Kenseth Assumes Unwanted ‘Top’ Status on Winless List

Kenseth Assumes Unwanted ‘Top’ Status on Winless List

        Matt Kenseth lost his partner in “winlessness” when Jimmie Johnson had his 2014 breakthrough victory this past Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600. Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and the championship runner-up last year to Johnson, thus became the highest-profile name on the list of drivers still looking for their first victory of the year.

        But Kenseth is not alone. Twelve races into the season – meaning there are 14 races remaining before the start of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – a number of other Chase-worthy drivers are on the outside looking in, including three-time champion Tony Stewart (see page 2).

        Here’s an around-the-horn look at some others who are 0-for-12:

        • Brian Vickers: The 2003 NASCAR Nationwide series champion is, on the upside, eighth in points.

        • Ryan Newman: Newman is 10th in points, with no top-five finishes.

        • Greg Biffle: He won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title in 2000, the NASCAR Nationwide Series title in 2002 and was the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship runner-up in 2005. But he’s winless and in 11th place points-wise, with four top 10s and two top fives.

        • Kasey Kahne: Kahne is 17th in points with only one top five, surprising for a driver with 16 career victories.

        • Clint Bowyer:  The 2008 NASCAR Nationwide series champion and the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship runner-up is 20th in points.

        • Jamie McMurray: His emotional – and financially rewarding – victory in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race notwithstanding, he needs a points-paying series victory. McMurray is 23rd in points.

        • Martin Truex Jr.: The NASCAR Nationwide champion in 2004 and ’05 is way back in 26th place, still looking not only for a victory but his first top-five finish of the year.