Snapping a winless streak is always special in NASCAR, but doing so after more than 100 races without a victory is on another level. These moments don’t just mark a return to victory lane—they often redefine careers, spark team turnarounds, and remind fans of the unpredictable nature of stock car racing. Bubba Wallace’s dramatic win in the 2025 Brickyard 400 is the latest chapter in a series of long-awaited victories over the past few years, joining names like Brad Keselowski, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chris Buescher, and Erik Jones in breaking prolonged droughts.
Key Highlights
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Bubba Wallace ends a 100-race drought with his 2025 Brickyard 400 victory.
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Brad Keselowski returned to victory lane at Darlington in 2024 after 110 races.
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. broke a 199-race winless streak with his 2023 Daytona 500 triumph.
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Chris Buescher snapped a 222-race drought at Bristol in 2022.
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Erik Jones ended a 109-race skid with a Darlington win in 2022.
Bubba Wallace – Indianapolis 2025 (100 Races)
The latest driver to break a 100-race winless streak is Bubba Wallace, who delivered the biggest moment of his career at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Winning the Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG wasn’t just about ending a drought—it was about cementing his place among NASCAR’s elite on one of its most iconic stages.
Wallace inherited the lead late in the race after pit strategy shuffled the field. Rain delays and two overtime restarts created chaos, but the No. 23 car never faltered. Despite fuel concerns that had fans on edge, Wallace had enough to hold off Kyle Larson in a nail-biting finish, crossing the line just 0.222 seconds ahead.
It was his first win since 2022, locking him into the 2025 NASCAR Playoffs and making him the first Black driver to win the Brickyard 400 since its inception in 1994. For Wallace, this victory was about more than breaking a streak—it was a career-defining triumph that silenced doubts and etched his name in history.
Brad Keselowski – Darlington 2024 (110 Races)
Brad Keselowski’s journey back to victory lane was one of resilience and leadership. The 2012 Cup Series champion went winless for 110 races, with his last triumph coming in 2021. During that time, he made the bold move to join RFK Racing as a co-owner, shouldering the dual responsibilities of improving the team while remaining competitive as a driver.
At Darlington in 2024, everything came together. Known as the “Track Too Tough to Tame,” the Lady in Black suited Keselowski’s veteran racecraft. A combination of strong long-run speed, disciplined tire management, and late-race strategy propelled the No. 6 Ford to the front, holding off a hard-charging field to secure a long-awaited win.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Daytona 500, 2023 (199 Races)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has long been known for his superspeedway prowess, but nearly 200 races passed between his 2017 victory at Daytona and his stunning triumph in the 2023 Daytona 500. The near 200-race drought weighed heavily on Stenhouse, whose reputation had shifted from an aggressive front-runner to a driver perpetually on the brink of success without breaking through.
That all changed on NASCAR’s biggest stage. The 2023 Daytona 500 came down to a tense series of late-race restarts, and Stenhouse showed patience and poise when it mattered most. Surviving multiple wrecks and timing his final move perfectly, he edged out Joey Logano to take the checkered flag.
Chris Buescher – Bristol 2022 (222 Races)
Few streak-breaking wins were as emotional as Chris Buescher’s 2022 victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, which ended a massive 222-race winless stretch dating back to his rain-shortened Pocono win in 2016. The short track under the lights delivered a classic battle, with Buescher using strategy and grit to finally seize another checkered flag.
A pivotal moment came on the final round of pit stops. Buescher’s team opted for two tires, gaining track position, while contenders like Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin faltered with issues on pit road. On the restart, Buescher jumped to the lead and never looked back, fending off Chase Elliott to win by 0.458 seconds.
Buescher’s post-race celebration reflected years of hard work finally paying off. “It’s so special here. I love this race track, I love the fans… It’s pretty awesome,” he said, summing up the emotion of breaking one of NASCAR’s longest winless streaks in recent history.
Erik Jones – Darlington 2022 (109 Races)
In 2022, Erik Jones reminded the racing world of his talent with a surprise win at Darlington, ending a 109-race winless streak. Once viewed as a rising star with Joe Gibbs Racing, Jones faced a career reset after moving to Petty GMS Racing, often running mid-pack with limited resources.
But on one of NASCAR’s toughest tracks, Jones and his team executed a near-perfect race. The No. 43 Chevrolet stayed in contention all night, and when it came down to the final laps, Jones fended off former champions to earn a hard-fought victory.
News in Brief: 5 NASCAR Drivers’ Ends Losing Streaks
In recent seasons, five NASCAR Cup Series drivers have broken winless streaks stretching beyond 100 races, proving just how hard it is to reach victory lane at this level. Bubba Wallace’s 2025 Brickyard 400 win ended a 100-race drought and locked him into the playoffs. Brad Keselowski snapped a 110-race streak at Darlington in 2024. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s 2023 Daytona 500 victory came after 199 starts without a win. Chris Buescher claimed a memorable Bristol triumph in 2022 to stop a 222-race slide, while Erik Jones ended a 109-race streak at Darlington that same year.
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