What’s Happening?
Winning a NASCAR Cup Series race is the pinnacle of many driver’s careers. Some drivers win more than others, but, for those who win often, a losing streak can be agonizing. There are plenty of drivers who have long-losing streaks heading into 2024. Here is a list of the longest.
- For this list, we will focus on full-time drivers of the 2023 Cup Series who have won a race. Anyone who has not won a race or does not race full-time is ineligible.
- This is purely a list of the longest-losing streaks, not a list of the most surprising. Whether a driver is expected to win in 2024 or not, they can be included.
- Fans of certain drivers often groan during losing streaks. They can be very frustrating, but it makes the wins that much more special.
Chase Elliott: Streak Snapped at 42 Races Started, 49 Races Total
Last Win: Texas (April 2024)
Chase Elliott’s win at Texas snapped his 42-start winless streak, giving him his first win in 1.5 calendar years. This win was huge for Elliott as teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron continue to reach new heights week-in and week-out. Time will tell if Elliott continues to win more races this season.
Martin Truex Jr.: 47 Races
Last Win: New Hampshire (July 2023)
Martin Truex Jr. is dealing with a winless streak as he competes in his final full-time Cup Series season. He won his third race of the 2023 season at New Hampshire but has had a few close calls since. He led 228 laps at Richmond on Easter, and he finished second to Denny Hamlin at Bristol.
Joey Logano: Streak Snapped at 49 Races
Last Win: Nashville (June 2024)
Joey Logano ended the longest losing streak he’s had since joining Team Penske by saving fuel to win at Nashville Superspeedway. It was his first win since Atlanta in March of 2023, 49 races ago.
Kyle Busch: 52 Races
Last Win: Gateway (June 2023)
Kyle Busch won three times in the first 15 races of 2023, but, he hasn’t won since. This is longest Kyle Busch has ever gone between victories in his career, and his streak of 19 consecutive seasons with at least one win could be in jeopardy.
Daniel Suarez: Streak Snapped at 58 Races
Streak Snapped: Atlanta (February 2024)
Daniel Suarez put a period on a 57-race losing streak during the 2nd race of the season at Atlanta. It was his first win since Sonoma in June of 2022, and it puts him in the Playoffs. Whether or not it saves his ride is up in the air.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr: Streak Snapped 65 Races
Last Win: Talladega (October 2024)
After winning the 2023 Daytona 500, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and JTG Daughtery Racing went on a cold streak. They snapped that streak in a grueling fuel mileage race at Talladega that saw not only four-wide racing but also the largest crash in NASCAR history.
Austin Dillon: Streak Snapped 68 Races
Last Win: Richmond (August 2024)
Austin Dillon snapped his losing streak at the Fall 2024 Richmond race. After two years since winning at the 2022 Summer Daytona race, Dillon continued a numerical streak of winning one race in even years, only that began at the 2018 Daytona 500.
Erik Jones: 73 Races Started; 75 Races Total
Last Win: Darlington (September 2022)
Erik Jones shocked everyone by winning the 2022 Southern 500. That win broke a 108-race winless streak for Jones, and it broke an 8-year losing streak for the 43 car. He and Legacy Motor Club struggled in 2023, but, is there reason for optimism in 2024?
Bubba Wallace: 75 Races
Last Win: Kansas (September 2022)
Despite a great points finish, 2023 was the first year since 2020 that Bubba Wallace failed to win a race. This is Wallace’s longest losing streak since his first win at Talladega in 2021. However, given his equipment and solid run in 2023, a win seems very possible in 2024.
Alex Bowman: Streak Snapped 80 Races Started, 88 Races Total
Last Win: Chicago Street Race (July 2024)
Alex Bowman snapped an 80-race winless streak at the Chicago Street Race. A savvy pit call by crew chief Blake Harris to keep Bowman on rain tires gave the No. 48 car the lead in the final stage. The race ended early due to darkness, and Bowman won.
Austin Cindric: Streak Snapped at 86 Races
Streak Snapped: Gateway (June 2024)
Austin Cindric struggled to find victory lane after an upset win in the 2022 Daytona 500. He made his long-awaited return after teammate Ryan Blaney ran out of fuel on the final lap at Gateway. This all but clinches Cindric a 2024 Playoff spot.
Chase Briscoe: Streak Snapped at 96 Races
Last Win: Darlington (September 2024)
In the final race for Stewart-Haas Racing at Darlington Raceway, Briscoe made daring late race moves to seal his first win in 94 starts. It was also SHR’s first win since Kevin Harvick won at Richmond in 2022.
Brad Keselowski: Streak Snapped at 111 Races
Streak Snapped: Darlington (May 2024)
Brad Keselowski’s long losing streak ended at Darlington in the Goodyear 400. It was his first win in over 3 years, and it was also his first win as an owner-driver.
Justin Haley: 136 Starts; 193 Races Total
Last Win: Daytona (July 2019)
The longest losing streak in NASCAR today goes to Justin Haley. He won his only career race at Daytona in 2019 thanks to a perfectly timed lightning strike, so there is a slight asterisk to this losing streak. Given that he is heading to Rick Ware Racing in 2024, an end to his losing streak does not seem imminent.
Which of these drivers is the most likely to break their losing streak in 2024?