Best NASCAR racers from all 50 states, Part 4: Kansas through Maryland; boogity-boogity!

Editor's Note: This is the fourth of a 10-part series listing the all-time best NASCAR racers from each state:

Next up we bring you some states that, frankly, will surprise you with their lack of NASCAR cockpit depth.

Seriously, isn't Louisiana located deep in the South? Frankly, we weren't expecting much from Maine and Maryland, but Louisiana should be a hot-bed of hot-rodders. I'd blame their French connection, but even France gave us Le Mans.

And Kentucky? Sure, its best racer is an easy choice and among the greatest ever, but should the Bluegrass roster be a little longer?

So here we go, our fourth block of five states and the top NASCAR racer from each. And as a bonus, up in Maine, in the "also receiving votes" category, you might notice the inclusion of the guy recently dubbed "Sexiest Man Alive."

PART TWO 50 states, 50 drivers: NASCAR's best, from Colorado to Georgia; which Elliott is chosen?

Kansas: Clint Bowyer (Emporia)

Why Clint: He collected 21 wins across NASCAR’s top three divisions — including 10 in Cup — from 2004-20. Won the 2008 Xfinity Series championship and was runner-up to Brad Keselowski for the 2012 Cup title.

Others from Kansas: Jim Roper, Rodger Ward, Johnny Rutherford, Rick Mears, Denise McCluggage.

Fun fact: Rick Mears is heavily associated with Bakersfield, Calif., but was born in Wichita. Johnny Rutherford is so synonymous with Texas, he’s known widely as “Lonestar JR,” though he was born in Coffeyville.

Kentucky: Darrell Waltrip (Owensboro)

Why Darrell: DW’s big personality took NASCAR by storm in the 1970s and he stayed at it for nearly 30 years before boogity-boogity-boogitying to the broadcast booth. He collected three Cup championships and 84 victories along the way. Won 12 times in each of his first two championship seasons. Also won 11 of 26 Busch Series starts between 1982-86.

Others from Kentucky: Michael Waltrip, Nelson Stacy, Jeremy Mayfield, the Green brothers (Jeff, David, Mark).

Fun fact: It was Cale Yarborough who hung the “Jaws” nickname on Waltrip early in DW’s career. He was a talker in an era when racers weren’t yet known for brash chatter. And yes, in 1982, as the crowd jeered him during a post-wreck interview at Charlotte, he did indeed invite the boo birds to meet him at a nearby Kmart parking lot.

JOCKO FLOCKO, AND OTHER WEIRDNESS A monkey in the cockpit? Cigarette lighters? Johnny Reb? Yep, NASCAR once allowed all that

Louisiana: Skip Manning (Bogalusa)

Why Skip: The 1976 Cup Series Rookie of the Year made 79 starts between 1975-79, posting 16 top-10 finishes, including career bests of third and fourth, both at Talladega.

Others from Louisiana: Bryan Dauzat, Kim Crosby, Billy Hagan, Doc Faustina.

Fun fact: Manning won top-rookie honors in a 1976 freshman class that included Neil Bonnett, Bill Elliott and Jimmy Means. He drove for team owner Billy Hagan, a fellow Louisianan who replaced Manning with Terry Labonte in 1979.

Maine: Ricky Craven (Newburgh)

Why Ricky: Won twice at the Cup Series level and four times in the Xfinity Series, where he was twice a runner-up for the championship (1993 and ’94).

Others from Maine: Kelly Moore, Joe Bessey, Austin Theriault, Dick McCabe, Andy Santerre, Patrick Dempsey.

Fun fact: While Craven won just twice in the Cup Series, his 2003 photo-finish victory over Kurt Busch at Darlington, where the two drivers slid under the checkers side-by-side, remains on everyone’s very short list of all-time great finishes.

Maryland: Timmy Hill (Port Tobacco)

Why Timmy: He’s made 473 starts in NASCAR’s top three divisions over the past 13 seasons. Has 15 career top-10s in the Xfinity and Truck Series, combined.

Others from Maryland: Jerry Bowman, Justin Boston, Jerry Hill, Tyler Hill, Donnie Neuenberger, Jim Parsley, Kelly Sutton.

Fun Fact: Timmy Hill has led one single lap in 141 Cup Series starts — it came on Lap 149 of the 2020 Yellawood 500 at Talladega, under caution.

Previously: Alabama through Iowa

Alabama: Bobby Allison, Alaska: Keith McGee, Arizona: Alex Bowman, Arkansas: Mark Martin, California: Jimmie Johnson

Colorado: Wally Dallenbach Jr., Connecticut: Joey Logano, Delaware: CJ Faison, Florida: Fireball Roberts, Georgia: Bill Elliott

Hawaii: Will Rodgers; Idaho: Brian Scott; Illinois: Fred Lorenzen; Indiana: Tony Stewart; Iowa: Dick Hutcherson.

Next up: Massachusetts through Missouri

— Reach Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR: 50 racers, 50 states, including Kentucky; boogity-boogity!