The pressure to win in NASCAR is possibly greater than it has ever been. A win automatically locks a driver into the playoffs, making them one of 16 with a shot at the championship.
Looking through the field of full-time drivers, six have gone at least 50 races since their most recent trip to Victory Lane. Let’s take a look at this group and see who has the best chance to end their dry-spell next season.
The longest active winless streak. Haley’s victory at Daytona in July, 2019 was all about being in the right place at the right time. Making just his third career Cup start, he stayed out while others pitted during a caution period. Soon after, the rain arrived and he was declared the race winner. Haley hasn’t won at the Cup level since that day, but he’s come close. When Shane van Gisbergen took a stunning win on debut at the Chicago Street Course, it was Haley who he had to pass in the closing laps.
Haley now moves from Kaulig Racing to Rick Ware Racing for the 2024 season. RWR has never won a Cup race, but neither had Spire until Haley’s 2019 victory at Daytona. Should he reach Victory Lane next year, it would be quite the upset. I wouldn’t expect it to happen but with Haley’s proven ability at superspeedways, I would never completely rule it out.
Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Fraternal Order of Eagles victory lane
For Keselowski, it’s a matter of when, not if he wins again. With 35 wins as a Cup Series driver, he is without question the most successful full-time driver on this unfortunate list. The 2012 Cup champion left a comfortable position at Team Penske with the aim to help rebuild the Roush Fenway Racing team, joining as both a driver and co-owner.
His work has paid off with both cars making the 2023 playoffs and Chris Buescher winning three races, but Keselowski himself remains winless since joining RFK.
His most recent victory came at Talladega in April, 2021. He’s gotten agonizingly close to getting his first win with RFK, but it just hasn’t happened yet. However, it feels inevitable at this point. I’d be shocked if this driver goes another year without snapping his winless streak, so I’ll go on the record to say that it will finally go Brad’s way in 2024.
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Mustang MoneyLion
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