Top 5 longest driver-team partnerships in NASCAR feat. Richard Petty

Long-term driver–team partnerships are rare in modern-day NASCAR. Drivers seldom stay with one organization long enough to build a decades-long legacy. Over time, competition levels have changed, commercial pressure has increased, and driver changes have become common in the sport.

Earlier eras operated differently. Petty Enterprises or Junior Johnson’s outfit worked on trust and continuity. Loyalty came before market value. Drivers were part of the shop culture, and the sport grew around those tight groups.

Today, teams are run as large corporate operations with multiple departments. Decisions lean on performance metrics more than long-term loyalty. Sponsorship turnover drives contract cycles. Charters cost more than ever, and new entries face steep financial burdens. Manufacturers now place drivers in programs based on development plans and sponsor alignment, not only tenure.

Amid all of this, a few relationships stood the test of time. Here is a look at the five longest driver–team partnerships in NASCAR Cup Series history.

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Five longest driver–team partnerships in NASCAR Cup Series history

1. Richard Petty - Petty Enterprises (27 seasons, 1958–1984)

Richard Petty before the 1988 Daytona 500. Source: Getty

Richard Petty’s run with Petty Enterprises remains the standard for longevity in the sport. Every major chapter of his career was tied to the No. 43, and most of his achievements came with the same family operation. He became the identity of the team, and the team became part of NASCAR’s foundation.

Petty earned 196 wins with Petty Enterprises and 200 victories overall. Four came outside the family team - two for Don Robertson in 1970 and his final two with Mike Curb listed as owner.

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2. Denny Hamlin - Joe Gibbs Racing (21 seasons, 2005–2025)

Denny Hamlin with team owner Joe Gibbs after winning the 2021 Daytona 500. Source: Imagn

Denny Hamlin’s partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing is the longest continuous pairing of NASCAR’s modern age. He entered the No. 11 Toyota in 2005 and became one of the sport’s most consistent frontrunners for two decades. The stability of his role at JGR kept the team regularly in championship contention.

Hamlin's long run with the group also occurred during a period of rapid change in driver development and team structure. Few modern drivers have stayed with one team long enough to produce that level of sustained competitiveness, making his fifth championship four appearances with the team this year.

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3. Jimmie Johnson - Hendrick Motorsports (19 seasons, 2002–2020)

Jimmie Johnson (L) and owner Rick Hendrick celebrate his seventh career championship. Source: Imagn

Jimmie Johnson’s time with Hendrick Motorsports delivered one of the most successful periods any Cup team has experienced. His partnership with the No. 48 team and Chad Knaus defined the 2000s and early 2010s in NASCAR. Seven championships - including five straight - anchored the team’s dominance. He spent his entire full-time Cup career with HMS before becoming a part-time driver/owner at Legacy Motor Club.

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4. Mark Martin - Roush Racing (19 seasons, 1988–2006)

Team owner Jack Roush and Mark Martin at the Kansas Speedway, 2005. Source: Getty

Mark Martin joined Roush Racing since the team’s inception in 1988 and helped turn it into a front-running organization. Most of his career success - including 35 of his 40 Cup wins - came with the No. 6 Ford. His consistency kept Roush part of the championship picture for almost two decades.

Martin’s influence helped set the team’s working culture and became a model for younger drivers entering the Roush system. His approach to preparation shaped the team’s peak years in the 2000s, even after he moved on.

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5. Jeff Gordon - Hendrick Motorsports (18 seasons, 1993–2015)

Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick on July 21, 2024, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Source: Imagn

Jeff Gordon’s arrival at Hendrick Motorsports reshaped the team. He came in the early 90s and quickly became a title contender and the center of the HMS operation during the 1990s and early 2000s. That stretch delivered four titles, which made the No. 24 one of NASCAR’s most successful cars.

Gordon’s connection to Hendrick extended beyond his racing career. He helped strengthen the organization’s culture, becoming part-time owner and vice president of the 15-time NASCAR Cup Series champions.