NASCAR
Who Has the Longest Active Losing Droughts in the NASCAR Cup Series?
Several drivers are riding extended dry spells from victory lane entering the 2024 NASCAR season. Some members of this list include past champions, underdog victors and young talent looking for the spotlight again. Here are the 10 drivers heading into the 2024 Daytona 500 with the longest NASCAR Cup Series winless streaks.
Justin Haley-104 races
It’s been over five years and more than 100 starts since Justin Haley’s miracle Daytona victory. On Independence Day weekend in 2019, Haley was the ultimate beneficiary to a lightning-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400. Only in his third Cup start, Haley went to Daytona victory lane, marking one of the biggest upsets in recent history.
Haley has since spent the past two years in Cup with Kaulig Racing, earning a best result of second last July in the Chicago Street Race. The Indiana native has now moved over to Rick Ware Racing though, as the new man behind the No. 51 Ford. Haley’s best shot at another Cup win will likely be another superspeedway, a feat he’s pulled off four times before in Xfinity. Far from impossible, a Haley win in 2024 would be a fairly big upset with RWR.
Brad Keselowski-97 races
Despite making the Playoffs in a resurgent 2023 season, Brad Keselowski is still winless since joining RFK Racing. The 2012 Cup champion’s most recent victory came at Talladega in April 2021, a date that’s now nearing 100 races in the past.
Keselowski did see a return to his past consistent self last season, giving team No. 6 reason for 2024 optimism. BK led laps in all six superspeedway races, and had two runner-ups. RFK’s high ceiling set a season ago has Keselowski seemingly on the verge of his maiden win as a team owner. No victory would be sweeter for Keselowski than the Daytona 500, a race he’s been painfully close to capturing in recent years.
Austin Cindric-71 races
From a past Penske driver to the current occupant of the No. 2 Ford, Austin Cindric has not won since the 2022 Daytona 500. Now nearing two full calendar years since that career-defining victory, Cindric is coming off a 2023 that saw a dreaded sophomore slump. The 2022 Rookie of the Year only saw five top-10s and 24th in points last year.
Cindric’s best results since his win have come on drafting tracks and road courses. The regular season does offer ample opportunities at these track types. Should the 2 find a way into 2024’s Playoffs, an opening round featuring both Atlanta and Watkins Glen could suit Cindric well. With teammates who have won the last two Cup championships, 2024 already appears to be a pressure-packed season for the 25-year-old.
Chase Briscoe-68 races
Only three weeks after Cindric’s breakthrough win, Chase Briscoe was the next first-time Cup winner at Phoenix. Ever since this moment however, Briscoe has been few and far between winning chances. He had developed a tendency of wrecking while going for the lead, as seen at Bristol Dirt and Charlotte in 2022. Despite making the Round of 8 that year, Briscoe went winless the remainder of 2022.
2023 had even fewer highlights for Briscoe, as all of Stewart-Haas Racing was off. The four car Ford powerhouse went winless for the first time in organization history, with Briscoe only earning eight top-10s. His year was also handicapped by a massive points penalty in May, putting him in must-win territory early on. The 14 did have a few standout performances though on flatter short tracks, like Phoenix and Martinsville.
2024 will see Briscoe enter uncharted waters as the longest-tenured SHR driver. Also being their lone Cup Series winner, Briscoe shoulders previously unfelt pressure. The 14 may be SHR’s best shot at a Playoff berth, it will be fun to see how an offseason reset affects this team.
Alex Bowman-61 races
Dating back to his last victory in Las Vegas, Alex Bowman has missed a combined eight races for two separate injuries. Despite inheriting the points lead early in 2023, a broken back in a sprint car race derailed the season for the Hendrick 48 team.
Returning again with highly-touted crew chief Blake Harris, the No. 48 eyes a victory lane comeback. Bowman does have an early season win in three of the last four years. A healthy Alex Bowman is more than capable of bringing this Hendrick crew back to their winning ways.
Daniel Suarez-55 races
Seen by some as a driver on a very hot seat in 2024, Daniel Suarez’s lone Cup win was a year-and-a-half ago. The career-defining moment for the Mexico native at Sonoma Raceway was a rare moment in NASCAR. It was a win that garnered a near universal positive reaction in the sport.
The original Trackhouse driver is seemingly racing to keep his ride in 2024, with Zane Smith and Shane van Gisbergen waiting in the wings. Suarez did have a few looks at wins last year, but was unable to ever capitalize with the checkers in sight. The 99 would be a very popular winner once again if Suarez can have the cards fall his way.
Austin Dillon-45 races
It’s been 45 starts for Austin Dillon since his eleventh hour invitation to the 2022 Playoffs. When rain seemingly struck Daytona out of nowhere, the pack went flying apart in turns one and two, allowing the 3 to scoot on by. In one of the most bizarre moments in recent memory, Dillon went from 17th to the lead in an instant, dodging sliding cars on all sides.
2023 was far from a Playoff-caliber season for Dillon however. A hefty points penalty in the spring set the 3 team on the back side of the top 30 in points. By the numbers, it was Dillon’s weakest year since his rookie campaign. The 3 does have a knack for sneaking into the Playoffs more years than not though; Dillon will eye another unexpected victory.
Erik Jones-44 races
The team Erik Jones will compete with in 2024 has radically changed from the group that upset in the 2022 Southern 500. The now Toyota-aligned Legacy Motor Club has much higher aspirations for 2024. A Playoff berth is not out of the question for this team. Jones has history competing with Toyota and far greater resources are behind the No. 43 this season.
Jones’ breakout runs from last year came on superspeedways and at Kansas in the fall. Four regular season drafting races and the Toyota stranglehold on Kansas offer hope. The famed 43 could be facing its first Playoff appearance in a decade.
Bubba Wallace-43 races
One driver seemingly excelled in every area possible except winning in 2023–Bubba Wallace. The flagship driver for 23XI Racing made his first Playoffs appearance and survived until the Round of 12. Wallace also had his best race of the season in perfect time, leading over 100 laps at Texas from the pole before fading back late to finish third. It’s been just over a full season since his last victory at Kansas, a trend the No. 23 Toyota hopes to erase.
Wallace’s team has been slow to start each of the last three seasons, only to come to life in the fall. 2021 and 2022 each saw Wallace take this team to a win in October, the month where Texas fell last year. Wallace is a near shoe-in for a repeat Playoff showing, if he can maintain consistency. Being a bit quicker to find early season pace should ideally see this team migrate towards the front sooner in 2024.
Chase Elliott-40 races
2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott has gone 40 starts since his last triumph at Talladega. 2023 for the Hendrick No. 9 car was sidetracked early on, with a broken leg causing Elliott to miss six races. The Georgia native then missed an additional start at Gateway in June, being suspended for right-hooking Denny Hamlin at Charlotte.
Despite failing to make the Playoffs, Elliott did see five top-10s over the last 10 races. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver did end 2023 on a much more upbeat and optimistic attitude than 2022, claiming that his team was close to being contenders again. It will be fascinating to see how Elliott fares early on in 2024. Can the 9 match their five-win record and regular season championship in 2022?
Out of all drivers on this list, perhaps Elliott is the one primed for elite-level consistency out of the gate. A championship-caliber team like the Hendrick 9 crew cannot be kept out of victory lane for long.
Winless streaks are always intriguing to track, especially coming into a new season. 2024 has no shortage of surprising, unlikely, and unusual droughts affecting all tiers of drivers. It will be fun to see which of these drivers breaks back into victory lan first, and if any can contend for the Cup Series title at year’s end.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Sean Gardner and Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
