Missouri’s Famous NASCAR Drivers

4 Legendary Drivers and 3 Iconic Tracks

Missourians Jamie McMurray Wins the Daytona 500 in 2010
Courtesy of Florida Times Union

Missouri has produced some of the most legendary names in NASCAR history, ranging from technical masters to “big event” specialists. Here is a breakdown of the biggest racers from the Show-Me State.

1. Rusty Wallace (Fenton/ Fox High)

Fenton’s Rusty Wallace

Rusty Wallace is the undisputed king of Missouri racing. Born in Arnold and raised in Fenton, he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the most popular drivers of the 1990s.

Major Achievement: 1989 NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
Total Wins: 55 Cup Series victories (11th all-time).
Signature Style: Known as a master of short tracks (like Bristol) and road courses. He spent the majority of his career driving the iconic #2 “Miller Lite” car for Team Penske.+1

2. Carl Edwards (Columbia Rock Bridge)

Carl Edwards

Known for his athletic backflip off his car after every win, Carl Edwards remained fiercely loyal to his Missouri roots, choosing to live in Columbia rather than moving to the racing hub of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Major Achievement: 2007 Xfinity Series Champion and two-time Cup Series runner-up (losing the 2011 title on a tiebreaker).
Total Wins: 28 Cup Series wins and 38 Xfinity Series wins.
Legacy: Recently inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025. He famously retired at the peak of his career in 2017.+1

3. Jamie McMurray (Joplin High)

Joplin’s Own Jamie McMurray

Jamie McMurray earned a reputation as a “big game hunter,” often winning the sport’s most prestigious and highest-paying races rather than racking up high volume.

Major Achievement: One of only three drivers to win the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same year (2010).
Claim to Fame: He holds the record for the fastest win in NASCAR history, winning at Charlotte in only his second career start while filling in for an injured driver.

4. Ken Schrader (Fenton/Parkway West)

Kenny Schrader

While he “only” has 4 Cup Series wins, Kenny Schrader is a legend for his longevity and his pure love for racing. He is widely considered one of the most versatile drivers to ever get behind a wheel.

Highlights: 1985 Rookie of the Year and 3-time Daytona 500 pole winner.
The “Iron Man”: Schrader has competed in over 700 Cup races and famously continues to race on local dirt tracks across the Midwest well into his 60s and 70s.

Missouri’s NASCAR Impact at a Glance

Driver	Hometown	Cup Wins	Best Championship Finish
Rusty Wallace	Fenton	55	1st (1989)
Carl Edwards	Columbia	28	2nd (2008, 2011)
Jamie McMurray	Joplin	7	11th (2004)
Ken Schrader	Fenton	4	4th (1994)

Missouri’s NASCAR Royal Family

Wallace Family

The Wallace family is a Missouri racing dynasty. In addition to Rusty, his brothers Kenny Wallace and Mike Wallace both had long NASCAR careers and are famous for their success in the Xfinity Series.

Missouri’s history with NASCAR is a tale of two halves: a rich, gritty history of legendary short tracks that served as the proving grounds for the sport’s icons, and a modern era that finally brought the elite Cup Series to the state.

1. I-70 Speedway (Odessa)

Located just east of Kansas City, I-70 was the “cathedral” of Missouri short-track racing for decades.

The High Banks: Known for its massive 30-degree banking, it was one of the fastest and most dangerous short tracks in the country.
The Nursery of Legends: This is where Rusty Wallace, Clint Bowyer, and Jamie McMurray cut their teeth.
NASCAR History: It hosted the NASCAR Truck Series from 1995 to 1999. After closing in 2008, it was resurrected in 2021 as a dirt track, continuing its legacy in a new form.+1

2. Lebanon I-44 Speedway (Lebanon)

This 3/8-mile asphalt oval is a cornerstone of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.

Consistency: It has been a sanctioned NASCAR track for much of its life, providing a direct pipeline for local Missouri talent to reach the national stage.
The Mid-Missouri Hub: It remains one of the few paved short tracks still operating in a region dominated by dirt racing.

3. Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland)

Commonly referred to as the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks,” this multi-million dollar facility is one of the premier racing venues in the world.

Modern Era: While it doesn’t host the top-tier Cup Series (which requires asphalt), it is a frequent stop for the NASCAR-sanctioned dirt series and major national touring series.
Versatility: Beyond the dirt oval, it features a “lake” for drag boat racing and an off-road track, making it a Missouri motorsports Mecca.

The “Ghost Tracks” and Dirt Heritage

Missouri’s racing history is also built on hundreds of small dirt ovals. Before the massive speedways existed, tracks like Bolivar Speedway and the Missouri State Fair Speedway in Sedalia hosted “pre-modern” NASCAR events in the 1950s and 60s.

Historical Footnote: In 1998, a young driver named Adam Petty (grandson of Richard Petty) won his first major race at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, beating future 7-time champion Jimmie Johnson.