NASCAR
Which Full-Time Drivers Enter the 2023 NASCAR Season Winless in the Cup Series?
2022 saw five first-time winners in the NASCAR Cup Series. One of these drivers made it all the way to the Championship 4, being on the doorstep of the title. Year one of the Next Gen car brought this many new winners, the most seen since 2011. Can we possibly see this feat repeated in 2023? Here are the winless full-time drivers in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series and their chances at finding victory lane.
Ty Dillon (Best finish: Third)
2023 will mark Ty Dillon’s third different team in his full-time Cup career. Moving on from Petty GMS to the No. 77 Chevrolet at Spire Motorsports, Dillon will be a key part of a restructuring process that will hopefully lead to better results for Spire. While winless in over 200 Cup starts, Dillon has more than proven his worth on superspeedways, with five of his seven career top-10s at Daytona or Talladega. Having one driver in the No. 77 seat for the first time in their team history, Spire is optimistic that Ty Dillon’s now veteran presence will pay off with more shots at strong finishes.
Ty Dillon’s No. 42 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet Camaro before the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 24. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Corey Lajoie (Best finish: Fifth)
The other half of the Spire Motorsports duo, Corey Lajoie returns to the No. 7 for his third season. Much like his new teammate, Lajoie has found his career high points on superspeedways. This was exemplified in both Atlanta races from 2022. Lajoie earned his first-ever top-five in the spring, and was in position to steal July’s win. Lajoie has proven to be a threat at all three drafting tracks, with top-10s as well at both Daytona and Talladega. Perhaps 2023 will be Spire’s time to shine again, as they have two very hungry drivers who are capable of winning on a superspeedway.
Corey Lajoie’s No. 7 Built.com Chevrolet Camaro at Richmond Raceway before the Federated Auto Parts 400 on Sunday, August 24. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ryan Preece (Best finish: Third)
Called back to the Cup Series from a 2022 reserve driver role, Ryan Preece now has his best chance yet. Taking over the No. 41 Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, the Connecticut native is poised to return this car to greatness. Already with over 100 Cup Series starts, Preece has the experience factor down that others young drivers are lacking. Perhaps more than anyone else on this list, Preece appears to be next in line to conquer a Cup Series race. The past Modified tour champion has shown great versatility on all types of racetracks previously in Cup, and now should be a more regular presence up front.
Cole Custer’s No. 41 Haas Automation Ford Mustang before the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, October 30. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Cody Ware (Best finish: Sixth)
While some may be quick to pin him as a perennial backmarker, Cody Ware did make significant improvements in 2022. Ware’s average finish increased by over three positions. In addition, driver 51 earned his first career top-10 with a sixth-place result at Daytona in August. Not yet a weekly contender for victories, Ware could see all of the right circumstances fall again on another superspeedway for an ultimate underdog triumph.
Cody Ware’s No. 51 Nurtec ODT Ford Mustang at Daytona International Speedway before the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Sunday, August 28. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Harrison Burton (Best finish: Third)
No longer a rookie, Harrison Burton is ready to continue his maturation as a Cup star in his sophomore season. Finding a pair of top-10s in Atlanta and Indianapolis, the Wood Brothers No. 21 team did fare better towards the end of 2022. After leading laps in this year’s Daytona 500, Burton hopes to keep all four wheels on the ground in 2023. This second-generation star hopes to return the Burton name to victory lane, as he is also chasing the Wood Brother’s 100th win.
Harrison Burton’s No. 21 Motorcraft Quick Lane Ford Mustang before the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, October 30. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Todd Gilliland (Best finish: Fourth)
The final 2022 rookie mentioned here, Todd Gilliland did have a few standout moments in his first Cup campaign. Moving up to the Front Row Motorsports No. 38 Cup car from their Truck, few had any lofty preseason expectations for the third-generation talent. Despite that, driver 38 did earn a pair of top-10s: fourth at Indianapolis and seventh at Talladega in the fall. At Indy in July, Todd trailed both fellow rookies Austin Cindric and Harrison Burton. This marked a rare rookie trio in the top five, only the second time in NASCAR history this has happened.
Gilliland has shown great road course acumen before, winning the 2021 COTA Truck race. Between road courses and superspeedways, FRM has shown winning potential and could see this again with young Gilliland.
Todd Gilliland’s No. 38 First Phase Ford Mustang at Daytona International Speedway before the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Sunday, August 28. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Noah Gragson (Best finish: Fifth)
The first 2023 rookie, Noah Gragson enters the NASCAR Cup Series after a historic Xfinity season. In the JRM No. 9, Gragson won eight times and was a close championship runner-up in Phoenix. This incredible 2022 also saw a record-tying streak of four-straight wins in September. While winless in the 18 Cup races he also ran, Gragson is still moving to the Petty GMS Racing No. 42 with a lot of hype and momentum. The Las Vegas native was fifth at Daytona in August, and also running inside the top five at Michigan before a crash.
Out of everyone from the Xfinity Series in 2022, Gragson showed the most raw talent, consistency, and versatility deserving of a seat on Sundays. It will only be a matter of time before Gragson hones in his craft with the Next Gen car. When he does, we are all bound to see a winning celebration unlike any other.
Noah Gragson’s No. 62 Wendy’s Biggie Bag Chevrolet Camaro before the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 24. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ty Gibbs (Best finish: 10th)
The final driver on this list, maybe nobody has higher 2023 expectations thrust onto them than Ty Gibbs. The 2022 Xfinity Series champion, Gibbs got the big trophy after winning each of the last two races at Martinsville and Phoenix. Overall, Gibbs had seven wins and 23 top-10s in the 2022 Xfinity Series, alongside 15 Cup starts. The partial-season substitute role with 23XI Racing would see one top-10, with the 20-year-old placing 10th at Michigan in August.
Taking over the rebranded No. 54 car at Joe Gibbs Racing, where is young Gibbs’ 2023 competitive ceiling? While a win against Cup-level competition is asking a lot, Gibbs’ team has winning potential.
Rookie of the Year is shaping up to be a very intense dogfight between Gibbs and Gragson. Two of the greatest young talents to enter Cup, they were both deserving of the 2022 Xfinity title. It should be a weekly battle amongst them for top rookie honors, as both may show glimpses of winning speed as the season draws on.
Ty Gibbs’ No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra before the Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval on Saturday, October 8. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
The Next Gen car absolutely leveled the playing field for potential Cup winners in its first year. 19 different winners tied a modern-era season record. Now with an offseason’s worth of R&D time on the new car though, can we see as many teams put up a fight in 2023? That remains to be seen, but do not be surprised to see a few of the drivers above have their respective shots at victory lane.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR
