NASCAR’s top 10 most-followed drivers on Instagram revealed

In the present world of NASCAR, drivers have to be mindful of their social media presence, as it’s one of the best ways to connect to fans all around the world.

One of the ways many of the drivers in NASCAR’s competitive series do that is through Instagram. Gone are the days of waiting for your favorite drivers to come to your hometown racetrack to see them, as you can simply fire up an app to get a look into their day-to-day. Of course, some drivers do it better than others, while a myriad of them like to let their driving do the talking.

Still, there’s something to be said for being proficient in social media, so here are the top 10 most-followed drivers on Instagram, as shared to X (formerly known as Twitter) by Adam Stern of the Sports Business Journal, via Zoomph.

1) Toni Breidinger — 2,036,674 followers

In the NASCAR world, there aren’t many that come close to the amount of followers Breidinger has accumulated. She’s in first place by over 500,000 followers. At the moment, she competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, and part-time in the NASCAR Truck Series.

You may be asking yourself, ‘How does someone who doesn’t compete in the NASCAR Cup Series have that many followers?’ Well, Breidinger also doubles as a model for Victoria’s Secret. That’s not taking anything away from her driving abilities, but it certainly doesn’t hurt her social media standing.

2) Hailie Deegan — 1,499,535 followers

Coming in at second place as it pertains to NASCAR’s Instagram race is none other than Hailie Deegan. The 22-year-old has quickly risen through the ranks of the sport, and is preparing to compete in the Xfinity Series full-time in 2024.

Deegan’s social media footprint has been well-documented, as she’s become an inspiration to many, taking on a male-dominated sport head-on. If she continues to flash her potential and perhaps win races at the Xfinity level, her following could balloon much, much higher.

3) Bubba Wallace — 493,191 followers

Among male drivers, and Cup Series wheelman for that matter, Bubba Wallace brings home the bacon on Instagram. His following received a shot in the arm over the last couple of seasons, as he’s been outspoken on numerous issues, and has the backing of 23XI Racing and Michael Jordan now.

Wallace’s on-track performance has also improved, which likely helps his numbers. If he can get to Victory Lane in 2024, his numbers could grow larger, as he hopes to find continued excellence in 2024.

4) Chase Elliott — 479,474 followers

It’s no surprise NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award winner is in the top five. Chase Elliott has become one of the faces of the sport over the last couple of seasons, backing it up with a championship in 2020, as well.

However, he’s coming off of a rough season, one where he was both injured and suspended for a time in 2023. As he looks to get back to business this season, he’ll have plenty of support from his raucous fans.

5) Kyle Busch — 422,257 followers

Kyle Busch may be a veteran on the track, but he’s certainly not out of touch. The 38-year-old is still battling his younger peers in every lane, including social media, and more than holding his own.

As he looks ahead to 2024, he’ll be hoping to win his first Daytona 500, and another championship to add to his two that he already possesses. Entering his second season with Richard Childress Racing, the sky is the limit for Busch.

6) Kyle Larson — 336,631 followers

Kyle Larson has always been popular for the sheer talent he possesses, but that skyrocketed with his move to Hendrick Motorsports. He’s done nothing but win since becoming the pilot of the No. 5 Chevrolet following the 2020 season.

He found immediate success, capturing the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series title. Since then, he’s continued to cement himself as one of the series’ best, and will be looking for his second title in 2024.

7) Joey Logano — 280,489 followers

While it feels like Joey Logano has been in NASCAR forever, he’s still only 33 years old. He’s more than up-to-date on his social media, and that’s obvious after seeing his strong amount of followers on Instagram.

Logano already has two NASCAR Cup Series titles, and 32 wins throughout his career at the highest level in the sport. With a ton of time likely remaining in his NASCAR career, we’ll see how high his numbers climb in the future.

8) Ryan Blaney — 256,677 followers

Ryan Blaney got the champion’s bump on Instagram, which helped his numbers, even if he was already one of the sport’s most popular drivers. The Team Penske wheelman captured his first title last season, but he’s far from satisfied with one.

The 30-year-old is the favorite in many sportsbooks to win the title again in 2024. Can he repeat as champion? That remains to be seen, but Blaney is as good of a bet as any to win it all this season, firmly in his prime.

9) Austin Dillon — 235,216 followers

When you drive the No. 3, your brand is going to grow, and that’s helped Austin Dillon develop a loyal base of followers on social media. Additionally, Dillon’s won some of the sport’s biggest races in his career, including the 2018 Daytona 500, and the 2017 Coca-Cola 600.

He only has four wins in his career, so the 33-year-old Dillon will be looking to improve his numbers in 2024. Still, he’s a pretty popular guy on Instagram, making it to the top ten among his peers.

10) John Hunter Nemechek — 219,286 followers

Perhaps John Hunter Nemechek is a surprise name on the list for people. He’s found success on the track, but he’s been relegated to the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series over recent seasons, although he’s back in the Cup Series for another go-round in 2024.

Will it go better than his first time running the campaign? It remains to be seen, but Legacy Motor Club is certainly hoping the 26-year-old’s strong social media game translates to some improved success on the track in 2024.

So there you have it, the best of the best when it comes to Instagram in NASCAR. Time will tell how these racers do on the track this season, it could correlate to the way they perform on social media, so there’s a ton at stake week-in and week-out.