NASCAR
Other Notable Losing Streaks in the NASCAR Cup Series for 2026
As the NASCAR offseason winds onward, let’s continue to look at active Cup Series winless streaks. 2025 saw its fair share of drivers end long dry spells, but a few notable ones also failed to achieve this milestone. Some additional current losing droughts heading into 2026 include some of the most talented and fastest drivers on track today. Here’s another half dozen drivers hoping to taste the winning spoils of victory lane again in the new year.
Brad Keselowski – 59 races (Best Finish: Second)
Past Cup champion Brad Keselowski has arguably been the closest on this list to ending his losing drought. It’s been 59 starts for the RFK Racing co-owner since his lone win in the No. 6 Ford, at Darlington Raceway in May, 2024. That day saw Keselowski erase a 110-race losing drought. Keselowski was within eyesight of winning his most recent start, however, at Phoenix Raceway. In overtime at the season finale, the 6 lined up first and held the lead until the last corner. Keselowski backslid to second, losing to Ryan Blaney by a nose.
Phoenix was far from Keselowski’s only near-miss in the last year-and-a-half. Iowa Speedway in August comes to mind as another race where BK was a strong contender. The crafty veteran is likewise always a threat in drafting races, where he has four recent top-10s. These include runner-ups at both Talladega and EchoPark (Atlanta).
Keselowski’s potential path back to victory lane has hit a recent speed bump, however. December 2025 saw the Michigan driver break his leg in a skiing accident, leading to immediate corrective surgery. Although BK posted video of himself walking, there is no word yet on if he will be in top shape for the start of 2026’s racing season. Recent injuries for other drivers have led to statistically down seasons. This list includes Denny Hamlin (2013), Chase Elliott (2023), and Erik Jones (2024). It remains to be seen if Keselowski will even be cleared to run February’s Daytona 500, even though he assured fans that’s his goal. Should Keselowski stand tall in victory lane again, it would be a very special celebration on multiple fronts.
Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 Castrol Ford Mustang on the grid at Phoenix Raceway before the Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
AJ Allmendinger – 56 races* (Best Finish: Fourth)
Once labelled as NASCAR’s premier road course talent, it’s been over two years since AJ Allmendinger’s last triumph. 2023 saw the past open wheel star upset the Playoff field at the Charlotte Roval, taking Cup Series win number three. 2024 saw Allmendinger run full-time in Xfinity once again, along with 16 Cup starts. 2025 likewise marked a return to Sunday competition with Kaulig Racing. Last season saw AJ retain the flagship No. 16 Chevrolet.
In spite of his elite road racing talent, Allmendinger’s best recent Cup results have come on some of the toughest ovals. Homestead (2023), Charlotte (2025), and Darlington (2025 fall) are his three latest top-five finishes. Allmendinger has likewise seen five road course top-10s across his last 56 Cup starts.
One of the most experienced drivers in Cup today, Allmendinger has flexed his muscles in the draft too, despite saying he hates superspeedways. AJ continues to be one of the best drivers year-over-year on the Charlotte Roval, where he has four-straight top-10s. Between the six drafting races and five road courses in 2026, the 16 has ample opportunities to be number one again. Perhaps San Diego’s inaugural race in June could see the California driver conquer the naval base circuit.
AJ Allmendinger’s No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet on the grid at Phoenix Raceway before the Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Alex Bowman – 52 races (Best Finish: Second)
One of only two winless drivers in 2025’s NASCAR Playoffs, Alex Bowman seemingly did everything but win. The Ally 48 last went to victory lane on the Chicago Street Course in 2024, upsetting a hard-charging Tyler Reddick. Bowman put up respectable numbers across 2025, but the closest he came to winning was a bittersweet runner-up at Homestead. That day in March, Bowman had to watch teammate Kyle Larson blast by late for the south Florida victory. Homestead marked one of five top-10s the 48 earned in the opening six weeks.
Another P2 result at Richmond in August highlighted Bowman’s regular season. The 48 followed this up by being taken out in an early wreck at Daytona the next week. Despite this, Ryan Blaney’s repeat win secured a seventh career Playoff berth for the Hendrick Motorsports driver. Back-to-back sub-25th-place results in the opening two Playoff races sealed Bowman’s fate, however, as a Round of 16 exit. Past this, the 48 saw two more top-10s to close out 2025 at 13th in points.
Entering a contract season for 2026, Bowman should be seen on the hot seat if he does not perform well out of the gate. If 2026 opens as strong on a weekly basis as 2025 did, though, then the 48 may be chasing multiple checkered flags. A three-plus year stretch for the Arizona native plagued by injuries has been admittedly lacking in the win column. Fully healthy and ready to go at another season with crew chief Blake Harris, an early win or two is not out of the question for this Hendrick team.
Alex Bowman’s No. 48 Ally Chevrolet on the grid at Phoenix Raceway before the Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Chris Buescher – 44 races (Best Finish: Second)
RFK Racing’s Next Gen era standard-bearer, it’s been just over a full year since Chris Buescher’s last win. Even his most recent triumph at Watkins Glen in 2024 has a bit of an asterisk on it, with the 17 upsetting as a non-Playoff winner. Buescher has likewise failed to make the 16-man postseason for two-straight seasons.
Buescher did see five top-fives across the balance of 2025. This was highlighted with a runner-up day at Michigan in June, as well as two more standout road course runs at Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval. The No. 17 team’s banner season was two years ago in 2023, where they won three times in a five-week span. This career-best summer stretch was followed by a Round of 8 showing in that year’s Playoffs. This past season, however, would see Buescher earn seven top-15s in the final 10 weeks as a non-contender. 2026 will try and see the RFK Racing driver repeat this consistency and be a strong title-caliber threat once again.
Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Fastenal/Body Guard Ford Mustang on the grid at Phoenix Raceway before the Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ricky Stenhouse Jr – 41 races
Superspeedway ace Ricky Stenhouse Jr. found victory lane in back-to-back years for the first time ever, but struck out in 2025. The 2023 Daytona 500 Champion last won the fall Talladega race in 2024. His losing streak since then now spans 41 starts. Atlanta all the way back in February would be the 47 team’s 2025 high point, placing fifth. Superb consistency seen in past years from Hyak Motorsports was far more fleeting in 2025. Stenhouse only saw three total top-10s and a 30th-place points result from 2025. Regrouping and resetting over this offseason, ‘The Little Engine That Could’ aims to upset NASCAR’s juggernauts once again on the biggest stage.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s No. 47 Real American Beer Chevrolet on the grid at Phoenix Raceway before the Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Tyler Reddick – 38 races (Best Finish: Second)
Little did anyone know at the time, but second at the season-opening Daytona 500 would be Tyler Reddick’s 2025 capstone. Matched in the Playoff opener Southern 500, the No. 45 Toyota was snake-bit on reaching victory lane in 2025. The Championship 4 team from 2024 could only muster seven top-fives, 14 top-10s, and 169 laps led all year. Each of these stats were steps back in performance, leading to a ninth-place championship finish. Reddick’s most recent triumph was his highlight-reel last lap at Homestead-Miami Speedway in October 2024.The Toyota driver has struck out in his last 38 starts.
Out of anyone on this list, Reddick may have the shortest-lived losing drought in the new year. Reddick’s brief tenure with 23XI Racing has shown versatility and success equaled by very few other drivers. It would not be shocking to see the 45 be number one again early and often in 2026. Some of Reddick’s best racetracks fall early in the year, including COTA, Las Vegas, and Darlington.
23XI Racing can now put the NASCAR antitrust lawsuit in the rearview mirror after a tumultuous past year. With this in mind, 23XI and Reddick can fully focus towards on-track performance and trying to set new standards in 2026.
Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 The Beast Toyota Camry on the grid at Phoenix Raceway before the Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Tracking losing streaks is always telling for which race teams are on the cusp of greatness. Seemingly every year has at least one driver who turns heads despite being locked out of victory lane. The opening weeks of 2026 will see a wide variety of racetracks. Thanks to this fact, there will be ample opportunities for many drivers to end their winless droughts. Nowhere would a breakthrough win be bigger celebrated than the 68th Running of the Daytona 500. ‘The Great American Race’ now lies less than eight weeks away. These select six and plenty of other drivers are gunning to find the winning magic again. Any successful Sunday could propel a driver onwards to a banner year ahead.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Jared C Tilton, Chris Graythen, & Sean Gardner/Getty Images and Peter Stratta/TSJSports
