NASCAR: The 15 Best Nicknames in Sprint Cup History

NASCAR drivers are colorful if anything, and the nicknames that have graced some of the sport's drivers have been colorful as well. Did you know Dale Earnhardt Sr. was not just "The Intimidator" but was also known as "Iron Head?"

Here are 15 of the most colorful nicknames in NASCAR. Do you have a favorite that is not listed here? Is there an "ultimate" nickname? We would love to hear from you.

A.J. "Super Tex" Foyt

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NEWTON, IA - JUNE 20: A.J.Foyt, team owner of the #14 ABC Supply Co Dallara Honda of Ryan Hunter-Reay during practice for the IRL Indycar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 20, 2009 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton,Iowa. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Image

One of the few drivers to find success behind the wheel of a NASCAR stock car and an Indy style car, A.J. Foyt was almost bigger than life. Foyt is the only driver to have won both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 (4 times). He is also the only person to have won at Indianapolis in both front and rear engine cars. His career racing at Indianapolis spanned 35 years and he only needed ten NASCAR starts before he claimed his first victory, the 1964 Firecracker 400.

Harry "The Skoal Bandit" Gant

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BRISTOL, TN - MARCH 21: Harry Gant prepares to drive during the NASCAR Legends UARA Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 21, 2009 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Skoal Bandits was the long-time sponsor on Harry Gant's car so "The Skoal Bandit" was a logical choice of nicknames. Gant also earned the nickname "Mr. September" after winning the four September Cup races in 1991.

Ned "Gentleman Ned" Jarrett

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 13: Former NASCAR driver Ned Jarrett speaks with the media during NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on October 13, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

One of the most respected veterans of NASCAR, Ned Jarrett won championships in 1961 and 1965 and was voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame with the Class of 2011. "Gentleman Ned" refers to Jarrett's calm demeanor rather than his fierce competitive nature.

Clifton "Coo Coo" Marlin

"Coo Coo" Marlin

Father of former Sprint Cup driver Sterling Marlin, "Coo Coo" Marlin made a name for himself racing short tracks in Tennessee and Alabama. Although he never won a Sprint Cup Race, "Coo Coo" had nine Top 5 and 51 Top 10 finishes in his 165 Cup starts.

Glenn "Fireball" Robert

"Fireball" Roberts

Not all nicknames associated with NASCAR drivers have anything to do with their adventures behind the wheel of a stock car. Glenn "Fireball" Roberts picked up his moniker firing fastballs for the Zellwood Mud Hens, an American Legion baseball team he played for in Apopka, Florida.

Tragically, Roberts' nickname also stirs sad memories of his fiery death in the 1964 World 600 in Charlotte. Trying to avoid a crash in front of him, Roberts' car slammed backwards into the wall, flipped over and burst into flames. Burned over 80% of his body, he died several weeks later on July 2, 1964.

David "The Silver Fox" Pearson

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 18: (L-R) Hall of Famer David Pearson poses in the garage area prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry

David Pearson stands second in all-time wins in NASCAR's premier series with 105 wins. What makes this record even more impressive is that "The Silver Fox" drove for the Wood Brothers and never ran a full season, competing in select races rather than running all the races on the schedule.

Pearson is a member of the Class of 2011 inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Ricky "Ironman" Rudd

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HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Ricky Rudd, driver of the #88 Snickers Ford, sits in his car prior to practice for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 17, 2007 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty

Holding the record for the most consecutive starts in NASCAR, Rick Rudd certainly deserves his "Iron Man" nickname. With 788 consecutive starts, Rudd earned the respect of fellow competitors and others in the garage area for driving "no matter what." His dedication paid off with wins in 16 consecutive seasons, with a total of 23 Cup wins, 194 Top 5s and 373 Top 10s to his credit.

Jimmy "Mr. Excitement" Spencer

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LOUDON, NH - JUNE 28: Jimmy Spencer, past modified champion and television personality speaks with the media during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 28, 2008 in Loudon, New Hamps

An aggressive driving style and highly competitive nature earned Jimmy Spencer his "Mr. Excitement" nickname. Earning his stripes in NASCAR's lower-level modified series, Spencer had two wins in the Sprint Cup Series in July of 1994 driving for Junior Johnson. These would be Spencer's only wins at NASCAR's highest level. But he is one of few drivers to have won races in all three of NASCAR's top series, Cup, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series.

Richard "The King" Petty

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Hall of fame driver Richard Petty looks on in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Tom P

With seven Cup championships and 200 NASCAR wins, Richard Petty's nickname, "The King" needs no explanation. One of the most popular drivers to pilot a stock car, Petty is still one of the most recognized names in motorsports, even those who don't follow NASCAR.

Gober "The Wild Injun" Sosebee

Gober "The Wild Injun" Sosebee

In his ten year career (1949-1959), Gober Sosebee's hard-driving style earned him the nickname "Wild Injun" Earning four victories in 71 starts, Sosebee also claimed four poles and 33 Top 10 finishes. One of the pioneers of NASCAR's early days, he led 503 laps in his career.

"Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" Elliott

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TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 29: Bill Elliott, driver of the #26 Air Guard Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 29, 2010 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jerry

Hailing from Dawsonville, GA, Bill Elliott holds the record for the fastest recorded lap on a NASCAR track at 212.809 mph, set at Talladega in 1987. Elliott also earned the nickname "Million Dollar Bill" in 1985 when he won the Daytona 500, the Winston 500 at Talladega, and the Southern 500 at Darlington which resulted in his winning the first Winston Million. That fete earned him a place as the first NASCAR driver featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Truman Fontel "Fonty" Flock

"Fonty" Flock

Early pioneers of NASCAR, the Flock family contributed four siblings to the sport's early history, Brothers "Fonty," Bob, and Tim, along with sister Ethel Mobley, who was NASCAR's second female driver, drove in the early days of NASCAR. Getting his start like so many others in those early days, running moonshine, "Fonty" won the very first event run at the North Wilkesboro track.

In 1952, Flock won the Southern 500 at Darlington, where he drove the race wearing argyle socks and Bermuda shorts. Evidently real men didn't need fire suits!

Edwin "Banjo" Matthews

"Banjo" Matthews

Earning more fame building cars for others to drive than he did sitting behind the wheel, "Banjo" Matthews converted his love of racing cars to a love of creating great racing machines. His shop, Banjo's Performance Center, near Asheville, NC, was almost as popular as the nearby Biltmore House.

Cars built by Matthews won 262 of 362 NASCAR Winston Cup Races from 1974-1985, including all 30 races in 1978. Cars built by "Banjo" often accounted for over half the field entered in the races.

Darrell "Jaws" Waltrip

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CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 22: Darrell Waltrip speaks to the media about the unveiling of his Championship-winning No. 11 Mountain Dew Buick during the kick off of the final 50 days before the opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on M

Also known as "Ol' DW", Darrell Waltrip earned the nickname "Jaws" when Cale Yarborough was interviewed after Waltrip crashed him out of a race. Ever flamboyant and willing to talk a little trash before a race, "Jaws" was a fitting nickname that Waltrip readily accepted.

Winning three Winston Cup championships and 84 Cup races, Waltrip has the most wins of any driver starting their career in the modern (post-1971) era. "DW" is currently a color commentator on Fox broadcasts of NASCAR events.

Dale "The Intimidator" Earnhardt

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11 Apr 1999: Dale Earnhardt #3 looking on before the Food City 500 of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport

Saying "The Intimidator" needs no further introduction would be an understatement. With seven Cup championships and 76 wins, Earnhardt's accomplishments were cut short with his death in 2001 on the last lap of the Daytona 500 which saw a car he owned take Michael Waltrip to his first Cup win.

Earnhardt had several nicknames during his NASCAR career: "The Man in Black," "Ironhead," "Big E" and others. But the one that most often comes to mind came from an aggressive driving style and a need to win that was unrivaled. Competitors knew they had their hands full when the black No. 3 showed up in their mirror.