What’s Happening?
Winning at NASCAR’s top level is an achievement few have earned. As we enter the 2025 season, there are rookies, veterans, and underdogs yet to walk away with a win in their NASCAR career. So, who exactly has yet to win a race?
- This list will be limited to full-time Cup Series drivers. Drivers competing part-time will not be eligible; however, if a driver change happens, this list will change accordingly.
- The list is organized from the fewest starts to the most starts. If a driver wins during the season, they will be marked as a winner, and their number will no longer change throughout the season.
- Make sure to check in as the season goes on to see who may be knocked off this list.
8 Starts – Riley Herbst – No. 35 – 23XI Racing
Riley Herbst will not only battle for Rookie of the Year in 2025 but also his first NASCAR Cup Series win. Herbst has a real chance to head to victory lane with 23XI this season. Historically, Herbst has mostly had starts on superspeedways. However, he has performed well, including a best finish of ninth at Talladega in 2023.
45 Starts – Carson Hocevar – No. 77 – Spire Motorsports
Carson Hocevar had a stellar rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series with Spire Motorsports, highlighted by a career-high finish of third at Watkins Glen. As Carson enters 2025, Spire Motorsports continues to grow, and perhaps the two can finally reach victory lane.
45 Starts – Zane Smith – No. 38 – Front Row Motorsports
Zane Smith’s Rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series did not go as planned; despite his late-season resurgence, Smith found himself a free agent. Back with Front Row Motorsports, perhaps Smith can find the skill he once had with the team in the Craftsman Truck Series. As he enters 2025, Smith has a career-best finish of second at Nashville last season.
48 Starts – Josh Berry – No. 21 – Wood Brothers Racing
Josh Berry is one of three former Stewart-Haas Racing drivers on this list. Much like his teammates, he is heading to a new team, Wood Brothers Racing. WBR gave Harrison Burton his first career win at Daytona last year, and that could happen with Berry this season. Entering the 2025 season, Berry’s best finish remains his second place at Richmond in 2023.
75 Starts – Noah Gragson – No. 4 – Front Row Motorsports
Noah Gragson is shifting gears once again in 2025, moving to the ever-growing Front Row Motorsports. Gragson had a hot start to his 2024 season with Stewart-Haas Racing, and entering 2025, his best finish was third place at Talladega last spring.
77 Starts – John Hunter Nemechek – No. 42 – Legacy Motor Club
Entering 2025, John Hunter Nemechek has yet to crack the top five in the NASCAR Cup Series. During his first season with LMC, Nemechek improved on his past stats, including his best career finish of sixth at the Spring Bristol race.
87 Starts – Ty Gibbs – No. 54 – Joe Gibbs Racing
Ty Gibbs continues to fall short of his high hopes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. However, 2024 saw his stats increase overall, including more top fives and top tens than in 2023. At Darlington in the spring of 2024, Gibbs earned a second-place finish, the best of his career to date.
108 Starts – Todd Gilliland – No. 34 – Front Row Motorsports
Three seasons into his NASCAR Cup Series career, Todd Gilliland keeps getting better. In 2024, Gilliland’s average finish jumped from 22 to 20.9. Entering 2025, his best finish remains his fourth-place finish in his rookie season of 2022 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
187 Starts – Ryan Preece – No. 60 – RFK Racing
Ryan Preece may have the best shot to win his first race in 2025 of all the seasoned talent on this list. Entering 2025, in his seven seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series, Preece has a best career finish third at Talladega in 2019. However, his best shot to win was in 2023, when Preece led 135 laps at Martinsville. With his new ride at RFK, Preece could leap into victory lane in 2025.
245 Starts – Ty Dillon – No. 10 – Kaulig Racing
Ty Dillon returns to the NASCAR Cup Series with Kaulig Racing in 2024. Since entering his first NASCAR Cup Series race in 2014, Dillon has failed to find victory lane. Entering 2025, his best career finish was third at Talladega in the fall of 2020. Dillon only entered just seven races last season, earning a best finish of 16th at Texas Motor Speedway.
This list will be updated as the season goes on and drivers get their first wins.