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2022 Cup Series runners-up still searching for a win
By Pat DeCola | Wednesday, July 6, 2022
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Several prominent NASCAR Cup Series drivers -- all of them former Cup winners -- have found themselves on the second-highest step of the finishing podium this season without quite reaching the top perch. With eight races left in the regular season presenting a chance for a trip to Victory Lane, here are the five drivers who have finished second in 2022 and are still searching to break into the win column, after two-time 2022 runner-up Tyler Reddick broke through at Road America.
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Bubba Wallace
Runner-up finish: Daytona 500
Most recent win: 2021 Talladega-2
Noteworthy: Wallace led 12 laps in this one, which resulted in his second runner-up in the Great American Race and third overall at the track.
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Austin Dillon
Runner-up finish: Wise Power 400 (Auto Club Speedway)
Most recent win: 2020 Texas-1
Noteworthy: Dillon never quite found the front in this race, finishing runner-up to 2021 champ Kyle Larson. He did, however, pick up his first top five at Fontana. They don't hand out playoff spots for top fives, though.
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Kevin Harvick
Runner-up finish: Toyota Owners 400 (Richmond Raceway)
Most recent win: 2020 Bristol Night Race
Noteworthy: Harvick also led no laps here -- and has just 13 on the season halfway through the year -- but race winner Denny Hamlin had just five circuits out front while four others paced the field for 63 or more laps. Reddick's win bumped Harvick below the cutline.
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Austin Dillon
Runner-up finish: GEICO 500 (Talladega Superspeedway)
Most recent win: 2020 Texas-1
Noteworthy: Race-winner Ross Chastain only led one lap -- the most important one -- pushed by Dillon before taking the checkered flag 0.105 seconds ahead of the No. 3 car. It was Dillon's best finish at the track since 2016 and matched his season-best from Fontana earlier in the year.
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Runner-up finish: DuraMax Drydene 400 (Dover Motor Speedway)
Most recent win: 2017 Daytona-2
Noteworthy: Stenhouse was sandwiched between the season's two best drivers in this one, taking second behind Chase Elliott and ahead of Ross Chastain. They led a combined 159 laps to his zero, but Stenhouse already has more top 10s than all of 2021 and could still surprise some with a win.
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Chris Buescher
Runner-up finish: Toyota/Save Mart 350
Most recent win: 2016 Pocono-2
Noteworthy: Buescher has come alive as one of the better road racers in the sport and nearly earned his first win in more than half a decade in this one. Instead it was Daniel Suárez picking up his first career win -- and a coveted provisional playoff spot.
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