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Cubs vs. Indians and long NASCAR droughts
By NASCAR.com | Published: October 28, 2016 7
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@KurtBusch
The Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians both ended World Series appearance droughts, but it was Cubs fans who ended up celebrating. It had been 71 years since the Cubs even played in a World Series (losing to the Detroit Tigers in 1945) and 19 years since the Indians competed in the Fall Classic.
Kurt Busch is one of NASCAR's biggest Cubs fans, and he's competing for the biggest trophy of all this year, too, as a Round of 8 contender in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Kurt has a notable drought in that he is 0-for-63 at points-paying restrictor-plate races (Daytona, Talladega). NASCAR.com looks at other active droughts in the sport.
Kurt Busch is one of NASCAR's biggest Cubs fans, and he's competing for the biggest trophy of all this year, too, as a Round of 8 contender in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Kurt has a notable drought in that he is 0-for-63 at points-paying restrictor-plate races (Daytona, Talladega). NASCAR.com looks at other active droughts in the sport.
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Danica's winless streak
Danica Patrick was rooting for the Cubs to pull of their first World Series victory since 1908. The Indians last won the World Series in 1948, well before teams started earning the Commissioner's Trophy, which features flags from all of the American League and National League teams.
Danica would like to take home a race trophy herself, ending her drought of 151 NASCAR Sprint Cup races without a win. Danica's significant other, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is winless in 145 Sprint Cup starts.
Danica Patrick was rooting for the Cubs to pull of their first World Series victory since 1908. The Indians last won the World Series in 1948, well before teams started earning the Commissioner's Trophy, which features flags from all of the American League and National League teams.
Danica would like to take home a race trophy herself, ending her drought of 151 NASCAR Sprint Cup races without a win. Danica's significant other, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is winless in 145 Sprint Cup starts.
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Two to go for Kyle
Kyle Busch has 26 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Sprint Cup Series, but not a win yet. Pocono, where he has 24 starts, is the only other current premier series track where the 2015 champion remains winless.
Busch has eight wins at Charlotte in the XFINITY Series and six in the Camping World Truck Series as well as a Truck victory at Pocono.
Kyle Busch has 26 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Sprint Cup Series, but not a win yet. Pocono, where he has 24 starts, is the only other current premier series track where the 2015 champion remains winless.
Busch has eight wins at Charlotte in the XFINITY Series and six in the Camping World Truck Series as well as a Truck victory at Pocono.
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Junior's marathon dream
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have a circle around May 28, 2017 when he gets back in the No. 88 Chevrolet in February after recovering from concussion-like symptoms. He never has won the Coca-Cola 600 and often has cited it as one of the races he passionately wants to conquer. In fact, he is winless in 33 points-paying events at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have a circle around May 28, 2017 when he gets back in the No. 88 Chevrolet in February after recovering from concussion-like symptoms. He never has won the Coca-Cola 600 and often has cited it as one of the races he passionately wants to conquer. In fact, he is winless in 33 points-paying events at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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'Smoke' and Daytona
An offseason accident in a dune buggy cost Tony Stewart his last shot at the Daytona 500 as a full-time Sprint Cup Series driver. 'Smoke' is retiring after this season and has won several July races at Daytona. However, he is 0-for-17 in the Daytona 500.
An offseason accident in a dune buggy cost Tony Stewart his last shot at the Daytona 500 as a full-time Sprint Cup Series driver. 'Smoke' is retiring after this season and has won several July races at Daytona. However, he is 0-for-17 in the Daytona 500.
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Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR
Casey's long wait
Among current full-time Sprint Cup drivers, Casey Mears has the longest winless streak. His lone Sprint Cup Series win came in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and he has had 329 starts since. This season, Mears' best finish has been 12th, which he achieved at both the July Daytona race and most recently at Watkins Glen. Other notable winless streaks among full-time drivers: Paul Menard (193), Clint Bowyer (146), Greg Biffle (126), Ryan Newman (121) and Jamie McMurray (109)
Among current full-time Sprint Cup drivers, Casey Mears has the longest winless streak. His lone Sprint Cup Series win came in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and he has had 329 starts since. This season, Mears' best finish has been 12th, which he achieved at both the July Daytona race and most recently at Watkins Glen. Other notable winless streaks among full-time drivers: Paul Menard (193), Clint Bowyer (146), Greg Biffle (126), Ryan Newman (121) and Jamie McMurray (109)
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Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images
So painfully close
David Gilliland finished second in the spring Talladega race in 2013, and it's the closest he's been to Victory Lane this decade. Gilliland has the most Sprint Cup Series starts among active drivers without a win: 332. He also had a second-place finish at Sonoma in 2008. Gilliland's son Todd is moving up through the NASCAR Next program and has seven combined victories this year in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and K&N Pro Series West along with the K&N Pro Series West title.
David Gilliland finished second in the spring Talladega race in 2013, and it's the closest he's been to Victory Lane this decade. Gilliland has the most Sprint Cup Series starts among active drivers without a win: 332. He also had a second-place finish at Sonoma in 2008. Gilliland's son Todd is moving up through the NASCAR Next program and has seven combined victories this year in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and K&N Pro Series West along with the K&N Pro Series West title.