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2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Recap: Non-Playoff Drivers
By Steve Luvender | Published: December 11, 2017 23
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The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season was a thrilling one. Here's NASCAR.com's Steve Luvender's recap for each of the non-playoff drivers.
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DNR: Corey LaJoie
Thumbs Up: Earned sponsorship from a company called Fresh Beards due to his luscious beard.
Thumbs Down: Had a rough start to the season, tearing up some cars.
2018 Prediction: Even though LaJoie ran the full season, he didn’t declare for Monster Energy Series points. He’ll try to see if he can get away with racing without those bright yellow rookie stripes on the back of his cars in 2018.
Thumbs Up: Earned sponsorship from a company called Fresh Beards due to his luscious beard.
Thumbs Down: Had a rough start to the season, tearing up some cars.
2018 Prediction: Even though LaJoie ran the full season, he didn’t declare for Monster Energy Series points. He’ll try to see if he can get away with racing without those bright yellow rookie stripes on the back of his cars in 2018.
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37th: Derrike Cope
Thumbs Up: His Darlington paint scheme was a throwback to himself — something few drivers can do.
Thumbs Down: Didn’t claim a top-30 finish, but there’s always next year.
2018 Prediction: Derrike Cope returns with his new team, StarCom Racing, to chase that elusive top-30 finish.
Thumbs Up: His Darlington paint scheme was a throwback to himself — something few drivers can do.
Thumbs Down: Didn’t claim a top-30 finish, but there’s always next year.
2018 Prediction: Derrike Cope returns with his new team, StarCom Racing, to chase that elusive top-30 finish.
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36th: Jeffrey Earnhardt
Thumbs Up: Probably gets a free Hulu account thanks to his sponsor.
Thumbs Down: 14 DNFs seems like more than ideal.
2018 Prediction: Jeffrey will finally be the best Earnhardt in Cup.
Thumbs Up: Probably gets a free Hulu account thanks to his sponsor.
Thumbs Down: 14 DNFs seems like more than ideal.
2018 Prediction: Jeffrey will finally be the best Earnhardt in Cup.
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35th: Reed Sorenson
Thumbs Up: He led a lap at Phoenix in the spring, which is more laps than Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne led combined in 2016.
Thumbs Down: Reed probably saw Martin Truex Jr.’s car more than anybody else — but not racing for position.
2018 Prediction: Reed Sorenson will make the playoffs easily and win the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup.
Thumbs Up: He led a lap at Phoenix in the spring, which is more laps than Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne led combined in 2016.
Thumbs Down: Reed probably saw Martin Truex Jr.’s car more than anybody else — but not racing for position.
2018 Prediction: Reed Sorenson will make the playoffs easily and win the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup.
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34th: Gray Gaulding
Thumbs Up: Completed his rookie campaign and even scored a top-10 finish in the Talladega playoff race.
Thumbs Down: That's about it.
2018 Prediction: Gray’s sponsors have included Krispy Kreme, Dr. Pepper, and SweetFrog. My prediction is that the dentists find at least one cavity.
Thumbs Up: Completed his rookie campaign and even scored a top-10 finish in the Talladega playoff race.
Thumbs Down: That's about it.
2018 Prediction: Gray’s sponsors have included Krispy Kreme, Dr. Pepper, and SweetFrog. My prediction is that the dentists find at least one cavity.
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33rd: Cole Whitt
Thumbs Up: I will invoke my right to decline to answer this question in accordance with the rights guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the United States constitution.
Thumbs Down: Suffered nine DNFs, including five due to engine failures.
2018 Prediction: Cole Whitt gets everybody on his list a cooler for Christmas. Sponsor perks.
Thumbs Up: I will invoke my right to decline to answer this question in accordance with the rights guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the United States constitution.
Thumbs Down: Suffered nine DNFs, including five due to engine failures.
2018 Prediction: Cole Whitt gets everybody on his list a cooler for Christmas. Sponsor perks.
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32nd: Matt DiBenedetto
Thumbs Up: Scored top-10 finishes in the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 with a car that’s not often found running in the Top 10.
Thumbs Down: 'Jersey Shore' reunion might impact his racing schedule.
2018 Prediction: Matt DiBurrito gets a million upvotes on Reddit.
Thumbs Up: Scored top-10 finishes in the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 with a car that’s not often found running in the Top 10.
Thumbs Down: 'Jersey Shore' reunion might impact his racing schedule.
2018 Prediction: Matt DiBurrito gets a million upvotes on Reddit.
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31st: Landon Cassill
Thumbs Up: Managed to successfully elude rabid fans looking for him at Love’s Travel Stops across the country for an entire season.
Thumbs Down: Didn’t draft with Dale Jr. in Junior’s final start at Talladega and earned the ire of Junior Nation.
2018 Prediction: Landon secures a ride for 2018 once a sponsor thirsty for retweets realizes they’ve found their guy.
Thumbs Up: Managed to successfully elude rabid fans looking for him at Love’s Travel Stops across the country for an entire season.
Thumbs Down: Didn’t draft with Dale Jr. in Junior’s final start at Talladega and earned the ire of Junior Nation.
2018 Prediction: Landon secures a ride for 2018 once a sponsor thirsty for retweets realizes they’ve found their guy.
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30th: David Ragan
Thumbs Up: Scored three top-10 finishes at restrictor plate tracks. He can see the air.
Thumbs Down: Tommy Regan made his Monster Energy Series debut in 2017, just when Ragan thought naming confusion with Regan Smith was done.
2018 Prediction: Ragan scores another plate track top 10, as he does.
Thumbs Up: Scored three top-10 finishes at restrictor plate tracks. He can see the air.
Thumbs Down: Tommy Regan made his Monster Energy Series debut in 2017, just when Ragan thought naming confusion with Regan Smith was done.
2018 Prediction: Ragan scores another plate track top 10, as he does.
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29th: Aric Almirola
Thumbs Up: Nabbed three top-five finishes, all at restrictor plate tracks.
Thumbs Down: Took an unexpected summer vacation after a back injury.
2018 Prediction: Aric Almirola moves to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2018 with sponsorship from Smithfield Foods, which makes him Tony Stewart’s favorite driver.
Thumbs Up: Nabbed three top-five finishes, all at restrictor plate tracks.
Thumbs Down: Took an unexpected summer vacation after a back injury.
2018 Prediction: Aric Almirola moves to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2018 with sponsorship from Smithfield Foods, which makes him Tony Stewart’s favorite driver.
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28th: Danica Patrick
Thumbs Up: Scored a top-10 finish at Dover.
Thumbs Down: 10 DNFs due to crashes, nearly all from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s some seriously bad luck.
2018 Prediction: Danica announced 2017 was her final full-time season, which is a bummer. She’ll be back for the Daytona 500, though, at a track where she’ll nab her third top-10 finish.
Thumbs Up: Scored a top-10 finish at Dover.
Thumbs Down: 10 DNFs due to crashes, nearly all from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s some seriously bad luck.
2018 Prediction: Danica announced 2017 was her final full-time season, which is a bummer. She’ll be back for the Daytona 500, though, at a track where she’ll nab her third top-10 finish.
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27th: A.J. Allmendinger
Thumbs Up: Collected five top-10 finishes, which is as many top 10s as the three drivers ahead of him in points.
Thumbs Down: No road course wins this year.
2018 Prediction: The guy sponsored by groceries gets invited to all the team parties and potlucks.
Thumbs Up: Collected five top-10 finishes, which is as many top 10s as the three drivers ahead of him in points.
Thumbs Down: No road course wins this year.
2018 Prediction: The guy sponsored by groceries gets invited to all the team parties and potlucks.
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26th: Michael McDowell
Thumbs Up: Completed the most laps out of anyone in the series — including all the playoff drivers.
Thumbs Down: Apparently that wasn’t enough for him to keep his job.
2018 Prediction: McD doesn’t send a holiday card to the Kahne residence.
Thumbs Up: Completed the most laps out of anyone in the series — including all the playoff drivers.
Thumbs Down: Apparently that wasn’t enough for him to keep his job.
2018 Prediction: McD doesn’t send a holiday card to the Kahne residence.
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25th: Chris Buescher
Thumbs Up: Started his tenure with a new team with four top 10s.
Thumbs Down: People still call him James.
2018 Prediction: Buescher continues to climb the rankings and wisely avoids challenging team owner Brad Daugherty to a game of H-O-R-S-E.
Thumbs Up: Started his tenure with a new team with four top 10s.
Thumbs Down: People still call him James.
2018 Prediction: Buescher continues to climb the rankings and wisely avoids challenging team owner Brad Daugherty to a game of H-O-R-S-E.
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24th: Ty Dillon
Thumbs Up: Almost won a race at Dover.
Thumbs Down: Didn’t win a race at Dover.
2018 Prediction: With a new crew chief at the helm, the younger Dillon will either do better, worse, or the same as 2017. Really going out on a limb with that prediction.
Thumbs Up: Almost won a race at Dover.
Thumbs Down: Didn’t win a race at Dover.
2018 Prediction: With a new crew chief at the helm, the younger Dillon will either do better, worse, or the same as 2017. Really going out on a limb with that prediction.
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23rd: Paul Menard
Thumbs Up: Had a better season than 2016.
Thumbs Down: Not by much.
2018 Prediction: Paul Menard will start his 400th race next season with a new team — Wood Brothers Racing. He’s REALLY excited, as you can tell by his expression.
Thumbs Up: Had a better season than 2016.
Thumbs Down: Not by much.
2018 Prediction: Paul Menard will start his 400th race next season with a new team — Wood Brothers Racing. He’s REALLY excited, as you can tell by his expression.
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22nd: Trevor Bayne
Thumbs Up: Contended for a spot in the playoffs early in the season.
Thumbs Down: It’s probably better to contend for a playoffs spot later in the season.
2018 Prediction: The entire Roush Fenway Racing 2018 driver lineup has only won races at restrictor plate tracks in their careers. Maybe there’s something to that.
Thumbs Up: Contended for a spot in the playoffs early in the season.
Thumbs Down: It’s probably better to contend for a playoffs spot later in the season.
2018 Prediction: The entire Roush Fenway Racing 2018 driver lineup has only won races at restrictor plate tracks in their careers. Maybe there’s something to that.
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21st: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Thumbs Up: Finished out his 2017 season starting all the races and finally making it to the end of his illustrious full-time career.
Thumbs Down: Finished out his 2017 season starting all the races and finally making it to the end of his illustrious full-time career.
2018 Prediction: Even though Junior’s not racing in 2018, the fans will find a way to try to write his name in the Most Popular Driver ballot.
Thumbs Up: Finished out his 2017 season starting all the races and finally making it to the end of his illustrious full-time career.
Thumbs Down: Finished out his 2017 season starting all the races and finally making it to the end of his illustrious full-time career.
2018 Prediction: Even though Junior’s not racing in 2018, the fans will find a way to try to write his name in the Most Popular Driver ballot.
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20th: Daniel Suarez
Thumbs Up: Had a successful rookie campaign after unexpectedly inheriting the No. 19 car — even winning a stage at Watkins Glen.
Thumbs Down: Finished runner-up in Rookie of the Year to his new teammate, Erik Jones.
2018 Prediction: When Suarez wins a race in 2018, fans will wonder why he didn’t do a backflip.
Thumbs Up: Had a successful rookie campaign after unexpectedly inheriting the No. 19 car — even winning a stage at Watkins Glen.
Thumbs Down: Finished runner-up in Rookie of the Year to his new teammate, Erik Jones.
2018 Prediction: When Suarez wins a race in 2018, fans will wonder why he didn’t do a backflip.
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19th: Erik Jones
Thumbs Up: Won Rookie of the Year honors — for the third time in his third series.
Thumbs Down: His teammate won eight races and the championship — exciting for the organization, but competitors like Erik Jones probably want all the success for themselves.
2018 Prediction: Erik Jones puts something in the “W” column, the first Jones to do so since Parnelli Jones in 1967.
Thumbs Up: Won Rookie of the Year honors — for the third time in his third series.
Thumbs Down: His teammate won eight races and the championship — exciting for the organization, but competitors like Erik Jones probably want all the success for themselves.
2018 Prediction: Erik Jones puts something in the “W” column, the first Jones to do so since Parnelli Jones in 1967.
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18th: Clint Bowyer
Thumbs Up: Improved over his 2016 season, which wasn’t much of a bar — but if you set your expectations low, you can’t be disappointed.
Thumbs Down: Well, butter my biscuit. Clint still hasn’t won a race since the Gen 6 race car debuted in 2013.
2018 Prediction: Bowyer continues to build momentum and puts the No. 14 back into Victory Lane, where it’s visited a time or two in the past.
Thumbs Up: Improved over his 2016 season, which wasn’t much of a bar — but if you set your expectations low, you can’t be disappointed.
Thumbs Down: Well, butter my biscuit. Clint still hasn’t won a race since the Gen 6 race car debuted in 2013.
2018 Prediction: Bowyer continues to build momentum and puts the No. 14 back into Victory Lane, where it’s visited a time or two in the past.
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17th: Joey Logano
Thumbs Up: In terms of top-five and top-10 finishes, he was one of the nine best drivers this season.
Thumbs Down: Came up one spot short of sweeping Richmond races and earning a spot in the playoffs, but didn’t quite make it.
2018 Prediction: Logano doesn’t even squint an eye at his tough breaks in 2017 and rebounds handily — as a new father, too.
Thumbs Up: In terms of top-five and top-10 finishes, he was one of the nine best drivers this season.
Thumbs Down: Came up one spot short of sweeping Richmond races and earning a spot in the playoffs, but didn’t quite make it.
2018 Prediction: Logano doesn’t even squint an eye at his tough breaks in 2017 and rebounds handily — as a new father, too.