NASCAR Drivers Who Drive Beater Cars – All Of These Cars Are Seriously Interesting
To a professional NASCAR driver, there is probably nothing more thrilling than going 200 miles per hour on the track during a race. Because of that, you would think drivers like Joey Logano and Tony Stewart would feel the need for speed off the track, too. Be honest, what car do you think Logano drives in his spare time?
Would you ever guess it's a Ford Econoline Van? Here are all the unexpected and most interesting cars the best racers in the world come home to.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Takes It Easy In His Chevy Laguna
To be fair, the Chevy Laguna isn't the only car Dale Earnhardt Jr. comes home to after a race. Outside of NASCAR, he is known for his massively expensive collection of cars. The Laguna just might be his favorite.
The reason Earnhardt Jr. is such a die-hard Laguna man is because they were the same cars used in racing decades ago. Today, they can be found quite cheap on the used market, although we're pretty sure Earnhardt Jr. souped his up just a bit, increasing its value.
Kyle Petty Is Fuel Efficient In His Prius
While the Toyota Prius is a perfectly good car for the everyday driver, it lacks the power and elegance you would think a NASCAR legend would prefer.
Not Kyle Petty. Known as perhaps the greatest NASCAR driver of all-time, he spends his retirement saving money on gas in his Prius. It's clear that this legend's days of racing are done with. The only thing he's racing to now is his bank account statement, to smile at his savings!
A Replica Is Good Enough For Ryan Newman
We guess Ryan Newman is a big fan of Sanford and Sons. Just look at his car! It's an exact replica of the Ford F-150 that was used in the show, rust and everything.
Thanks to his dedication, Newman owns the cheapest car on this list. Because it's only a replica, it is currently valued at less than $2,000. That doesn't stop the compliments from flowing in when fans see him riding this beauty around town, though!
Carl Edwards Is Practical In His Ford Fusion Hybrid
Like Kyle Petty, Carl Edwards must feel like he goes through enough fuel during a race. To help keep balance in the universe, he drives a very efficient Ford Fusion Hybrid on his everyday commute.
Surprisingly, Edwards actually drove with a Fusion for a brief period of time on the track. His most impressive feat with his favorite car didn't come during a race, though. He made front page news in 2010 when he took his hybrid 1445.7 miles on one gas tank!
Joey Logano Loves His "Rat Rod"
The second appearance by Joey Logano on this list is well earned. A deeper dive into his love of old cars reveals this 1939 GMC pickup. He lovingly called this beater his "Rat Rod."
While we're sure he's done work under the hood to make sure this true value vintage vehicle stays running, he's done nothing to it aesthetically. All the rust and dents that it has accumulated over the years are still there, adding character to this beast of burden.
Jimmie Johnson's Chevy Stepside Is Beautiful On The Inside
When asked about his washed out Chevy Stepisde, Jimmie Johnson said, "It looks old, but it's very comfortable to drive around." He loves driving the rusted bucket so much he even revealed it's his go-to commuter car.
On the outside, the truck looks like it's falling apart. A lot of the paint is peeling away and rusted over. Challenge Johnson to a race, though, and you'll learn a hard lesson. Under the hood, he's equipped his favorite car with the engine of a Corvette.
Tony Stewart Drives A Hearse... Seriously
Tony Stewart was one of the most controversial NASCAR drivers during his career. Since retiring, he has continued leading a controversial life, choosing to drive a Cadillac Hearse around town to run his errands.
Don't feel sad, though. Stewart might drive a hearse, but he's turned it into quite the celebration ready vehicle. After buying it, he upgraded it with a television and fully-stocked liquor cabinet. How do we get invited to this party?
For Clint Bowyer, Old Never Goes Out Of Style
His 1934 Chevy Sedan isn't Clint Bowyer's commuter car, but it is one of his favorites. "I drive it every chance I get. It's a very fun car to drive," he said. When it comes to Bowyer, what's old is truly new again.
Unlike other cars on this list, we have no idea what work Bowyer has done under the hood of his sedan. If he's a true vintage fan, then there's a good chance this vehicle still has its original parts!
Danica Patrick Didn't Own A Car When She Was Racing
During Danica Patrick's career two things were certain. First, she would race with more passion than her male competitors. And second, she didn't own a car. For her, it was always easiest to drive whatever Ford gave her.
The most notable car she drove was a Ford Expedition. The unremarkable SUV was the perfect vehicle to get her to the race tack. Once there, she never failed to put on a show and was known as one of the NASCAR's most competitive drivers.
Ryan Newman's Perfect Family Van
Ryan Newman wasn't expecting to get a 1960 Chevy Parkwood Wagon when he showed up to auction one day with his kids. The little rascals started playing around in the car, and he knew it was destined to be.
The car turned out to be the perfect family vehicle for Newman and his kids. He regularly takes them to get ice cream in it. It has proven to be way more reliable than it looks, even if it's not as pretty as his race day Camaro.
Daniel Suarez Loves His Beetle
This isn't the only car that Daniel Suarez owns that you're going to see on this list, but is the oldest. It's also the car that means the most to him. When Suarez made the journey from Mexico to the United States, he was behind the wheel of his Volkswagon Beetle.
As Suarez tells it, the car came close to breaking down several times, but it never quit on him. Since becoming a star in NASCAR, he has fixed up his miracle Beetle, treating it with the same love it showed him all those years ago.
Daniel Suarez Gets Around Town In A Camry
When he needs to run errands or head to the track on race day, Daniel Suarez doesn't hop into his Beetle. He gets behind the wheel of his Toyota Camry and takes off for the "office."
The Camry is one of the most reliable cars on the road and nothing like the car Suarez drives on race day. On that day, he gets into his Ford Mustang and stars revving the engine getting ready to win it all for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Loves His Camaro
A third-generation race car driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is known for his car collection. However, there's a special place in his heart for the 1960s-era Camaros.
His affection for the model can be traced back to his father, who built one of these cars with his own father when growing up. Dale has continued to honor the tradition of having Camaros in the family and likes to speed around in his own 1967 model. Good luck catching him!
Kyle Busch Is A Toyota Loyalist
If you ever see Kyle Busch driving a car not made by Toyota, there is a 100 percent chance it's not actually him. Busch is a loyalist to the company and especially loves the Camry.
Playing for Joe Gibbs Racing, Busch powers a Camry to victory every weekend. And when he leaves the track to go home at night, he gets into another Camry, his commuter Camry. When he really needs to step up his car game, Busch also owns a Lexus LFA, which is made by Toyota.
Joey Logano Isn't Winning Fans Over With His Thunderbird
At the start of the century, retro looking cars were all the rage. Ford jumped on the bandwagon and re-introduced the Thunderbird to the world. Joey Logano became a huge fan of the 'old is new again' look. Other consumers didn't.
Another reason Logano loves his Thunderbird is because he proposed to his wife in it, so it must be good luck. This would definitely be the right choice for him to show up at the Daytona 500 in!
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Has Owned His Chevy S10 Since 1988
Another car that isn't pretty to look at but holds a ton of sentimental value is Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevy S10. He bought the truck in 1988 because it was the same truck his family had when he was young.
Since buying the beater, Earnhardt Jr. has had it fully restored to be as close to his childhood truck as possible. We imagine he has upgraded a few parts, though, like the engine and other performance important things.
Jimmie Johnson Saves On Gas In His Chevy Volt
Don't talk bad about the Chevy Volt in front of Jimmie Johnson. He owns one of these electric cars and loves them, "It's a great car to drive and uses a better alternative of power source."
Johnson's love for Chevy goes beyond the Volt. He drives a Chevy during races and has become one of the sports winningest drivers. The car company has treated Johnson incredibly well, so why wouldn't return the favor with amazing brand loyalty?
Joey Logano Made His Econoline Van A Work Of Art
Joey Logano put his heart and soul into turning his simple Ford Econoline Van into a work of art. He painted it all, modified it so a camper could be included, and even painted the wheels bright neon green.
At this vehicle's heart, however, it's still a Ford Econoline Van. Logano's is from 1961, making it a first generation Econoline. Today, the van is still going strong in its fifth generation, although it has gone through some major engine and performance upgrades!
Bubba Wallace Goes Everywhere With His Ford F-150
It makes sense that Bubba Wallace would drive a truck when he's not zipping around the track in his team sponsored Chevy. Before joining the elite ranks of NASCAR, he drove in the Xfinity Truck Series.
In his spare time, he still drives a Ford F-150, and he can take it anywhere. It might not be as fast as the one he raced in, but it's just as reliable and durable. Since getting behind the wheel of a Chevy, though, we can't help but wonder if a Silverado might be in his future.
Ryan Newman Has A Farm Truck
When Ryan Newman needs to get away from everyday life he hops in his Chevy C10 and hits the gas. The car isn't pretty, but it's great for Newman's needs: "It's a farm truck. It’s not perfect. It’s got rust and a gun rack in the back. I call it a beater even though it’s not. I like it just the way it is."
That doesn't mean Newman hasn't upgraded certain parts of the truck. One major upgrade he has admitted to was installing a Turbo 350 transmission.
