NASCAR
Which Drivers Have the Longest Daytona 500 Droughts?
Only adding to the prestige of the Daytona 500 are the notable losing streaks that have been busted in The Great American Race. It took Darrel Waltrip 17 tries to finally win in 1989, Dale Earnhardt famously had “20 years of frustration,” and Kurt Busch also had 17 tries before his Harley J. Earl Trophy. Others such as Mark Martin and Tony Stewart never saw a Daytona 500 triumph.
Heading into the 65th Running of the Daytona 500 next month, which active drivers have similar dry streaks? Many of today’s top stars, including past champions, have yet to experience Daytona 500 glory. Here’s a look at some of the longest active Daytona 500 droughts. Heartbreak will be aplenty in this list, reliving some drivers coming painfully close to NASCAR’s biggest victory.
Martin Truex Jr, 0-18 (Best finish-2nd, 2016)
No active driver has more Daytona 500 starts without a win than 2017 Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. On the losing end of 2016’s closest-ever finish to The Great American Race, second that day is still MTJ’s best 500 result. Truex has yet to even score a top-10 in the season-opener in the six years since. It should be noted though that Truex did win both stages just one season ago, en route to finishing 13th.
Truex’s career longevity is in question, as he’s only currently signed on to race this year for Joe Gibbs Racing. As a result, 2023 could be MTJ’s final Daytona 500 appearance. Will attempt number 19 be the lucky one for driver 19?
Martin Truex Jr’s No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry on the grid prior to the 2022 Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 20. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Kyle Busch, 0-17 (Best finish-2nd, 2019)
Much like Dale Earnhardt 25 years ago, Kyle Busch has an impressive racing resume with one box left unchecked. Across 17 previous Daytona 500 starts, Rowdy’s best finish was second in a JGR 1-2-3 effort in 2019. Now with Richard Childress Racing, Busch wants to kick off this next chapter of his career in the best way possible. After placing sixth in 2022, the 8 hopes to bring RCR its fourth Daytona 500 win.
Kyle Busch’s No. 8 Netspend Chevrolet Camaro. Credit: @RCRracing via Twitter.
Brad Keselowski 0-13, (Best finish-3rd, 2014)
Between the last two years in the Daytona 500, nobody’s made more impact than Brad Keselowski. In his last year in the Penske 2, Keselowski wrecked going for the win less than a mile from the finish. In his first outing with RFK Racing in 2022, Keselowski’s aggression resulted in many wrecked competitors, a race-high 67 laps led, and a ninth-place finish. Similar to Busch, the Daytona 500 is the biggest blank space in Keselowski’s trophy case.
A six-time Talladega winner and past Daytona summer winner, Keselowski is perhaps the best on superspeedways today without a Harley J. Earl Trophy. Coming off his first winless season since 2010, BK will be hungry to silence doubters and find victory lane again.
Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford Mustang on pit road before his Duel race on Thursday, February 17. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Aric Almirola 0-12, (Best finish-4th, 2017)
The hometown racing pride of Tampa, Aric Almirola has been within eyesight of Daytona 500 greatness. 2017 saw his best finish of fourth, but he is more remembered for the 2018 heartbreak. In his first race with Stewart-Haas Racing, Almirola led the 500 at the white flag, only to get turned on the last lap by a hard-charging duo of Austin Dillon and Bubba Wallace.
In what many thought was his final Daytona 500 appearance last year, Almirola placed fifth and regretted not being more aggressive, saying that he could have taken the win. Back again in the No. 10 Mustang, Almirola could be a winning contender once more.
Aric Almirola’s No. 10 Smithfield Foods Ford Mustang being pushed through the garage before the 2022 Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 20. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 0-11, (Best finish-4th, 2014)
Despite winning two-straight superspeedway races in 2017 and being known as one of the most daring drivers, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has yet to capture a Daytona 500. In 11 Daytona 500 attempts, Stenhouse only has one top-10, fourth in 2014. While his most recent Daytona 500 effort was a 28th-place result, that does not show the 47 led inside the final 10 laps. If not for being spun by Keselowski, Stenhouse was in position to possibly win. Stenhouse and his JTG Daugherty Racing team will try and replicate a similar effort in 2023, but hopefully with a far better outcome.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s No. 47 Kroger/Irish Spring Chevrolet Camaro during prerace inspection before the 2022 2022 Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 20. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Kyle Larson 0-9, (Best finish-7th, 2016 & 2019)
For one reason or another, Kyle Larson’s immense Cup Series success has yet to translate on superspeedways. Only earning his first drafting track top-five at Talladega last April, Larson’s best Daytona 500 result was seventh in 2016 and 2019. Regardless of that, he was closest to a Harley J. Earl Trophy in 2017. Leading at the white flag, Larson ran out of gas in turn two, handing that year’s Daytona 500 to Kurt Busch.
Hendrick Motorsports seems to have a yearly lock on the Daytona 500 pole, including with Larson in 2022. However, they have not converted any of these efforts into a win. 2023 marks nine years since the last Hendrick Daytona 500 win. Larson and his teammate trio will try and end that losing streak.
Kyle Larson’s pole-winning No. 5 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet Camaro in the garage before the 2022 Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 20. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
AJ Allmendinger 0-9, (Best finish-3rd, 2009 & 2017)
Across Daytona 500 starts with four different teams, AJ Allmendinger has seen a best result of third come twice. Allmendinger’s 500 high points have been a matter of being in the right place at the right time. 2009’s rain-shortened race saw Allmendinger’s No. 44 help push Matt Kenseth to the win. In the attrition-filled 2017 running, Allmendinger was one of few left standing in his No. 47 Chevrolet. However, Allmendinger has been absent from The Great American Race in each of the last four years, last racing at Daytona in 2018.
2023 will mark AJ’s full-time Cup Series debut with Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 car. A rejuvenated Allmendinger with a new energy may be in position to pounce for a Daytona 500 win.
AJ Allmendinger’s eventual race-winning No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet Camaro on the grid at Talladega Superspeedway prior to the Xfinity Series Sparks 300 on Saturday, October 1. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ryan Blaney 0-8, (Best finish-2nd, 2017 & 2020)
Similar to Keselowski, few have been closer recently to a Daytona 500 win and struck out every time than Ryan Blaney. The third-generation star finished second to Kurt Busch in 2017, led the most laps in 2018, was second again to Denny Hamlin in 2020, and fourth last year after pushing teammate Austin Cindric to the lead.
A three-time superspeedway winner already across Talladega and the summer Daytona race, Blaney appears poised to win a 500 sooner rather than later. Can 2023 finally be Blaney’s time to shine on racing’s biggest stage? If 2022 was any indication, the 12 will be one of the toughest cars to beat in February.
Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang on the grid at Talladega Superspeedway prior to the Yellawood 500 on Sunday, October 2. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Chase Elliott 0-7, (Best finish-2nd, 2021)
2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott has had a very up-and-down Daytona 500 history. While Elliott won pole in each of his first two Daytona 500 starts, neither of those races ended spectacularly. The Georgia driver would have to wait until 2021 for his first Daytona 500 top-10, finishing second. He would back that performance up a season ago with a 10th-place day.
Muck like Larson, the Napa 9 team will try and end the apparent Hendrick hoodwink that has been present over recent Daytona 500s. Should Chase win, he would join Bill Elliott as the fourth father-son Daytona 500 winning duo.
Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro in the garage before the 2022 Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 20. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Chris Buescher 0-7, (Best finish-3rd, 2020)
A winner of the 2022 Duels alongside teammate Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher has quietly become a superspeedway sleeper. In seven Daytona 500 starts, Buescher boasts two top-fives: fifth in 2018 with JTG and third in 2020 with RFK. The Fords from Roush appear to be always in the mix at Daytona late. If Buescher can keep his nose clean once again next month, he could be staring down the biggest win of his life.
Chris Buescher’s Duel-winning No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang in the garage before the 2022 Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 20. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ty Dillon 0-7, (Best finish-6th, 2019)
Among long shot drivers with experience and no past Daytona 500 victory, Ty Dillon tops the list of potential winners. Moving into a new team at the Spire Motorsports No. 77, Dillon’s superspeedway prowess should not be overlooked. Just four years ago, the underdog driver outlasted carnage to finish sixth. Spire is more than capable of bringing a winning car to Daytona as well, look no further than Justin Haley’s 2019 summer upset here. More recently, Corey Lajoie has sniffed Daytona wins in a Spire car. The 7 has a pair of Daytona 500 top-10s in the last three years. Dillon’s odds at a Daytona 500 win are far from zero, even with a new team trying to expand.
Ty Dillon’s No. 42 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet Camaro in the garage before the 2022 Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 20. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
All of these drivers and plenty others will be aiming for a nameplate on the Harley J. Earl Trophy in under four weeks. Who will kick off the 2023 NASCAR season in the best way by becoming a Daytona 500 champion? Be sure to tune into FOX on Sunday, February 19 to find out.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR
