Ranking 5 NASCAR Cup Series drivers with incredible careers but zero championships

Winning the NASCAR Cup Series championship is considered a huge achievement for a driver in stock car racing as it reflects their talent and skill on the track throughout the season. However, some talented drivers have faced disappointment in their pursuit of this prestigious title because of how points distribution system in NASCAR.

Drivers like Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who excelled in stock car racing with track records, fell short of winning championship titles throughout their careers. On that note, let's look at five such drivers who had impressive records but couldn't clinch a Cup series title.

---

#5 Fred Lorenzen

NASCAR legend Fred Lorenzen passed away at 89 a few days ago, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Nicknamed 'Golden Boy' by NASCAR fans, Lorenzen began his career in the series after he received a call from Holman Moody Racing owner, Ralph Moody in 1960. Moody offered Lorenzen to be the lead driver for their team.

During his tenure with the Holman-Moody Racing team from 1961 to 1967, Lorenzen dominated the tracks with 26 wins in 158 starts and had a 16.5 winning percentage in the races. Furthermore, he secured 84 top-ten and 75 top-five finishes.

The late stock car driver came pretty close to winning the Cup Series championship in 1963 when he finished third, behind Rex White and Johnny Rutherford, who won the title.

---

#4. Carl Edwards

During his 13-year career, Carl Edwards came close to a championship title twice but was unsuccessful in his attempts. He kicked off his Cup Series career in 2003 under Rousch Racing and stayed with the team for over a decade. Edwards then moved to Joe Gibbs Racing for the last two seasons of his career.

The former stock car driver has secured 28 wins, 220 top-ten, and 22 pole positions in 445 starts. He fell one spot short of winning the championship title in 2008 and 2011, losing to Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, respectively.

---

#3. Mark Martin

Mark Martin is a retired professional race car driver who came close to winning the Cup Series five times. Despite not winning a Cup title, he held the second-most-wins record in the Xfinity Series. He also holds more IROC Championship titles than any other driver, with five titles (1994, 1996-98, 2005).

Martin secured his first win in the Cup Series in 1989 at the AC Delco 500 race at Rockingham Speedway. After having his breakthrough season, the Batesville native never looked back, clinching 40 wins in 882 starts. He also had 453 top-ten finishes, and 56 pole positions in his 31-year career.

---

#2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a successful career in the Cup Series but never won a championship title, unlike his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., who won seven titles. Junior debuted in the Cup Series in 1999 at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and secured his first win the next year at the DirecTV 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Junior bagged 26 wins in his Cup Series career in 631 starts as well as 260 top-ten finishes and 15 pole positions. He dominated the Daytona 500 winning the race twice in his nearly two-decade career. Additionally, Earnhardt Jr. also secured two Xfinity Series titles in 1989 and 1999. Following his success, he was named among NASCAR's Greatest Drivers in 2023.

---

#1. Denny Hamlin

JGR driver Denny Hamlin is the driver with the most wins to have never won a Cup Series championship. He began his stock car racing journey in the Cup Series with Joe Gibbs Racing and has stayed with the same team since his debut in 2005.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has surpassed NASCAR veteran Mark Martin and became the driver with the most wins without a championship title. Hamlin has clinched 54 wins in 686 starts as well as 358 top-ten finishes and 43 pole positions. The Tampa, Florida native also has three Daytona 500 wins with NASCAR naming him among the sport's 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.