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The 2023 season has treated some drivers more kindly than others. A few drivers have not been able to find their groove yet this season, and we at the Daily Downforce have compiled the most disappointing of these drivers.
By the Numbers: 1 Top-5, 5 Top 10s, 3 DNFs, 16 Laps Led, 17th in Points (-3 Below Cut Line
Breakdown: Daniel Suarez had his best statistical season last year winning his first race, but this year has been a different story. He started the season off strong with three straight top-10s, but since then, it’s been a struggle with only two top-10s in 13 races. That early season surge is the only thing keeping Suarez squarely in the Playoff bubble, but, if this streak continues, he will fade out of it.
By the Numbers: 1 Top 5, 4 Top 10s, 5 DNFs, 3 Laps Led, 28th in Points (-108 Below Cut Line)
Breakdown: Now Kyle Busch is winning races for RCR, and Dillon deserves to be judged more harshly than in previous seasons. Sure. the Martinsville penalty hurt him, but, even with that, Dillon would be 48 points below the Cut line in 24th in points. That’s simply not good enough when your teammate has won three races.
By the Numbers: 0 Top-5s, 1 Top-10, 3 DNFs, 44 Laps Led, 26th in Points (-71 Below Cut Line)
Breakdown: Aric Almirola is in the midst of his worst statistical season since 2016 when he was driving the 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports. Of course, Stewart-Haas Racing in general has struggled, but why is Kevin Harvick sitting in fifth in points during his swan-song season. Although he won at Sonoma in Xfinity, it has just not been a good year for Aric Almirola – and it’s hard to say what the future holds for him.
By the Numbers: 0 Top-5s, 0 Top-10s, 4 DNFs, 141 Laps Led, 25th in Points (-62 Below Cut Line)
Breakdown: Stewart-Haas Racing has not been great this season, but Ryan Preece has been a complete disappointment. He has failed to notch a top-10 finish, and he currently leads the series in DNFs. He seemed to have Martinsville in hand before a speeding penalty did him in, but, aside from that, he’s been non-existent.
By the Numbers: 0 Top-5s, 2 Top-10s, 2 DNFs, 17 Laps Led, 30th in Points (-141 Below Cut-Line)
Breakdown: Erik Jones seemed to get better and better as last season went along, even winning the Southern 500. Expectations for Legacy Motor Club this season with Jimmie Johnson coming in were to make the Playoffs, and they have fallen well short of that with both Jones and Noah Gragson. Jones sits 30th in points below even Chase Elliott who missed seven of the first 16 races.
The best news for these drivers is that they have 10 races to turn it around before the Playoffs. It can definitely happen, and most of these drives have won races before in the Cup Series.
