The dawn of the new season in motorsports got into full swing on Saturday with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. The endurance race was won by the No. 2 Tequila Patron ESM team of Scott Sharp, Pipo Derani, Johannes van Overbook, and Ed Brown.

Although a few racing series, like the AMA Monster Energy Supercross, had begun their season at Anaheim, California on Jan. 9, the endurance race at Daytona usually kicks off not only the racing season but Speedweeks, which span from Saturday to the Feb. 21 Daytona 500.

This season is one of the most unpredictable seasons yet with new rules, cars, and drivers among the many storylines in 2016. But have you wondered who has been the best in the racing world for quite some time?

Even though we’re waiting for other series like Formula One, World Endurance Championship and MotoGP to begin, here are the 25 best drivers in motorsports since 1990.

This lists have been split in five different groups, which are NASCAR, Formula One, IndyCar/CART, IMSA/WEC and miscellaneous racing series.

NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt

Without a doubt, the greatest driver in his sport. His intimidating ability to drive won the fans over and he ruled the early 1990s by winning four titles in five years. People miss Dale to this day, almost 15 years after his tragic death at Daytona.

• 7x Winston Cup Series Champion
• 4x IROC Champion
• 1998 Daytona 500 winner
• Most wins at Daytona International Speedway (34)
• 2010 NASCAR Hall of Fame

Jeff Gordon

He revolutionized NASCAR from a southern grass roots sport into a national phenomenon. Perhaps the most successful driver in the modern era based on his accomplishments, Gordon drove from 1992 to 2015. This season will be different without the Rainbow Warrior and future hall of famer.

• 4x Sprint Cup Series Champion
• 3x Daytona 500 winner
• 5x Brickyard 400 winner (most oval wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
• 93 wins (most in modern era)
• 81 poles (most in modern era)

Jimmie Johnson

Whether you love him or hate him, the Chase Era has been Jimmie's showcase. When you think he's out of it, Johnson seems to find a way to win races when it truly counts. HIs perseverance and determination to rise to the occasion is probably why he's the only driver to win the AP Male Athlete of the Year.

• 6x Sprint Cup Series Champion
• 2x Daytona 500 winner
• Five-straight Cup Championships (2006-10)
• 2009 AP Male Athlete of the Year (only driver to achieve this)
• 4x All-Star winner

Tony Stewart

Arguably the last great versatile driver of our generation, Tony Stewart has done it all. But it's his NASCAR career that stands out. From his attitude to his driving style, he's the last of a certain breed. Just because he's retiring from NASCAR after this year doesn't mean his racing career is over. He may pull off more wins to extend his colorful legacy.

• 3x Sprint Cup Series Champion
• 1997 IndyCar Series Champion
• 1995 USAC Triple Crown Champion
• 2006 IROC Champion
• Most recent driver-owner Cup champion (2011)

Kyle Busch

Entering 2016 as the defending champion, Kyle Busch looks to continue racking up wins in the top 3 series (Cup, Xfinity, Trucks). His competitive nature is unlike anyone in today's era of NASCAR. But it is his toughness that proved to fans that Kyle is here to stay and passionately competes to win, with no exceptions.

• 154 NASCAR national wins (76 in Xfinity)
• 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion
• 2009 Xfinity Series Champion
• 2015 Brickyard 400 winner
• 2008 Southern 500 winner

Formula One

Michael Schumacher

The man who dominated the early 2000s needs no introduction. Not only did Michael became a household name in Formula One but he also put Ferrari back on the map. Although he has been battling for his life over the course of the past two years, Schumacher is considered to be the fastest and best driver of the last quarter-century.

• 7x Formula One World Champion
• 91 wins (most all-time)
• 68 poles (most all-time)
• 155 podiums (most all-time)
• Most wins in a F1 season (13 in 2002)

Ayrton Senna

After a marvelous run in the late 80s, Senna solidified himself as an all-time great by winning back-to-back world titles in 1990 and 1991. There has been nobody like him since his death at Imola in 1994 and it is devastating to ponder what more he could have accomplished. But safe to say, he displayed greatness both on and off the track.

• 3x Formula One World Champion
• 6x Monaco Grand Prix winner
• Most consecutive front row starts (24 in 1988-89)
• Most consecutive poles (8 in 1988-89)
• 2000 International Motorsports Hall of Fame

Sebastian Vettel

The youth movement was alive in the 2000s but not quite like Vettel. He began driving F1 at Indianapolis in 2007 and never looked back. The superior Red Bull car conquered all challenges and dominated F1 in recent memory. Vettel is now with Ferrari and doing better than people expected; he may continue to be fast and competitive in 2016.

• 4x Formula One World Champion
• Most poles in a F1 season (15 in 2011)
• Most wins in a F1 season (13 in 2013)
• Most consecutive wins (9 in 2013)
• Youngest F1 winner (2008 Italian GP – 21 years, 73 days)

Lewis Hamilton

The man that's ruled Formula One for the last two years deserves to be considered one of the best F1 drivers since 1990. With the exception of teammate and rival Nico Rosberg, nobody can find a way to stop the Mercedes-Benz team, especially Hamilton. He's becoming a well-recognized driver and is looking to make it a three-peat in 2016, continuing to build his historic career.

• 3x Formula One World Champion
• 2008 Monaco Grand Prix winner
• 49 poles
• Most wins in debut season (4 in 2007)
• Pole positions at most different Grand Prix (21)

Fernando Alonso

If there's one driver that seems to make a non-competitive car look decent or better than what the critics have said, Alonso does it best. He's no longer the young gun in F1 and people should begin to realize that what Alonso has done is magnificent. That, in my book, qualifies him as one of the best F1 drivers because he's just a relatively underrated, talented driver.

• 2x Formula One World Champion
• 2x Monaco Grand Prix winner
• 2x British Grand Prix winner
• 32 wins
• 97 podiums

American Open Wheel (IndyCar/CART)

Dario Franchitti

Not even a short stint in NASCAR stopped Dario from being a dominant driver, the likes of which IndyCar hasn't seen for quite some time. His accomplishments speaks for themselves and, like some drivers, his career was cut short. He has been retired for almost three years now, following a violent crash in Houston. Despite no longer competing in racing, he's heavily involved in motorsports, like a fellow Scot before him named Jackie Stewart.

• 4x IndyCar Series Champion
• 3x Indianapolis 500 winner
• 2008 24 Hours of Daytona overall winner
• 2007 12 Hours of Sebring class winner
• 31 American Open Wheel wins (21 – IndyCar/10 – CART)

Scott Dixon

I'm reminded of what Robin Miller said in the past, that people should know who Scott Dixon is, and I agree. He's the best driver working today and has done it all in IndyCar. LikeFranchitti, Dixon is fast and consistent but, when it comes down to crunch time, watch out for Dixon as he may win the championship. To this day, he's better than ever and easily a favorite to win an astonishing 5th title this year.

• 4x IndyCar Series Champion
• 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner
• 2x 24 Hours of Daytona overall winner
• 38 American Open Wheel wins (37 – IndyCar/1 – CART)
• 25 IndyCar poles

Alex Zanardi

Simply a fierce and brave human being. When American Open Wheel Racing was falling apart in 1996, Zanardi kept the excitement of CART alive in the famed lightning bolt Target Honda for Chip Ganassi. Plus, he's one of the pioneers of burnouts in motorsports. If you haven't heard of Zanardi's adversity since his gruesome crash at Lautiz, Germany in Sept. 2001, I'd suggest you to do some research and realize what he's doing is incredible.

• 2x CART Champion
• 2x Paralympic Gold Medalist (Road Bicycle Racing)
• 15 CART wins
• 4 World Touring Car Championship wins
• 1997 US 500 at Michigan winner

Juan Pablo Montoya

Montoya has received a lot of flack these days, but the guy can drive. Easily one of the five best all-around drivers in 25 years, maybe top three, and here's why. He's a crossover driver that has been successful in every type of car he's driven without skipping a beat. There's nobody like Montoya today and at the age of 40, he's hungrier than ever to capture another open wheel championship.

• 2x Indianapolis 500 winner
• 3x 24 Hours of Daytona overall winner
• 1999 CART Champion
• 2003 Monaco Grand Prix winner
• 2x NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner

Helio Castroneves

You can't deny that Helio is not only fast but charismatic on the track. The best driver to have never won a championship but his accomplishments speak to his dominance in IndyCar. He still has some history to make, such as seeking a fourth Indy 500 win, which will tie him with A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, and Al Unser. By the way, he's a Dancing With the Stars winner which proves he's charismatic.

• 3x Indianapolis 500 winner
• 44 American Open Wheel poles (34 – IndyCar/10 – CART)
• 29 American Open Wheel wins (23 – IndyCar/6 – CART)
• 93 top-10 finishes
• 4x Indianapolis 500 pole winner

Sports cars

Tom Kristensen

You can't say Tom Kristensen without saying Audi. This guy ruled endurance racing and is one of the best sports car driver in the world, winning Le Mans a record breaking nine times. He's also won titles outside of endurance racing, such as winning in touring cars in Europe.

• 9x 24 Hours of Le Mans winner
• 6x 12 Hours of Sebring winner
• 2013 World Endurance Championship
• 2002 Petit Le Mans winner
• Wins in British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) & Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM)

Allan McNish

Like Kristensen, McNish is an elite race car driver. He's driven some of the top racing series around the world, including Formula One. But his credentials in sports cars made him a legend of the new millennium.

• 3x 24 Hours of Le Mans winner
• 3x American Le Mans Series Champion
• 4x 12 Hours of Sebring winner
• 2013 World Endurance Championship
• 27 American Le Mans Series class wins

Scott Pruett

The best American sports car driver today continues to be successful. Even an IndyCar/CART career stint in the 1990s didn't hurt his sports car talent; it actually solidified him as a dominant road racer. A rare entity in the United States, but be appreciative of Pruett's career as he doesn't look like he's slowing down anytime soon.

• 5x 24 Hours of Daytona overall winner
• 5x Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype Champion
• 3x SCCA Trans-Am Champion
• 2x IMSA GTO Champion
• 1986 IMSA GT Endurance Champion

Lucas Luhr

When you need a hand, you can trust Lucas to help you pull out some wins and championships. He's also made a name for himself by winning in various sports cars categories. It demonstrates that there are sports car drivers that can be solid in different kinds of cars.

• 7x American Le Mans Series Champion in three classes (LMP1, LMP2, GT)
• 5x 12 Hours of Sebring class winner (GT/GT2)
• 2x 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner
• 2x 24 Hours Nurburgring overall winner
• 2011 GT1 World Champion

Frank Biela

In the first half of the quarter-century, Biela was a name to watch out for. Especially when you are discussing the world title; he was ready to win. For a period of time, he was basically one of the best endurance drivers in the world.

• 5x 24 Hours of Le Mans winner
• 2003 American Le Mans Series Champion
• 1995 British Touring Car Champion
• 1996 Autosport National Racing Driver of the Year
• 1991 Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft Champion (DTM)

Other:

Valentino Rossi (MotoGP)

I don't think there's been anyone that put world motorcycle racing on the map like Rossi has done. Not only is he an all-time great, but he can still compete with the young guns and would beat them. There's no sign of Rossi hanging up the helmet any time soon and he is still one of the few guys to beat in MotoGP.

• 6x MotoGP World Champion
• 2001 500cc World Champion
• 173 International Motorcycle podiums (150 – MotoGP/23 – 500cc)
• 86 International Motorcycle wins (73 – MotoGP/13 – 500cc)
• 51 International Motorcycle poles (47 – MotoGP/4 – 500cc)

Steve Kinser (World of Outlaws)

Until his retirement in 2014, The King of the Outlaws was one of a kind. There's never been a guy that annihilated the completion like Kinser did throughout his career that applies beyond the last 25 years. It will be a long time before we see another driver of his caliber, able to achieve success like he did.

• 20x World of Outlaws Champion
• 577 “A” feature wins
• 12x Knoxville Nationals winner
• 12x Gold Cup Race of Champions winner
• 2005 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame

Sebastian Loeb (World Rally Championship)

Rally racing has become extraordinary popular lately and Loeb was the undisputed king of rally. The whole 2000s was about Loeb, so much so that he won every title from 2004 to 2012. Right now, he's playing sports/touring car races and still winning wherever he goes.

• 9x World Rally Champion
• 78 rally wins
• 116 WRC podium finishes
• 11 wins in 2008
• 2012 Los Angeles X Games gold medalist (Rallycross)

John Force (NHRA)

There's nothing quite like a drag race, hearing the monstrous engines on a 1000 ft strip gets your heart going. John Force was among the few drivers that stepped it up a notch and you always expected him to be the man to beat. Even today, Force is a contender wherever he goes.

• 16x Funny Car Champion
• 143 Funny Car wins
• 4x U.S. Nationals winner
• 1996 Driver of the Year (1^st NHRA driver to win the award)
• 2012 International Motorsports Hall of Fame

Craig Lowndes (V8 Supercars)

When his career is all said and done, Lowndes will go down as one of the all-time greatest in Australian racing. The numbers are incredible and there is no sign of him slowing down. When a driver wins one of the most demanding annual races six times, he has to be considered a legend, which he is.

• 3x V8 SuperCar Champion
• 6x Bathurst 1000 winner
• 8x 500km Endurance winner
• 101 V8 SuperCar wins
• 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour winner

Honorable Mentions

• Mark Martin (NASCAR)
• Mika Hakkinen (Formula One)
• Sam Hornish, Jr. (IndyCar/CART)
• Butch Leitzinger (Sports cars)
• Ricky Carmichael (AMA Supercross)