The 2024 season marked career highs for some drivers such as Tyler Reddick, Harrison Burton and William Byron. On the other hand, 2024 represented career lows for the likes of Kyle Busch who went winless for the first time ever in the Cup Series.
Here are those drivers who 2024 was none too kind to, drivers who have a history of victory, but missed out this past season.
Image Credit: Cody Wansley/Seriously Fast Media
Martin Truex Jr.
The 2017 Cup Series Champion went winless in 2024 as he wrapped up his full-time racing career. Martin has 34 total Cup wins to his credit before retirement. He will have another chance at a 500 here next month and potentially a few more entries through the season if he chooses.
Bubba Wallace
The 2x Cup Series winner went winless for the second season in a row despite having a career season in nearly every other aspect. With 23XI Racing becoming a three car team in 2025, Bubba will have a little extra drafting help at Daytona and Dega where he has shown he can be a force.
Kyle Busch
The self-described “KFB” is the overall winningest driver in the history of NASCAR and one of only two to hit or cross 200 wins. He is the winningest active driver in the Cup Series at 63. Kyle following up a three win season in 2023 with his then new team at Richard Childress Racing with a goose egg was not in the cards for most NASCAR fans. Don’t expect Kyle to pull punches in 2025.
Michael McDowell
2021 Daytona 500 Champion is making a move in 2025 to a new team following a winless 2024. McDowell has two wins in the Cup Series with his most recent coming in 2023. Michael will once again be the senior statesman as he moves to Spire Motorsports, a team hungry to show they belong.
Erik Jones
The Michigan native comes into his ninth full-time Cup Series season after going winless for the last two. Jones has three NASCAR Cup Series victories including Daytona and a pair at Darlington. Legacy Motor Club had no real speed in 2024, but 2025?
Justin Haley
You may be surprised to find Justin on this list, but if you recall, Justin has a Daytona win from 2019. His performance racing for Rick Ware Racing last season showed some promise and a return to a more powerful Spire Motorsports may be the key to get the team and the driver their second Cup Series wins.
Jimmie Johnson
Although he competed part-time in 2024, Jimmie went winless, something that he never saw until the last three seasons of his career. The 83 time Cup winner and 7x Champ looks to snag another one part-time in 2025.
AJ Allmendinger
AJ is NASCAR’s Road Course King. As a part-timer in Cup, the three time Cup winner won at Indy in a part-time schedule in 2021. Going full-time again in a Kaulig car could be dangerous on those road courses.
