Top NASCAR Drivers by Crash Frequency & Insurance Rates [2024]

Click here for the complete ranking.

The need for speed doesn’t just apply to the fastest cars in the world. There are professionals that build their careers on speed. These are NASCAR drivers and in this article. We answer the question, “How much would insurance if I drove like a NASCAR driver?”

The fastest recorded speed in NASCAR history occurred over three decades ago when a veteran driver, Bill Elliot, won the race at Talladega and set the record at a shocking 212.81 miles per hour.

According to ESPN, “Bill Elliott’s actual version of fast isn’t the same as it is for us mere mortals.”

Bobby Allison’s crash that very same race “changed NASCAR forever.”

That horrific crash you just saw prompted NASCAR to make some necessary changes before many more people got needlessly injured and killed.

Within two months after Allison’s infamous crash in 1987, “horsepower-choking” restrictor plates were mandated, and catch fences were installed to better protect the spectators.

Bill Elliot’s speed should forever be the fastest in NASCAR history. Speeding isn’t just deadly in NASCAR races. The crash stats show that many U.S. drivers need restrictor plates to keep them from pretending to be race car drivers.

Or you can check out our state car insurance page, which provides links to all state guides that contain car insurance rate, company, and state law information.

In this article, we’ll also cover the following topics:

• Famous NASCAR drivers
• The dangers of car racing
• How safe are race cars?
• Is NASCAR dangerous?
• NASCAR safety equipment

By the end of this article, you’ll know all you need to know about NASCAR drivers and NASCAR insurance, including how difficult it is for a NASCAR driver to acquire car insurance and what kind of insurance you will need if you head out for a day on the track. Let’s get started.

Top NASCAR Drivers by Crash Frequency & Insurance Rates

How would NASCAR drivers’ insurance rates fare if they brought their dangerous driving habits from race car driving habits to the public roadways? With our page covering dangerous driving statistics, we can start to formulate an answer.

Our team of researchers worked tirelessly to answer that question for our readers. Beginning in the spring of 2017, we began this study to reveal what NASCAR drivers (who crash the most) would have to pay in annual insurance.

Discover which NASCAR drivers have the highest crash frequency, how often those crashes end the race for them, and how these deadly race-car-driving habits affect car insurance rates.

Due to a four-way tie, our 2018 results include eleven NASCAR drivers who crash the most. — Click here for our methodology.

Enjoy the enlightening countdown full of interesting real-time stats below.

#11 (Tie) – Michael McDowell

Crash Frequency: 33 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 12
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 2
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 5.56 percent

If this was a race, Michael McDowell would not be happy about tying for 11th place with three other drivers.

But in this case, crashing only 12 times in 36 races is somehow a victory. Even when McDowell is alone on the racetrack, near-death collisions are still all-too-possible.

In addition to being able to walk himself to the ambulance after 12 fiery flips, Michael has some things in his favor when it comes to his car insurance rates — he is married (marriage often results in lower insurance rates, though not always) and in his 30s (born December 21, 1984).

Even with those perks, McDowell’s annual car insurance rate would total $2,188, depending on the car insurance by make and model rates, along with other insurance discounts.

That is a shocking amount considering that a male can get a plan with Progressive for just $528 a year with Arizona car insurance rates (Arizona being his home state).

#11 (Tie) – Ty Dillon

Crash Frequency: 33 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 12
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 3
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 8.33 percent

Ty, the 26-year-old from North Carolina, ties for 11th place. He has a higher percentage of races ending in crashes than McDowell, and he typically clocks higher speeds with many laps traveled at 197 mph and faster!

Racecar driving runs deep for Ty, with a fellow NASCAR driver for an older brother, a former NASCAR driver and RCR general manager for a dad, and former NASCAR driver and RCR team owner for a grandfather.

Ty Dillon loves what he does — it’s a good thing because race-car driving is hardly the safest career out there.

Ty is married, which helps his rate, but all those crashes and his age bring him to an annual car insurance rate of $2,440.

That’s a drastic difference compared to North Carolina’s car insurance rates, a state that has some of the lowest car insurance costs in the nation. In NC where Ty lives, a male who owns his own car can be covered by Progressive for an entire year for only $438!

#11 (Tie) – David Ragan

Crash Frequency: 33 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 12
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 4
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 11.11 percent

The third driver tied for 11th place is David Ragan, a 31-year-old married NASCAR driver from Georgia.

Not only did Ragan start racing at the age of 12, but by the age of 13, he had already won 12 races and the national championship!

He might have more races ending in a crash, but thanks to his age, the fact that he’s married, and where he lives, David crosses the finish line with lower car insurance rates than both Michael McDowell and Ty Dillon, $2,192.

To check out more about individual state insurance rates, take a look at our car insurance rates by state page. There, you can compare car insurance rates in your home state compared to those David and other residents of Georgia see in that state.

While Georgia is listed in the top 10 states with the most expensive average car insurance rates, David’s crashes make his minimum coverage cost about $42 more each month than what the average Georgian is paying.

An important note, and certainly something you’d have to consider if you drove like a NASCAR driver on city streets, are the types of car insurance you’ll need to protect yourself financially. There are three main types — liability, collision, and comprehensive — and they all happen to be the most expensive types of car insurance coverages as they protect you from almost all situations where your car is damaged.

#11 (Tie) – Jimmie Johnson

Crash Frequency: 33 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 12
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 6
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 16.67 percent

He might be tied with three other NASCAR drivers at a 33 percent crash frequency, but Jimmie has 11.11 percent more race-ending crashes than McDowell who started this countdown at 11th.

The age Ragan started competitively racing almost seems old compared to Johnson’s start at only five-years-old! Most kids were learning to read while Jimmie was out racing his motorcycle.

Jimmie can have a fiery temper, which makes for deadly decisions behind the wheel. He has admitted this “irritation” bubbles over to his driving on public roads: “I don’t need to break the speed limit. But if I’m not passing other vehicles on the interstate, I get a little irritated.”

Fortunately, Jimmie has his age (42) and marital status on his side, or his insurance coverage in one of the most expensive states to drive, in California, would be even higher than $2,260/year.

It doesn’t sound like Jimmie will be earning any safe driver awards from his insurance company to help lower those monthly bills.

#7 (Tie) – Clint Bowyer

Crash Frequency: 36 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 13
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 3
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 8.33 percent

The four-way tie brings us straight from last place to 7th place and yet another tie — this time between two drivers.

Interestingly, Bowyer is ranked 7th for having the highest crash frequency in NASCAR, but he has a lower percentage of race-ending crashes than the majority of the drivers on this list.

Thankfully, Clint has a great sense of humor, because most people would cry if they had to pay the car insurance bills this NASCAR driver’s coverage comes to: $2,160 annually.

To put that in perspective, Kansas car insurance (Bowyer’s home state), can be as low as $322 a year! Of course, we all know when we don’t pay bills on time, there are consequences. These can range from late fees to losing car insurance policies.

Although every car insurance company has different procedures for this, there are ways to check when your car insurance is due. Paying your car insurance bill on time can lead to you saving more money in the long run, as you won’t have to deal with late fees.

This NASCAR driver (who also started motocross at the age of five) is married and in his late 30s. His annual coverage price could be even higher if those personal factors weren’t in his favor.

#7 (Tie) – Austin Dillon

Crash Frequency: 36 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 13
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 5
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 13.89 percent

Austin is two years older than his brother, Ty (the second driver in 11th place above), and he has won more races. BUT, Austin almost didn’t make racing his career.

It seems Austin chose wisely, since he won “the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar” — the Daytona 500 in 2018.

With recorded race win speeds of over 196 mph, a nearly 14 percent crash frequency is a scary thing.

After leaving the care center following that horrific 24-car-crash you saw above, Austin told the reporters:

“It’s not really acceptable…We’ve got to figure out something. Our speeds are too high…everybody could get good racing with slower speeds. We can work at that, and then figure out a way to keep the cars on the ground.”

Car insurance companies agree that high speeds and frequent crashes are a recipe for disaster, which is why Austin’s annual rate would be a whopping $2,404.

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#5 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Crash Frequency: 39 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 14
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 5
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 13.89 percent

It would be fair to say that racing and NASCAR run deep in Dale Junior’s family; just take a look at some of his relatives:

• Dad – Dale Earnhardt Sr., NASCAR Hall of Famer with 76 Winston Cup wins
• Paternal Grandfather – Ralph Earnhardt, NASCAR Sportsman Champion
• Maternal Grandfather – Robert Gee, stock car fabricator for Hendrick Motor Sports
• Sister – Kelley Earnhardt-Miller, co-owner, and VP of JR Motorsports
• Half-brother – Kerry Earnhardt, NASCAR driver
• Half-sister – Taylor Earnhardt-Putnam, horse racer
• Nephew – Jeffrey Earnhardt, NASCAR driver
• Stepmother – Teresa Earnhardt, CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc

Now a part-time NASCAR driver, Dale Jr. has an extremely successful career under his belt.

Nicknamed the “Pied Piper of Daytona,” he has 26 career wins, including two championships each for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Daytona 500 and has consistently been a top 20 NASCAR drivers during his career.

He’s been quoted saying, “Hunting and racing are a lot alike. Holding that steering wheel and holding that rifle both mean you better be responsible.”

He’s right. You need to be responsible behind the wheel, and that’s why 14 crashes in 2017 would bump his car insurance rates up to an annual sum of $2,260! That’s crazy high for a married NC resident in his 40s.

Accidents have major consequences than just bumping up your car insurance rates as well, with accidents raising car insurance rates for months or even years. Sometimes this jump is even by hundreds of dollars, which can hurt you financially for years to come.

#4 (Tie) – Trevor Bayne

Crash Frequency: 44 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 16
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 5
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 13.89 percent

As you can see from his website, Trevor Bayne is a dedicated dad with a strong social presence who really lets his fans get to know him and his family.

He’s also honest and lets us know when a crash hurts — in more ways than one. Crashes don’t just cause painful injuries (and death) and costly damage to the vehicle, but they also cause drastic spikes in insurance payments as the driver becomes riskier to cover.

Generally, if the open marketplace won’t cover a high-risk driver, that driver will have to turn to the high-risk car insurance market. High-risk drivers will be charged a much higher car insurance rate compared to those issued by regular car insurance companies due to their much higher likelihood of filing a claim.

We cover this more in our article titled, “What is high-risk car insurance?” Take a look at it for more information about how high-risk drivers can find car insurance, even if their car insurance rates are much higher than for other drivers.

Even though Trevor is married, his race-car-driving record would bring his annual car insurance bill to $2,360.

That sure stings when a male car owner in Trevor’s home state of TN can get the same coverage for $472!

#4 (Tie) – Kurt Busch

Crash Frequency: 44 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 16
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 6
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 16.67 percent

Trevor and Kurt’s tie for 4th place brings our third and last tie of the countdown.

Not only does this driver crash nearly one out of every two times he races, but he also has one of the highest percentages of race-ending crashes in NASCAR at 16.67 percent.

His crashes aren’t the only thing that has harmed Kurt’s NASCAR career.

ESPN reported, “NASCAR suspended Sprint Cup driver Kurt Busch indefinitely Friday, two days before the Daytona 500, for actions detrimental to stock car racing after a judge ruled he almost surely choked and beat a former girlfriend last fall.”

Despite any bumps along the road, this NASCAR driver certainly isn’t struggling.

He has money in his pockets because his annual insurance cost comes to $2,188. Often, car insurance companies will be able to set up payment plans that depend on your financial situation and what you prefer. For instance, some policyholders might want a month-to-month payment plan whereas others will prefer a semi-annual payment plan.

Then there are the customers who want to pay for car insurance yearly or annually. These are some of the options available depending on the company from which you purchased a policy.

#2 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Crash Frequency: 47 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 17
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 6
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 16.67 percent

In regards to the man he’s named after, Ricky Jr. said: “Everything that I know about racing I learned from him.”

He said that just moments after his dad was nearly arrested for climbing a fence and darting down a tunnel to get to his son after Ricky Jr. won the Geico 500.

Not only has Ricky Jr. been in his fair share of crashes, but he has a bad reputation for causing them. Especially after the not just one, but two multi-car crashes he caused at Daytona on July 7, 2018.

The first wreck Ricky started was where 20 race cars collided, spun out of control, caught flame, and lost the race.

He angered fans and fellow drivers and wasn’t too pleased with himself: “It’s a bummer we basically crashed all of our teammates out of it. I was frustrated with myself causing crashes like that. You don’t ever really want to do that.”

He dated his competition, NASCAR star Danica Patrick, but after five years they broke up, and Ricky Jr. is currently unmarried. Being single (the only single driver on our list) certainly didn’t help his insurance rate, which rings up to $2,348 a year.

At least the insurance companies provide some savings for his age now that he has entered his 30s (October 2017).

#1 – Kasey Kahne

Crash Frequency: 53 percent
Number of Crashes in 2017: 19
Number of Race-Ending Crashes: 7
Percent of Races Ending in a Crash: 19.44 percent

The race car driver winning first place on this list will certainly have trouble earning first on the track if he continues to crash over half of his races. Still, he has had a shockingly successful start with NASCAR.

Even though Kasey lives in Washington, (with Washington having some of the lowest car insurance costs in the U.S), he’s married, and he’s in his late 30s, his traffic accidents bring his annual coverage to $2,276.

Despite a reported 16 percent price increase over five years, a male in Washington state who owns his car can get a year’s worth of car insurance coverage through Progressive for only $494!

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How much would insurance cost if I drove like top NASCAR drivers? 

Pretending to be a race car driver has more consequences than the obvious danger to other drivers on the road. It can affect your car insurance, even if you go to the track and find car insurance for track days. Speeding, in general, is considered a top cause of fatal car accidents in the United States.

NHTSA reports: “For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities.”

Besides risking serious injury and death, speeding has other consequences.  Costly tickets, court fines, and even jail time. Plus, you might find it difficult for insurance companies to offer you a policy. In these instances, you’ll want to contact an insurance company that focuses on car insurance for convicted drivers and ask if you need an SR-22 and FR-44.

Of course, speeding and crashes can significantly impact your car insurance rates. To see what you’d have to pay if you got speeding tickets and into crashes like NASCAR drivers, enter your ZIP code in the box above. It’s our proprietary quote generator and will give you the best rates for you and your area.

National Trends for NASCAR Drivers & Car Insurance

Out of 11 NASCAR drivers that made our list this year (2018), only three of them had the highest crash frequency two years in a row.

Here are those repeats and their 2017 car crashes and insurance rates rankings:

• Jimmie Johnson: 9th in 2017 and 11th in 2018
• Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 5th in 2017 and 2018
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 6th in 2017 and 2nd in 2018

As you can see, Jimmie improved by two spots, Dale Jr. held constant at 5th, and Ricky Jr. jumped four whole spots, which means more potential crashes for him.

Any rise in these statistics — including accident prevalence — would really hurt any of these NASCAR drivers if they had personal insurance policies. It helps though to live in one of the 10 states with the lowest traffic fatality rates, which would minimize how many claims these drivers might file, which raises insurance rates.

What’s impressive is that Ryan Newman — who earned 3rd place in 2017 — has one of the lowest crash rates of any NASCAR driver this year. Newman went from a crash frequency of 44 percent all the way down to just 17 percent in one year!

With it being our area of expertise, we can’t help but mention the car insurance companies who sponsor some of the race car drivers who crash the most.

• AAA — Austin Dillon (7th this year)
• AAA — Joey Logano (7th last year)
• Farmers Insurance — Kasey Kahne (1st this year)
• Fifth Third Bank — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (6th in ’17 and 2nd this year)
• Geico — Ty Dillon (11th this year)
• Liberty National — Ryan Newman (3rd in ’17)
• Nationwide — Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5th in ’17 and ’18)
• Nationwide — Jimmie Johnson (9th in ’17 and 11th this year)

Although crashes out in the real world (public roads, not racetracks), don’t involve the same speeds (around 200 mph), they can be even more deadly!

Our best-selling cars and roads don’t have any of the following life-saving devices NASCAR vehicles and tracks do:

• Roll Cages
• Window Nets
• Roof flaps
• 5-point safety belts
• Lexan windshields
• Foam-filled fuel cells
• Restrictor plates (began in 1987)
• Cellofoam Walls
• Polyethylene Energy Dissipation System (PEDS)
• Impact Protection System (IPS)
• Compression barriers

And, your average motorist doesn’t go around sporting fire-retardant full bodysuits, full-face helmets, or the head-and-neck supports.

Moral of the story, when it comes to the driving habits of America’s NASCAR stars, “Don’t try this at home.”

Frequently Asked Questions: NASCAR Drivers & Car Insurance

Now that we’ve covered the most dangerous drivers in NASCAR, let’s answer a few of your frequently asked questions. The focus is on insurance and track days so that if you’re thinking of taking your personal vehicle to the track, you can find some insurance that will financially cover you.

#1 – Do NASCAR drivers have insurance?

Because NASCAR drivers are generally considered independent contractors, they must seek out personal car insurance from companies like your average worker. Considering that there are inherent dangers in racing, this can prove difficult at times.

However, being a professional racer has some benefits, as insurance companies may fight to cover a particular driver, as it could be good publicity. A professional racer also may get some perks as part of their car insurance policy such as coaches, insurance policies for their homes, and business liability.

#2 – Can NASCAR drivers get life insurance?

Because NASCAR drivers are independent contractors, they must seek out personal insurance like car insurance or life insurance. While there are inherent dangers in professional racing, NASCAR drivers can find life insurance and other insurance policies through a specialized insurance provider.

The danger of their profession is often balanced by being in good shape and having good physical health. The rates for life insurance — as with car insurance — vary depending on how many races the policyholder will compete in, along with the speed and type of car they will drive.

#3 – Do you need insurance for a race car?

Whether it is for a track day or professional racing, getting a car insurance policy that covers personal or property damage can keep you financially secure even if you are involved in a major accident.

Many insurance companies will not issue these policies, however, due to the dangers of racing cars. Finding a specialized insurance company or insurance brokerage is a good way to find the insurance you need — even if you’re just going around the track a few times.

#4 – How much does it cost for a NASCAR car?

A NASCAR car is very different from your average vehicle, with an engine that’s much more powerful than typical, safety features to protect the driver, and the type of tires. This doesn’t include the amount car manufacturers must pay if the car is damaged in a wreck.

SPORTEKZ shares that it can cost up to $400,000 for a company to produce one NASCAR car. If a company supports numerous teams on the track, then they will pay out large amounts of money to build cars and do the maintenance on the cars that end up damaged during a race.

#5 – How does track day insurance work?

Track day insurance covers your car while it’s on the track and is typically just a one-day insurance package. If your car is damaged during the race or while you are on the track, the insurance company might reimburse you for the amount of damage it sustained.

An insurance company may also reimburse you for the actual cash value of the car if it were to be a total loss. Track day insurance is specialized insurance so all major carriers might not offer it. Make sure to check the fine print before signing up for the policy.

#6 – What’s the best track day car?

There are always debates about the best track day car like BMW, Ford, Honda, and Mazda all try to stake claims as the best car to take out on the track. Some of these cars are more expensive, while some are cheaper.

In general, a track day is just all about having fun so preparing your own car for track day driving is a possibility, even if you might have a car not listed on “best cars for track day” lists.

#7 – How often are there crashes in NASCAR?

In the 2000s, NASCAR averaged 220 accidents per season, some of which resulted in fatalities. As numerous commentators have noted, a problem in the culture of NASCAR is that some people will watch just for wrecks and NASCAR itself tends to promote these situations when creating highlights they post on their website.

Although NASCAR has implemented a large number of changes since Dale Earnhardt’s death in 2001, it remains to be seen if it will reduce the romanticism NASCAR portrays in its crashes.

#8 – Which NASCAR track has the most crashes?

Two speedways are often considered the most dangerous: the Talladega Superspeedway and the Daytona International Speedway. In both, there have been incredible accidents involving large numbers of drivers, with a deadliness to them that may not be seen on other tracks.

In both speedways, violent flips and grinding wall impacts are expected. Each is incredibly dangerous, with the Daytona International Speedway known in particular as the speedway that killed Dale Earnhardt Sr., a star within professional racing.

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Complete Ranking of NASCAR Drivers

While we’ve covered a number of statistics that are important for understanding a NASCAR driver’s personal car insurance rate, there are several drivers we left out as they were outside of our ranking.

In the table below, you’ll see all the NASCAR drivers we analyzed from Kasey Kahne at the top all the way to the least dangerous NASCAR driver. Total, they come to 39 drivers.

All NASCAR Dangerous Drivers Statistics

As you can see, the statistics vary a great deal in terms of category, with large disparities in the crash frequency, number of races, and number of crashes.

While Kasey Kahne did not have the highest crash frequency, he had the third-highest number of crashes and the second-highest number of race-ending accidents. This moves him up to the top spot over Danica Patrick and Joey Gase.

Methodology: Determining the Worst NASCAR Drivers

The above ranking is based on crashes during the 2017 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Below is the profile our researchers used to determine each driver’s annual insurance rates:

• Premium Coverage
• Driving and insurance since 2017
• 50k-75k miles per year
• Driver’s age
• Driver’s marital status
• Driver’s home location (zip code)
• Driver’s gender
• Number of crashes
• Chevrolet drivers – 2017 Corvette Stingray 8 cyl 2 door coupe
• Ford drivers – 2017 Mustang GT Coupe 8 cyl 2 door

All the data for this study was derived from FoxSports and NASCAR.

Ready to compare NASCAR insurance rates for companies in your area? Whether you are a NASCAR driver or just an ordinary driver, put your information into our free online quote comparison tool. We take all the hard work away from you and give you quotes from different companies all at once.

Of course, there is always hope that even if you have a record like a NASCAR driver, you will be able to find affordable car insurance. Many companies, fortunately, offer discounts or forgiveness packages to people who have been in accidents or take driving school lessons after an accident or speeding ticket.

Before making any final decisions on your insurance company, it is important to learn as much as you can about your local insurance providers, and the coverages they offer. Call your local insurance agent to clear up any questions that you might have. Questions to consider asking include, “What is the best coverage plan for me/my family/my situation?” “What are the minimum coverage requirements in my state and what form of coverage do you recommend?” “Do you guys offer any bundle discounts if I take out both my auto insurance and home insurance with you?” and “What is the average rate of insurance quotes you guys offer?”

Before making any big insurance decisions, use our free tool to compare insurance quotes near you. It’s simple, just plug in your zip code and we’ll do the rest!

 

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