Most consecutive top-20 finishes to start a Cup Series season

A strong start to the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season saw Chase Elliott join an exclusive club of drivers to start a NASCAR Cup Series season with 16 or more consecutive top-20 finishes. The No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports pilot, however, saw his streak end at 19 races following a 21st-place result at the Chicago Street Course in July 2024.

Take a look at the other drivers who also accomplished this feat throughout NASCAR history.

Lee Petty, 1959

Best finish: 1st
Worst finish: 17th
Consecutive races with top-20 finish to start season: 24

Buddy Arrington, 1982 

Best finish: 8th
Worst finish: 16th
Consecutive races with top-20 finish to start season: 16

Dale Earnhardt, 1987

Best finish: 1st
Worst finish: 20th
Consecutive races with top-20 finish to start season: 22

Bill Elliott, 1988

Best finish: 1st
Worst finish: 19th
Consecutive races with top-20 finish to start season: 29*

*Only driver to accomplish this feat for an entire Cup Series season.

Ricky Rudd, 1991

Best finish: 1st
Worst finish: 20th
Consecutive races with top-20 finish to start season: 25

Jeff Burton, 2008

Best finish: 1st
Worst finish: 15th
Consecutive races with top-20 finish to start season: 17

Kevin Harvick, 2016

Best finish: 1st
Worst finish: 17th
Consecutive races with top-20 finish to start season: 16

Chase Elliott, 2024 

Best finish: 1st
Worst finish: 19th
Consecutive races with top-20 finish to start season: 19