NASCAR
2024 NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Who Have Yet to Win
A whopping 12 drivers will start out with a zero in their win column for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series. Can any of these drivers shatter the glass ceiling and park it in victory lane for America’s premier racing division? Here’s a look at all of them and their chances at grabbing a checkered flag in 2024.
Josh Berry – Best Finish: 2nd
From late model ace to super sub, Josh Berry is now a full-fledged Cup Series rookie. Being handed the keys to the No. 4 Ford Mustang by Kevin Harvick, Berry fills big shoes for 2024. Teamed up with veteran crew chief Rodney Childers though, this may not be an average rookie season for the 33-year-old.
The new Dark Horse Mustang is still largely unproven for all Ford teams. In addition, Berry made 10 starts in three different Cup cars last year, gaining valuable experience on many tracks. Berry’s 2023 substitute duties were highlighted by finishing second with Hendrick Motorsports at Richmond in April. Stewart-Haas cars were strong on short tracks a year ago as well. Likewise, a win is not unfeasible for the aged rookie.
Corey Lajoie – Best Finish: 4th
Entering his eighth Cup season and fourth with Spire Motorsports, Corey Lajoie has never had this many resources behind him. Over the offseason, Spire moved into the former Kyle Busch Motorsports shop, and expanded to a three-car team. Having two rookie teammates to bounce ideas off of will only help Lajoie remain more of a frontrunning threat, and continue to punch up.
Two of Lajoie’s three career top-fives came on the new Atlanta surface; week two will be a prime chance for the No. 7 to end up P1. Other superspeedways offer ample opportunity as well for the drafting maestro.
Noah Gragson – Best Finish: 5th
Now moving into the No. 10 Ford at Stewart-Haas Racing, Noah Gragson has a fresh start ahead. His past Cup opportunity with Legacy Motor Club was a large disappointment, failing to even score a top-10. Much like with Berry, this team’s relevancy is still unknown with the new body style. Stewart-Haas may be the largest question mark heading into the new season among top teams. With fresh scenery though, Gragson may slowly return to his winning ways seen so often in Xfinity.
Kaz Grala – Best Finish: 6th
The only part-time driver on this list, Kaz Grala is currently scheduled for 26 Cup starts in 2024. He will attempt the Daytona 500 with Front Row Motorsports, and run most of the remaining races with Rick Ware Racing. Grala is also the least-experienced Cup driver, with only seven past starts.
The high point of Grala’s brief career to date was a sixth-place showing at Talladega three years ago for Kaulig Racing. The Boston native has an extensive road racing background, and also excels on superspeedways. Either unique track type may lead to breakout performances for RWR in 2024.
Harrison Burton – Best Finish: 3rd
Gearing up for his third Cup campaign is second-generation driver Harrison Burton. Following two trying seasons with the Wood Brothers, Burton is running it back with the famed No. 21 colors. Burton did have a few moments of glory over the past season though, with a few promising runs at Darlington.
Putting together competitive efforts at the toughest track on the circuit does show potential in the young driver. However, more front running efforts must be this team’s goal for 2024. Burton is one of many free agents racing for future staying power.
Daniel Hemric – Best Finish: 5th
Making a full-time return to the Cup Series, Daniel Hemric takes over the No. 31 Chevrolet at Kaulig Racing. Hemric spent the past three seasons in Xfinity, winning the 2021 championship. In an abbreviated past Cup career, Hemric won 2019 Rookie of the Year honors with Richard Childress Racing and earned two top-10s.
Kaulig enters a new era in 2024, with the No. 16 reverting back to an all-star lineup and the 31 now under Hemric’s control. We will see how this organization fares with their new lineup.
Todd Gilliland – Best Finish: 4th
Moving into his third Cup season is third generation driver Todd Gilliland. Unlike last year however, Gilliland has far more stability and structure underneath him. A year ago, Gilliland was forced to split time between Front Row Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing. Thanks to being re-signed unusually early in August, Gilliland knows the No. 38 Ford will be his for the entirety of the year.
Gilliland’s breakout runs have been on superspeedways and road courses. Along with veteran teammate Michael McDowell, FRM eyes a higher ceiling in 2024.
Ryan Preece – Best Finish: 3rd
2023 fell far short of expectations for Ryan Preece at Stewart-Haas Racing. His first year in a powerhouse organization only yielded two top-10s and a 23rd-place points finish. Preece’s 2023 season will live on in infamy for his Daytona flip, rather than any on-track successes.
Team 41 is one of the SHR cars gaining the new Mustang body style this year though. Preece did have a few shining moments on short tracks last year, including his lone top-five at Richmond. Martinsville especially is a track that Preece should have circled, after a pole and over 100 laps led in the spring.
The 41 may be a sleeper pick on a superspeedway this year too though. Preece was running in a 1-2-3 train with teammates just prior to his Daytona flip in August. He also saw laps out front in the Daytona 500 and both Talladega races. Talladega is also the site of Preece’s best Cup result so far, third in 2019. While Preece cut his teeth and made his name on short tracks across America, one of the biggest circuits could punch his Playoff ticket.
John Hunter Nemechek – Best Finish: 8th
Renewal could be the upcoming season’s mindset summed up in a word for John Hunter Nemechek. The Cup Series rookie from 2020 bet on himself by dropping back down to Trucks and working his way back to the top division. Now taking over the Legacy Motor Club No. 42 Toyota, Nemechek appears to have all necessary pieces together for a great year ahead.
No manufacturer switch is a seamless transition though, and drivers hardly ever immediately click with a new team. JHN’s best finish of eighth came in both 2020 Talladega races. It will be fun to see how quickly he adapts to the Next Gen car and if any surprise breakout runs are in store for the 42.
Ty Gibbs – Best Finish: 4th
Sophomore sensation Ty Gibbs may be on his way to being the first driver off of this list. If the Busch Light Clash was any indication for the rest of 2024, the No. 54 will be a thorn in many driver’s sides battling for wins.
Gibbs told me over the offseason that he felt most comfortable in a Cup car on short tracks and road courses. This translates perfectly into the best races so far from his small sample size; Gibbs led over 100 laps before fading to fifth at the Bristol Night Race, and was fourth on the Charlotte Roval. Should Gibbs find victory lane early this season, the floodgates could open and more checkered flags may follow.
Zane Smith – Best Finish: 10th
The next Cup Series rookie for 2024 is past Truck Series standout Zane Smith. Graduating up to the No. 71 Chevrolet expansion team at Spire Motorsports, Smith does have backing from Trackhouse. The 2022 Truck champion is slated for a rookie season with a significantly larger and more established Spire organization. How this team will fare on a weekly basis is still a large unknown.
Smith soon got to the point in Trucks where he could win just about anywhere. The California driver only has nine Cup starts under his belt however. His lone top-10 came at Charlotte last May. What types of tracks suit his style in a Cup car though remains to be seen.
Carson Hocevar – Best Finish: 11th
The third and final full-time rookie for 2024 is another Truck Series alum–Carson Hocevar. Driving in substitute roles last year for Spire and Legacy M.C., Hocevar turned heads from his debut onwards. The 21-year-old is taking over the No. 77 Chevrolet with Spire, but does enter Cup with a bad reputation already hanging over him.
How Hocevar gets raced by his competition and matures as a Cup competitor will be an underlying story all season long. With no expectations last year, Hocevar was challenging for top-10s against Playoff contenders. Hocevar’s days of playing upset may not quite be over with a re-energized team now around him.
With so many drivers now in the Cup Series going for their maiden career triumph, the odds are high this list shrinks in 2024. Who will be the first driver to have everything go right on any given Sunday? This weekend’s Daytona 500 is as good a chance as any to see one man find Cup Series victory lane for the first time.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Johnathan Bachman, Chris Graythen, and James Gilbert/Getty Images
