Determined by vote of the membership, the Richard Petty Driver of the Year award has been presented annually since 1969 to recognize the season’s most outstanding driver. It is named in honor of Richard Petty, NASCAR’s all-time leader in Cup victories.
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Connor Zilisch |
| 2024 | Justin Allgaier |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen |
| 2022 | Ross Chastain |
| 2021 | Kyle Larson |
| 2020 | Kevin Harvick |
| 2019 | Martin Truex, Jr. |
| 2018 | Kevin Harvick |
| 2017 | Martin Truex, Jr. |
| 2016 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2015 | Kyle Busch |
| 2014 | Kevin Harvick |
| 2013 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2012 | Brad Keselowski |
| 2011 | Tony Stewart |
| 2010 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2009 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2008 | Carl Edwards |
| 2007 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2006 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2005 | Tony Stewart |
| 2004 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2003 | Ryan Newman |
| 2002 | Tony Stewart |
| 2001 | Kevin Harvick |
| 2000 | Bobby Labonte |
| 1999 | Dale Jarrett |
| 1998 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1997 | Dale Jarrett |
| 1996 | Terry Labonte |
| 1995 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1994 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1993 | Rusty Wallace |
| 1992 | Davey Allison |
| 1991 | Harry Gant |
| 1990 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1989 | Mark Martin |
| 1988 | Rusty Wallace |
| 1987 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1986 | Tim Richmond & Dale Earnhardt |
| 1985 | Bill Elliott |
| 1984 | Terry Labonte |
| 1983 | Bobby Allison |
| 1982 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1981 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1980 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1979 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1978 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1977 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1976 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1975 | Richard Petty |
| 1974 | Richard Petty |
| 1973 | David Pearson |
| 1972 | Bobby Allison |
| 1971 | Bobby Allison |
| 1970 | Bobby Issac |
| 1969 | LeeRoy Yarbrough |
