Monday, January 30, 2017

We're Going Streaking 2017

NASCAR Drivers on a Current Win-Less Streak


By Richard Tix

This right here is a great movie and a great article rolled into one. We're Going Streaking is all about NASCAR Cup drivers who are on a bad run of being, well, bad. Correctly put, these drivers haven't won a Cup race in a very long time. So, lets get like Frank the Tank and get streaking!

2013 We're Going Streaking2014 We're Going Streaking2015 We're Going Streaking, and 2016 We're Going Streaking


"We're... We're going streaking! We're going up the quad and to the gymnasium."

"Frank, get in the car."

"But... everybody's doing it."



Paul Menard (Streak Number: 196)
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Part of having Menard on this list isn't even fair. Why is that? Well, his last win dates back to 2011 which is still his only win. Still, if he and his dad are going to bring the family sponsor into a ride like RCR, the pressure will be on for him to get off this list. I'm thinking Paul will be on this list until he retires.


Clint Bowyer (Streak Number: 149)


149 races and after last season it seems like 249 races. Last year made most fans forget Bowyer even raced in NASCAR. The silver lining was he knew he was joining SHR in the No. 14 at season's end. The question now is, can a guy with eight career Cup wins finally get back to VL in 2017? No. 14 hasn't exactly been fast, but it's driver (Tony Stewart) also hasn't exactly been himself for his last few years. Oh, and if you want to know how long this streak has been in days, just ask @DrunkBrianF on twitter and he will tell you.


Ricky Stenhouse Jr (Streak Number: 148)
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For anyone who may have forgotten, this is the same Ricky that won back to back Xfinity (Nationwide) Championships, never lost a motocross championship from 1997-2006, and is know as the GOAT. Ok, well the first part is true and the rest is about another Ricky (Carmichael), but you get the point. Yet, Ricky hasn't found where victory lane has been located at the Cup level. Now, part of that is being stuck at RFR for the worst years historically of RFR, but Stenhouse hasn't exactly shown a ton yet either. Maybe he needs a new ride or maybe RFR get's it going again with only two cars, however I don't see it leading to VL in 2017.


Greg Biffle (Streak Number: 129)
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Speaking of RFR down to two cars, no one knows yet if this streak number will be the Biff's last. At the moment Biffle doesn't have a ride for the 2017 season which will leave it very tough for him to snap this streak. It's too bad too, because a 69 or 169 race streak would be way better, am I right Greg?


Ryan Newman (Streak Number: 124)
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Every year Newman is the guy I could see pulling off a win as Loudon, Martinsville, or some place like Indy. However, if you take away his 2003 eight win season Newman hasn't been a winning in bunches type guy. When you already don't win in bunches it is hard to knock off this streak especially the older you get and the longer RCR stays mediocre. I think the next RCR driver on this list might win before Newman does again, which hurts to say as a Newman believer.


Austin Dillon (Streak Number: 121)
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AD has started his Cup career with 121 straight non win races. However, other than Clint Bowyer, he probably has the most positive outlook about winning in 2017 than anyone on the list. In 2016 Dillon doubled his career top 5's (four), more then doubled his top 10's (13), and doubled his pole awards (2). Last season he was the best RCR driver and will look to build that momentum into 2017 and hopefully a trip to VL.


Jamie McMurray (Streak Number: 112)
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Daytona? Talladega? Charlotte? Indianapolis? If you're expecting McMurray to have a shot, that's where to look. JMac is a force at superspeedways as he always finds a clean way to the front, but at most other tracks he is just a steady top 10-15 driver. Things can change, but unless he pulls off another superspeedway win look for this streak to continue.


Kasey Kahne (Streak Number: 83)
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Eighty. Three. It has been 83 races since Kahne locked in a Chase spot late in the 2014 season at Atlanta. Part of me wants to think he will get back ton his old winning ways (a race or two every season), but the numbers are starting to level off an suggest different. He is at HMS so he always has a chance to snap out of it. Meanwhile, he still shows flashes of running well, like this past year from Darlington to Texas where he picked up a top 5 and seven top 10's in ten races. Kahne will still win again before his career is over, the question is when and how many times?


*The Streak Number is the number at the beginning of the 2017 season. The article will not be updated every week to reflect the 2017 races that have gone by.


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