A total of 280 drivers competed in the 78 AAA race meetings in 1946, and sixteen of those appeared only at the Lakewood or Pikes Peak non-points shows. For the purpose of the following stats, I will post non-championship information in squared brackets, to make it more readable, like in "there were 264 [+16] drivers competing in the 76 [+2] races..."
Pennsylvanians Bill Holland and Tommy Hinnershitz were the busiest drivers all year, both competing in 45 [+1] meetings, and making 42 [+1] main event starts each. Holland won 15 races, was second 10 times, third 8 times, fourth 5 [+1] times and fifth on 2 occasions; Hinnershitz won but 2, was second 10 times, third 10 times, fourth 9 times and fifth 7 times.
Californian Ted Horn took part in 40 [+1] meetings, making 39 [+1] starts - on October 19 at Raleigh/NC, he made his 50th start in a National Championship main event, thus becoming only the 6th ever driver to achieve that milestone, after Tommy Milton (63 races in total), Frank Elliott (61), Harry Hartz (60), Bennie Hill (53) and Eddie Hearne (50). Horn won 19 races, was second 9 [+1] times, third 5 times, fourth on 2 occasions, and once classified sixth.
New Jersey's Earl Johns competed in 40 meetings, but made only 30 starts, finishing third once, fourth twice, fifth 7 times and sixth 5 times. His statemate Walt Ader took part in 37 meetings, with 32 starts, 4 wins, 8 seconds, 13 thirds, 3 fourths and 1 fifth. Virginia's Al Fleming made 15 [+1] starts in 35 [+1] attempts, finishing fourth 4 times, and sixth once.
Two more Jerseyites follow, with Warren Bates (11 starts in 34 meetings) and Hank Rogers (25 in 33), then Ed Zimmerman of New York (21 in 33) and two drivers from the same small town in Southern Pennsylvania (York), Ottis Stine (16 in 31) and Bob Chronister (5 in 31). New York's Lee Wallard is the last driver with at least 30 appearances, or more than 20 starts (21 [+1] in 29 [+1], actually).
The complete list (overall appearances, main event starts, wins, seconds, thirds, fourth, fifths, sixths):
46 43 2 10 10 9 7 - Tommy Hinnershitz
46 43 15 10 8 6 2 - Bill Holland
41 40 19 10 5 2 - - Ted Horn
40 30 - - 1 2 7 4 Earl Johns
37 32 4 8 13 3 1 - Walt Ader
36 16 - - - 4 - 1 Al Fleming
34 11 - - - - 2 3 Warren Bates
33 25 1 2 2 2 4 5 Hank Rogers
33 21 - 1 - 1 4 3 Ed Zimmerman
31 16 - - 1 2 1 1 Ottis Stine
31 5 - - - - 1 1 Bob Chronister
30 22 1 2 3 4 1 2 Lee Wallard
26 16 - 3 1 4 2 1 Tommy Mattson
25 8 - - - 1 2 2 Dutch Culp
24 5 - - - - - 1 Stan Jones
23 19 - 2 2 2 2 1 Red Byron
23 14 2 2 1 - 2 - Johnny Shackleford
23 10 - - 1 - - 2 Larry Smith
22 17 - - 1 1 3 5 Danny Goss
21 7 - - - - 1 - Mark Light
19 17 7 4 3 - - - Joie Chitwood
19 6 - 1 - - 1 2 Buddie Rusch
18 14 - 3 1 1 3 1 Eddie Zalucki
18 7 - - 2 - - - Bob Cooney
17 9 - - - 1 1 1 Jimmy Gibbons
17 5 - - - - 1 - Ed Terry
17 3 - - - - - - Len Koenig
16 14 - 1 2 4 - 1 Duke Dinsmore
16 12 2 1 2 1 - - Elbert Booker
16 11 - - 1 1 - 3 Fred Carpenter
16 3 - - - - - - Red Redmond
15 5 - - - 1 - - Milt Fankhauser
14 13 6 2 1 - - - George Robson
14 9 - 1 2 1 - - Spider Webb
14 5 1 - - - 1 1 Lucky Lux
14 3 - - - - - - Jimmy Fearick
13 8 - 1 3 - - - Walt Brown
13 4 - - - - - - George Rutty
13 1 - - - - - - Dub Hoffman
12 10 2 - - - - - George Connor
12 9 3 1 1 1 - - Bus Wilbert
11 5 - - 1 - 2 1 Buddy Shuman
11 1 - - - - - - Mark Sooy
10 4 - 1 - - 1 1 Norm Houser
10 4 - - - - - 1 George Metzler
9 9 - 2 3 3 1 - Emil Andres
9 7 1 - 1 2 2 - Charley van Acker
9 6 - - - 3 - 1 Orville Epperley
9 5 - - - - 1 1 Joe Langley
9 - - - - - - - Cliff Helman
8 7 - - - 2 1 - Earl Horne
8 6 - - - - 2 3 Carl Ott
8 5 1 1 - - - - Joe Verebly
8 2 - - - - - 1 Clay Corbitt
8 2 - - - - - - Ducky Pehlman
8 1 - - - - 1 - Ed Kulp
8 1 - - - - - - George Marshman
7 6 - - - 1 1 - George Cavanna
7 6 3 - - - - - Rex Mays
7 4 - - - - - 1 Eddie Edwards
7 4 - 1 - - - 1 Johnnie Matera
7 2 1 - - - - - Bumpy Bumpus
7 2 - - - 1 - - Hank Gritzbach
7 - - - - - - - Jim Boas
7 - - - - - - - Ben Smorto
6 6 1 1 - 1 1 - Hal Robson
6 3 - 1 - - - 1 Buster Warke
6 2 - - - - 2 - Jim Brubaker
6 2 - - - 2 - - Johnny Favinger
6 1 - - - - - - Paul Handshew
6 - - - - - - - Pete McKeone
5 5 - - - - 1 1 Herman Owens
5 4 - - - 1 - - Bud Bardowski
5 4 - 1 - 1 - - Duke Nalon
5 3 - - 1 1 - - Bud Rose
5 2 - - - - - - Johnny Byrne
5 - - - - - - - Jerry Brown
5 - - - - - - - Charles Kilmer
5 - - - - - - - Melvin Swartzlander
4 4 1 - - - 1 - Tony Bettenhausen
4 4 - - 2 - - 1 Eddie Casterline
4 4 - - - - 1 - Billy Devore
4 4 - 1 - - - - Mauri Rose
4 3 - - - - - 1 Peewee Southcott
4 2 - - - - - 1 Mike Bailey
4 2 - - - - - - Charlie Breslin
4 2 - - - - - - Jack Etheridge
4 2 - - - - - 1 Jimmy Goodwin
4 2 - - - - - 1 Walt Walker
4 1 - - - - - - Al Baker
4 1 - - - - - - Chuck McNeal
4 1 - - - - - 1 Verden Morelock
4 1 - - - - - - Sammy Swartz
4 - - - - - - - Bill Gouse
3 3 - - - - - - Joe Martin
3 3 2 - - - - - Oscar Ridlon
3 2 - - - - - - Len Duncan
3 2 - - - - - 1 Jakie Holland
3 2 - - - - - - Al Miller
3 2 - - - - 2 - Charlie Rogers
3 2 - 1 - - - - Steve Truchan
3 1 - - - - - - Eddie Gallione
3 1 - - - - - - Vic Nauman
3 1 - - - - - - Bill Randall
3 1 - - - - - - Ed Sample
3 1 - - - - - - Carl Scarborough
3 1 - - - - - - Henry Steiger
3 1 - - - - - - Tom Sternad
3 1 - - - - - - Gene Trinque
3 - - - - - - - Al Gaumond
3 - - - - - - - Bob Geist
3 - - - - - - - Jimmy Little
3 - - - - - - - Mike Magill
3 - - - - - - Kid Sbrilli
3 - - - - - - - Lou Volk
2 2 - - - - - George Barringer
2 2 - - - - - - D. C. Russell
2 2 - - - - - - Jim Schumacher
2 2 1 - - - - Jimmie Wilburn
2 1 - - - - - 1 Joe Baker
2 1 - - - - - - Johnny Carpenter
2 1 - - - - - - Carl Coggins
2 1 - - - - 1 - Charles Crawford
2 1 - - - - - - Len Fanelli
2 1 - - - - - - Howie Hagelin
2 1 - - - - - - Bud Johnson
2 1 - - - - - 1 Fred Lauty
2 1 - - - - - - Dewey Ploppert
2 1 - - - - - - Al Putnam
2 1 - - - 1 - - Bob Simpson
2 1 - - - - 1 - Chick Smith
2 1 - - - - - - Russ Snowberger
2 1 - - - - - - Al Staley
2 1 - - - - - 1 Hank Weavil
2 1 - - - - - - George Yetter
2 - - - - - - - Zora Arkus-Duntov
2 - - - - - - - Scotty Arrell
2 - - - - - - - Clint Breese
2 - - - - - - - Tommy Charles
2 - - - - - - - Mike Doherty
2 - - - - - - - Ben Emerick
2 - - - - - - - Chas Fleming
2 - - - - - - - Phil Galus
2 - - - - - - - Cliff Hemingway
2 - - - - - - - Don King
2 - - - - - - - George Lewis
2 - - - - - - - Frank Luptow
2 - - - - - - - Speed McFee
2 - - - - - - - Frank Sivret
2 - - - - - - - Berk Starke
2 - - - - - - - Charles Trimmer
1 1 - - - - - - Les Adair
1 1 - - - - - - Henry Banks
1 1 - - - - - 1 Paul Becker
1 1 - - - - - - Cliff Bergere
1 1 - - - - - 1 George Bouley
1 1 - - - - - - Herschel Buchanan
1 1 - - - - - - Shorty Cantlon
1 1 - - - - - - Hal Cole
1 1 - - - - - - Johnnie Crone
1 1 - - - - - 1 Floyd Davis
1 1 - - - - - 1 Louis Durant
1 1 - - - - 1 - George Fabyan
1 1 - - - - - - Ernie Gesell
1 1 - - - - - - Johnny Grubb
1 1 - - - - - - Vince Haan
1 1 - - - - - 1 Buster Hammond
1 1 - 1 - - - - George Hammond
1 1 - - - - - - Sam Hanks
1 1 - - - - - - Mel Hansen
1 1 - - - - - - Lou Heller
1 1 - - - - - - Ralph Hepburn
1 1 - - - - - 1 Amos Hill
1 1 - - - - - - Jack Hudson
1 1 - 1 - - - - Jimmy Jackson
1 1 - - - - - - J. A. Kennedy
1 1 - - 1 - - - Walt Killinger
1 1 - - - - - - Danny Kladis
1 1 - - - - 1 - George Lynch
1 1 - - - - - - Johnny Mauro
1 1 - - - - - - Harry McQuinn
1 1 - - - - - - Charlie Miller
1 1 - - - - - - Chet Miller
1 1 - - - - - - Fred Reid
1 1 - - - - - 1 Harry Robtoy
1 1 - - - - - - Al Rogers
1 1 - - - - - - Paul Russo
1 1 - - 1 - - - Mike Salay
1 1 - - - 1 - - Wayne Sankey
1 1 - - - - - - Len Shaw
1 1 - - - - - - Bill Sheffler
1 1 - - - - 1 - J. C. Shoemaker
1 1 - - - - - - G. L. Strickland
1 1 - - - 1 - - Charlie Szekendy
1 1 - - - - - - Louis Tomei
1 1 - - - 1 - - Dee Toran
1 1 1 - - - - - Lou Unser
1 1 - - - - - - Luigi Villoresi
1 1 - - - - - - Frank Wearne
1 1 - - - - - - Steve Yanigan
1 - - - - - - - Slim Allen
1 - - - - - - - Carl Anderson
1 - - - - - - - Robert Arbuthnot
1 - - - - - - - Harold Bailey
1 - - - - - - - Bill Blalock
1 - - - - - - - Carl Boss
1 - - - - - - - Robert Bosworth
1 - - - - - - - Arvol Brunmier
1 - - - - - - - Sam Bruno
1 - - - - - - - Rudolf Caracciola
1 - - - - - - - Harold Collier
1 - - - - - - - Sam Craft
1 - - - - - - - Ken Dadswell
1 - - - - - - - Bill d'Amico
1 - - - - - - - Bruce Denslow
1 - - - - - - - George Dolan
1 - - - - - - - Shorty Dotter
1 - - - - - - - Ray Dowell
1 - - - - - - - Paul Eldridge
1 - - - - - - - Ray Elston
1 - - - - - - - Charley Engle
1 - - - - - - - Vern Falor
1 - - - - - - - Mickey Fenn
1 - - - - - - - Mike Fiore
1 - - - - - - - Doc Fredericks
1 - - - - - - - Roland Free
1 - - - - - - - Ken Gallup
1 - - - - - - - Louis Gérard
1 - - - - - - - Joe Gillow
1 - - - - - - - Louis Giuliano
1 - - - - - - - George Golden
1 - - - - - - - Tiny Gould
1 - - - - - - - Bernie Graybeal
1 - - - - - - - Sam Greco
1 - - - - - - - Tommy Gulliver
1 - - - - - - - Johnny Hill
1 - - - - - - - Johnny Holmes
1 - - - - - - - Bill Hooper
1 - - - - - - - Henry Hudomint
1 - - - - - - - Carl Hudson
1 - - - - - - - Larry Lane
1 - - - - - - - Paul Lawrence
1 - - - - - - - Pop Lewis
1 - - - - - - - Lou Li Dell
1 - - - - - - - George Lyon
1 - - - - - - - Eddie Martin
1 - - - - - - - Art Martinson
1 - - - - - - - Frank McGurk
1 - - - - - - - Al Metzger
1 - - - - - - - Wally Mitchell
1 - - - - - - - Tut Moore
1 - - - - - - - Phil Myers
1 - - - - - - - Frank Parisi
1 - - - - - - - Bob Patriguin
1 - - - - - - - Jack Peterson
1 - - - - - - - Johnny Pierson
1 - - - - - - - Doc Rand
1 - - - - - - - Lou Rassey
1 - - - - - - - Jimmy Rice
1 - - - - - - - Bob Sall
1 - - - - - - - Joe Sanco
1 - - - - - - - Sandy Sanford
1 - - - - - - - Harry Schell
1 - - - - - - - Hank Schlosser
1 - - - - - - - Joe Silvia
1 - - - - - - - Joe Sostilio
1 - - - - - - - Don Swartz
1 - - - - - - - Allen Swenson
1 - - - - - - - Joe Taggart
1 - - - - - - - Earl Thorp
1 - - - - - - - Guy Tobias
1 - - - - - - - Joe Valletta
1 - - - - - - - Achille Varzi
1 - - - - - - - Asa Vinson
1 - - - - - - - Buster Whaley
1 - - - - - - - Bob White
1 - - - - - - - Junior Wingate
1 - - - - - - - Freddie Winnai
1 - - - - - - - Perry Wood
1 - - - - - - - Arthur York
N.B. It is not always perfectly clear who actually started in the main events, so that number will not be 100 % accurate. Also, a few of the non-starters may actually have not appeared at all.
Edited by Michael Ferner, 02 May 2017 - 21:08.