ESPN.com to name Top 25 All Time Drivers

ESPN.com has asked a panel of 19 experts and former drivers to vote for the top drivers that piloted anything with wheels and an engine, and from those votes has compiled a list of the Top 25 drivers of all time. Spanning a wide range of racing disciplines the list is being revealed in segments this week on the leading sports site.

The feature package launched Monday, by revealing the 25-21-ranked drivers and will reveal five drivers a day for the rest of the week, unveiling the 5-1-ranked drivers on Friday, leading into the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600.

The first five drivers on the list are:
25. Steve Kinser
24. Nigel Mansell
23. Don Garlits
22. Niki Lauda
21. Shirley Muldowney

The cross-media feature package includes driver profiles, video, ESPN NASCAR Now and IndyCar roundtables, a Jayski.com podcast, the top NASCAR fantasy steals of the last 20 years and SportsNation ranker and polls and conversations, allowing fans to provide their feedback.

The full package can be seen here:

The panel of voters was made up of wide range of drivers, as well as ESPN motorsports experts, including:

Richard Petty – Seven-time Cup champion in NASCAR;
A.J. Foyt – Four-time Indy 500 winner;
Jeff Gordon – Four-time NASCAR Cup champion;
Kenny Bernstein – Six-time NHRA champion with four Funny Car titles and two Top Fuel titles;
Tony Stewart – Two-time Cup champion in NASCAR and 1997 IRL champion;
Juan Pablo Montoya – Current NASCAR driver, 1999 CART champion, 2000 Indy 500 winner and former Formula One driver;
Rusty Wallace – ESPN NASCAR analyst and 1989 Cup champion;
Dale Jarrett – ESPN NASCAR analyst and 1999 Cup champion;
Ray Evernham – ESPN NASCAR analyst and crew chief for three of Jeff Gordon’s Cup championships;
Scott Goodyear – ESPN IndyCar analysis, former Indy car racer and member of the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame;
Tim Brewer – ESPN NASCAR commentator and two-time Cup championship crew chief;
Mike Dunn – ESPN analyst for NHRA events and one of only four drivers with 10 or more career victories in Top Fuel and Funny Car;
Mike Harris Associated Press auto racing writer;
K. Lee Davis ESPN.com Motorsports editor;
Terry Blount – ESPN.com motorsports writer;
Ryan McGee – ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com Motorsports writer;
Marty Reid – ESPN motorsports broadcaster;
John Oreovicz ESPN.com Open-wheel racing writer;
Dan Knutson ESPN.com Formula one writer.