History of the #71 Car in NASCAR

1,182
Starts
44
Wins
68
Poles
184
Top-5s
309
Top-10s

The #71 has been carried proudly through NASCAR's garage area for decades. Bobby Isaac made their mark with 35 wins behind this number, and across 1,182 career starts, the #71 has found victory lane 44 times. The number has 1 championship to its name, adding hardware to a legacy built on consistency. Michael McDowell keeps the tradition alive today, adding new chapters to this number's story. It's a number that commands respect in any rearview mirror.

2026 Driver: Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports · Chevy
Championship pedigree: Bobby Isaac (1970) See all champions

All-Time Driver History

Cup Series stats from 1949-2026. Sorted by starts.

Driver Starts Wins
Bobby Isaac 198 35
Buddy Baker 37 3
Zane Smith 36 0
Bill Poor 30 0
Bob Baron 29 0
Bobby Labonte 26 0
David Gilliland 25 0
Mike Alexander 19 0
Neil Bonnet 11 0
Jim Sauter 7 0
Lennie Pond 7 0
Cotten Ownes 6 0
Landon Cassill 5 0
Mike Bliss 4 0
Hermie Sadler 4 0
Dick Trickle 4 0
Fireball Roberts 1 1
Kerry Earnhardt 1 0
Tim Flock 1 0
Brendan Gaughan 1 0

Team Chart (1998-2026)

Year Driver Manufacturer
2026 Michael McDowell Chevy
2025 Michael McDowell Chevy
2024 Zane Smith Chevy
2021 ? Chevy
2012 ? Ford
2010 Hermie Sadler Landon Cassill Mike Bliss Andy Lally Bobby Labonte Chevy
2009 David Gilliland Mike Wallace (Daytona 500) Chevy
2000 Dave Marcis Kerry Earnhardt Chevy
1999 Dave Marcis Chevy
1998 Dave Marcis Chevy

Frequently Asked Questions

Who drove the #71 car in NASCAR?
The #71 has been driven by 7 different drivers in our database (1998-2026). Michael McDowell held the number the longest with 2 seasons. All-time, 20 drivers made at least one start in the #71.
Who was the most successful driver of the #71 car?
Bobby Isaac is the most successful driver of the #71 with 35 wins and 198 starts.
Who drives the #71 car in 2026?
Yes, Michael McDowell drives the #71 for Spire Motorsports in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, driving a Chevy.
How many wins does the #71 car have in NASCAR history?
The #71 car has 44 wins, 68 poles, 184 top-5 finishes, and 309 top-10 finishes across 1,182 starts in NASCAR Cup Series history (1949-2026).
What is the complete history of the #71 car?
This page shows the complete history of the #71 in two sections: the all-time driver history (1949-2026) with aggregate stats from the full Cup Series era, and a detailed team chart (1998-2026) showing team, manufacturer, and sponsor information for each season.