NASCAR
The Five Longest NASCAR Cup Series Winning Droughts Busted in 2025
In the season of giving thanks, many drivers remain appreciative for long-awaited success seen this year. 2025 was nothing short of heavy on repeat NASCAR Cup Series winners. In total, 14 different drivers found victory lane, with five ending respective winless droughts over 30 races. This put the season’s number of winners at a low for the Next Gen era. In short, dominance displayed by the sport’s biggest teams was only strengthened. Here are those five drivers who took a much awaited victory lap after some time away from the spotlight.
Bubba Wallace – 102 Races
Going almost three calendar years between wins, Bubba Wallace finally burst back into victory lane in ultimate fashion. Driver 23 took his maiden crown jewel triumph at the Brickyard 400, taming Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s hallowed grounds. Beating this race’s reigning winner Kyle Larson to the checkers propelled Wallace into his second Playoffs. Following a few heartbreakingly close losses, team 23 ended 2025 ranked 11th in points. Wallace’s best result since Indy was fourth at Talladega, a race he led on the last lap.
The 23XI Racing veteran now enters 2026 knowing the pressure relief of a regular season win. Wallace’s stats were on par across several areas with his career-best marks. Even higher glass ceilings could possibly be shattered by this team in the new year.
Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 Chumba Casino Toyota Camry on the grid at Nashville Superspeedway before the Cracker Barrel 400 on Sunday, June 1. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Chase Elliott – 45 Races
At one point in 2025, NASCAR’s most popular man Chase Elliott was riding his own year-plus long winless drought. That changed in dramatic fashion under the lights at his home track of Atlanta in June. A perfectly-executed last-lap pass on Brad Keselowski gave the Hendrick No. 9 Chevrolet a very popular win and sent him Playoff-bound. The 2020 Cup champion did see repeat success in the postseason, having the seas part for another victory at Kansas in September. This second checkered flag of the year put Elliott through to the Round of 8, where he eventually finished eighth in points. 2025 was Elliott’s first multi-win season since his five-victory 2022 campaign, and saw a return to the 9’s ultra-consistent form.
Despite missing the Championship 4 in three-straight seasons, the last two years have seen Elliott make the semifinal round and be within reach of advancing. Second and third in the last two fall Martinsville elimination races show that the 9 is not far off from elite title contention status. 2026 should be a continuation of Elliott’s methodical and quiet approach to Cup success, gunning for back-to-back Hendrick Motorsports titles.
Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Napa Auto Parts DESI9N To Drive Chevrolet on the grid at EchoPark (Atlanta) Speedway before winning the Quaker State 400 on Saturday, June 28. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Austin Dillon – 38 Races
The last two years’ Richmond Raceway fallout may as well be called ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ for Austin Dillon. Controversy around wrecking other drivers for 2024’s win ultimately led NASCAR to revoke his Playoff berth. In 2025, the No. 3 Chevrolet was on rails for a majority of the Saturday night short track show. Dillon went back to victory lane in a Richmond Raceway retribution after leading 107 laps. No late caution this time around allowed Dillon to cruise to a sixth Cup win without any fireworks, and take a Playoff berth the right way.
Three mid-pack Round of 16 results led to an early postseason exit for the Richard Childress Racing contender. 13th-place at New Hampshire would be a postseason high point for the 3, leading to a 15th-place standings spot. Dillon has found a knack for shaking up the season in the Cook Out 400; perhaps his Richmond Raceway notes can translate to other tracks for 2026.
Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet on the grid at Richmond Raceway before winning the Cook Out 400 on Saturday, August 16. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Denny Hamlin – 32 Races
As hard as it may be to believe, 2025’s winningest driver once went almost a full year between victories. Denny Hamlin went winless across the last 25 weeks of 2024, finally breaking through at Martinsville Speedway in March. This win certainly opened the floodgates on team 11, who found victory lane five more times across this year. This included two major Playoff triumphs at Gateway and Las Vegas, eclipsing Hamlin’s 60 career wins goal. The latter of those victories also transferred Hamlin into his fifth Championship 4, where he was runner-up.
Hamlin’s winless drought can be characterized as equal parts late 2024 struggles and 2025 rejuvenation for Joe Gibbs Racing. Ever a studious competitor, Hamlin saw arguably his career-best season at 44 years old, and was mere moments away from being crowned champion. 2026 may be more of the same for Hamlin rebounding from 2025’s finale heartbreak, now entering his 21st year at NASCAR’s highest level.
Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota Camry on the grid at Martinsville Speedway before winning the Cook Out 400 on Sunday, March 30. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Austin Cindric – 31 Races
The last man to end a lengthy winless streak in 2025 was Austin Cindric. 31 races spanned between the 2’s two most recent wins at Gateway last summer and Talladega this spring. Widely regarded as one of the best superspeedway racers today, it was little surprise to see the Penske driver succeed in Alabama. Cindric only saw two more top-10s this season past his April triumph, however. 14th in final points shows just how inconsistent this Penske crew was throughout the balance of the year, despite leading in five of the six drafting races. Back-to-back superspeedways once again to open 2026 could be very fruitful for Cindric. The versatile driver is currently honing his craft in Australia by running the Supercars season finale.
Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Menards/Maytag Ford Mustang on the grid at Daytona International Speedway before the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday, August 23. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Five of 14 winners erasing a long losing drought for 2025 is quite a figure that should not be overlooked. This season will be remembered for a lot of on and off-track moments, both positive and negative. Some of these moments were the aforementioned breakthrough wins. Year four of the Next Gen Car saw a step back in overall race winners. Several repeat winning drivers proved that Cup success is not fleeting. The seemingly impossible feat of 19 different winners may be reachable again in 2026.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Peter Stratta/TSJSports
