5 drivers who can break their winless draught at the Chicago NASCAR Cup race

The Chicago Street Race returns to the NASCAR Cup Series calendar for a second debacle. In the street circuit's debut stint last year, Supercar Champion and road course prodigy Shane van Gisbergen sealed the Cup win on his first-ever attempt.

Per the latest Playoff Picture, 11 different drivers have so far sealed at least one win on the 2024 Cup Series calendar. However, for many, it's been long since they became the first one to cross the checkered flag. With that, the following are 5 drivers who could end their winless streaks in the Windy City.

#1. Bubba Wallace, NASCAR rank P15

Bubba Wallace (Image Source: Getty)

The 23XI Racing driver tasted how it is to be in the playoffs for the first time last year. After racking five top-5s and 10 top-10s, Bubba Wallace finished the 2023 Cup Series season at his career-best spot in tenth place. However, the Alabama native's year ended on a winless note. His last triumph came at the 2022 Kansas Speedway, since then, he has been yearning for a win.

Wallace came quite close to ending the winless drought at the Martinsville Speedway but ended up his run in fourth place. The #23 driver has three top-5s and six top-10s from this season but no win so far.

#2. Kyle Busch, NASCAR rank P17

Kyle Busch (Image Source: Getty)

Until July last year, Kyle Busch had already collected three wins in Cup races- at the Auto Club Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, and the World Wide Technology Raceway. The Richard Childress Racing driver ended his 2023 season with three victories 10 top-5s and 17 top-10s.

However, this season is yet to see the two-time Cup Series champ turning the odds in his favor. From 19 races, the #8 Chevy driver has claimed two top-5s, and five top-10s, and has succumbed to four DNFs. It's been over a year since the RCR driver last drove to the victory lane.

#3. Chase Briscoe, NASCAR rank P16

Chase Briscoe (Image Source: Getty)

Chase Briscoe currently fields the #14 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing. He will mark his switch to Joe Gibbs Racing's stable next year as SHR will shut down its operations by the end of this season. Briscoe is currently in his fourth Cup Series season and has collected a solitary win, at Phoenix Raceway in 2022.

He has collected two top-5s and six top-10s this season and came inches close to sealing his second Cup Series win at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Nonetheless, Briscoe's future teammate Christopher Bell stole the show and emerged victorious.

#4. Michael McDowell, NASCAR rank P22

Michael McDowell (Image Source: Getty)

The Front Row Motorsports driver has been in the Cup Series scene for over a decade but his first triumph came at the 2021 Daytona 500. His second and the last win so far came at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last season. It's been nearly a year since Michael McDowell has bagged a victory.

While McDowell has collected one top-5 and five top-10s this season, he became the polesitter three times- at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, and World Wide Technology Raceway. But the FRM driver couldn't convert the same into a race win, and hence, needs one to pull himself up from his dismal 23rd place in the playoff picture.

#5. Noah Gragson, NASCAR rank P23

Noah Gragson (Image Source: Getty)

Noah Gragson is among the remaining SHR drivers without a seat for the next season. The Nevada native entered his rookie Cup Series season last year with Legacy Motor Club but was indefinitely suspended from NASCAR after a social media fiasco.

After the suspension was lifted, SHR announced signing Gragson for the current season. This year, the #10 Ford driver has registered one top-5 and six top-10s. He scored his season-best finish at the Talladega Superspeedway in third spot. With SHR closing its doors next year, Gragson needs to up his game and even win some races to become a lucrative option for another garage.