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Who Is The Oldest Active NASCAR Driver?
NASCAR is full of legends both young and old, but a handful of racers have proven over the years that there's no age maximum on the track.
Motorsports is split into two distinct categories: Young rookies like Harrison Burton, 21, who are making a name for themselves on the Cup Series circuit as well as older, seasoned drivers like Kevin Harvick who have had a long and storied career in NASCAR.
Any good rookie will note they have a lot to learn from veteran drivers when advice is offered; Burton, for example, recently discussed some advice that Cup Series champion Joey Logano gave him. With so many names on the track and so much wisdom to be spared, many may be wondering: Who is the oldest NASCAR driver currently running?
Well, in the 2022 Cup Series season, the oldest full-time driver is Harvick at 46 years old. However, he’s by no means the oldest active NASCAR racer. For that accolade, we must turn to 70-year-old racer Norm Benning. Although he’s not currently competing in the 2022 Cup Series, fans of NASCAR know him well for his work in various other circuits like the NASCAR World Truck Series and the NASCAR Busch Series. He currently owns the #6 Chevrolet in the Camping World Truck Series and races it part-time, according to his website.
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His current involvement with the sport proves that one is never too old to race with the best of them, provided they can do so safely on the track.
While he is the oldest current driver, a shout-out must also go to Harry Grant. The former professional racer currently holds the record as the oldest driver to ever win a Cup Series race, which he did at age 52.
As Motorsports.com notes, NASCAR does not seem to have a maximum age that will cap off drivers from competing. As long as they’re deemed safe to be on the track at a competitive level, it doesn’t matter. However, if you’re below the age of 18 and want to compete in the Cup, Xfinity, or Trucks series, you're out of luck. All drivers need to be above the age of 18, regardless of what they’ve accomplished in more junior circuits.
“Race For The Championship” will follow the 2022 Cup Series’ youngest driver, Burton, as he tries to gain a footing in the sport’s premiere racing event and prove he’s got what it takes to compete alongside some of the older legends who came before him.
“Race For The Championship” airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network. Meanwhile, you can catch more NASCAR content on Peacock right now.
