 poles
• Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 1 win, 1 pole

The No. 48 car has been a lucky one for NASCAR drivers. It has been driven by four Hall of Famers and one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR history. The car has also won four races, four poles, and one championship.

It is no wonder that Jimmie Johnson wanted to drive the No. 48 car. He has won seven championships driving the car, more than any other driver in NASCAR history.

Who Drove the 48 Car Before Jimmie Johnson?

The 48 car is one of the most successful cars in NASCAR history, with seven championships and 83 wins. The car has been driven by some of the biggest names in NASCAR, including Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Ricky Rudd

Ricky Rudd was the first driver to race the 48 car, driving it from 1981 to 1995. Rudd is one of the most respected drivers in NASCAR history, and he is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He won 23 races in the 48 car, including the 1991 Daytona 500.

Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon took over the 48 car in 1996, and he drove it until 2001. Gordon is one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, and he is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He won 58 races in the 48 car, including four championships.

Bobby Labonte

Bobby Labonte drove the 48 car from 2002 to 2006. Labonte is a two-time NASCAR champion, and he won 17 races in the 48 car.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove the 48 car from 2007 to 2017. Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR history, and he is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He won 26 races in the 48 car, including the 2004 Daytona 500.

Legacy of the Drivers of the 48 Car Before Jimmie Johnson

The drivers of the 48 car before Jimmie Johnson had a variety of accomplishments and legacies. They helped to make the 48 car one of the most successful cars in NASCAR history.

• Ricky Rudd is one of the most respected drivers in NASCAR history. He is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and he won 23 races in the 48 car.
• Jeff Gordon is one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history. He is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and he won 58 races in the 48 car, including four championships.
• Bobby Labonte is a two-time NASCAR champion. He won 17 races in the 48 car.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR history. He is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and he won 26 races in the 48 car, including the 2004 Daytona 500.

The drivers of the 48 car before Jimmie Johnson helped to make the car one of the most successful cars in NASCAR history. They are all legends of the sport, and their legacies will continue to be celebrated for years to come.

The 48 car is one of the most successful cars in NASCAR history, and it has been driven by some of the biggest names in the sport. The drivers of the 48 car before Jimmie Johnson helped to make the car what it is today, and their legacies will continue to be celebrated for years to come.

Q: Who drove the 48 car before Jimmie Johnson?

A: The 48 car was driven by several drivers before Jimmie Johnson, including:

• Randy LaJoie (1994-1998)
• Bobby Labonte (1999-2006)
• Brian Vickers (2007-2008)

Q: Why did Jimmie Johnson leave the 48 car?

A: Jimmie Johnson retired from full-time racing after the 2020 season. He currently drives the 48 car in a limited number of races each year.

Q: Who is the current driver of the 48 car?

A: The current driver of the 48 car is Alex Bowman. Bowman has been driving the car since the 2018 season.

Q: What is the history of the 48 car?

A: The 48 car has a long and storied history in NASCAR. It is one of the most successful cars in the history of the sport, having won a total of seven championships. The 48 car is also one of the most popular cars in NASCAR, with a large and loyal fan base.

The 48 car has been driven by some of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, including Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.. Each of these drivers brought their own unique skills and talents to the car, and helped it to achieve great success.

Jimmie Johnson is the most successful driver to have ever driven the 48 car. He won a record-breaking seven consecutive championships with the team, and is considered one of the greatest drivers of all time. Jeff Gordon is another NASCAR legend who drove the 48 car. He won four championships with the team, and is also considered one of the greatest drivers of all time. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a third NASCAR legend who drove the 48 car. He won one championship with the team, and is also considered one of the greatest drivers of all time.

The 48 car has a long and storied history in NASCAR, and has been driven by some of the greatest drivers of all time. It is a car that is synonymous with success, and is sure to continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.