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NASCAR: Win Droughts After Indianapolis

By Matt Lovisa

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, leads Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 DeWalt Toyota, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, leads Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 DeWalt Toyota, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) /
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Winning NASCAR races is not always easy. Some drivers have had very long waits since earning their latest victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. In fact, some have never won at all.

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With 20 races down in this season’s 36-race schedule, many drivers are searching for their first victory in a long time. In fact, some drivers are searching for their first career NASCAR Cup Series victory. Which drivers are trying to end the longest winless streaks?

Kasey Kahne was the most recent driver to remove his name from the winless streak list with his win at the Brickyard 400. Kahne’s win was monumental not just to break his winless streak but also to help him earn his spot in the NASCAR playoffs. Kahne also joins Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon and Ryan Blaney as drivers who snapped winless streaks this season, with those other three drivers scoring their first career victory.

NOTE: These lists include drivers that are in the series with full-time rides only. Also, they only include the races in which the drivers have competed.

Drivers Searching for First Career Victory

The number of races beside the names of these drivers is the number of races in which they have driven in their careers.

9. Daniel Suarez, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota (20 races dating back to 2017)

8. Erik Jones, Furniture Row Racing, Toyota (23 races dating back to 2015)

7. Ty Dillon, Germain Racing, Chevrolet (38 races dating back to 2014)

6. Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet (61 races dating back to 2015)

5. Matt DiBenedetto, Go FAS Racing, Ford (88 races dating back to 2015)

4. Cole Whitt, TriStar Motorsport, Ford (132 races dating back to 2011)

3. Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford (174 races dating back to 2013)

2. Michael McDowell, Leavine Family Racing, Chevrolet (233 races dating back to 2008)

1. Landon Cassill, Front Row Motorsports, Ford (243 races dating back to 2010)

Drivers In A Winless Streak

Below is a list of drivers with a winless streak equal to or longer than the amount of races in one NASCAR season, which is 36. The number of races beside the names of these drivers is the amount of races completed since their latest victory; it does not include their latest win.

10. Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota (36 races – 2016 Indianapolis)

9. Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota (37 races – 2016 Loudon)

8. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet (39 races –2015 Phoenix)

7. Aric Almirola, Richard Petty Motorsports, Ford (103 races – 2014 Daytona)

WATKINS GLEN, NY – AUGUST 10: AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #47 Scott Products Chevrolet, right, celebrates with team owner Brad Daugherty in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International on August 10, 2014 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY – AUGUST 10: AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #47 Scott Products Chevrolet, right, celebrates with team owner Brad Daugherty in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International on August 10, 2014 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) /

6. A.J. Allmendinger, JTG-Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet (106 races – 2014 Watkins Glen)

5. Jamie McMurray, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet (132 races –2013 Talladega)

4. Trevor Bayne, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford (148 races – 2011 Daytona)

3. David Ragan, Front Row Motorsports, Ford  (154 races – 2013 Talladega)

2. Clint Bowyer, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford (168 races – 2012 Richmond)

1. Paul Menard, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet (216 races – 2011 Indianapolis)

Next: Kasey Kahne’s Brickyard 400 Victory is not Tarnished

With 16 races to go this season and six in the regular season alone, there will be plenty of opportunities for some of these drivers and teams to end their lengthy winless streaks. Some drivers and teams will also try to avoid letting small win droughts turn into longer ones. Which drivers and teams will have success this season while others add to their win droughts?

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