5 Winless NASCAR Drivers Poised For A Breakthrough

By Ryan Pritt

5 Drivers Due For A Breakthrough

NASCAR Win Breakthrough Dale Earnhardt Jr. — Matt Kenseth picked up his first win of the season and punched a ticket into the Chase with a win at Bristol on Sunday night. Here are five NASCAR drivers who will be the next to visit victory lane.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

NASCAR win Dale Earnhardt Jr.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

NASCAR win Dale Earnhardt Jr. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. has four top fives in eight races this year and a sixth-place finish at California on top of those. Still, his best tracks lie ahead in the summer months with two visits to Pocono, where Junior won twice last year, two stops at Michigan and a return to Daytona. His consistency would probably get him into the Chase anyway, but look for at least one win from Junior before the fall.

4. Carl Edwards

NASCAR win Carl Edwards

4. Carl Edwards

NASCAR win Carl Edwards — Carl Edwards probably needs a win more than Junior. Edwards is currently 15th in points, on the Chase bubble and though the speed has been there most of the season, the finishes have not as he has just one top 10. Still, with wins from teammates Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth at Martinsville and Bristol, Joe Gibbs has shown muscle at short tracks where Edwards feels right at home. Watch out for Edwards at Richmond this week.

3. Martin Truex Jr.

NASCAR win Martin Truex Jr.

3. Martin Truex Jr.

NASCAR win Martin Truex Jr. — Martin Truex Jr. finally ran into some trouble at Bristol and recorded a finish outside of the top 10 for the first time all season. Truex has been fast all year, but maybe not winning fast. Of all the guys on this list, he seems the least likely to power to a win, so he may have to get creative with pit strategy or gas mileage. Still, anyone who runs up front as much as Truex has this year will eventually luck into a victory.

2. Kurt Busch

NASCAR win Kurt Busch

2. Kurt Busch

NASCAR win Kurt Busch — Kurt Busch has been nothing but bad fast since making his debut at Phoenix in the season's third race. He's already raced his way up to 22nd in points and along with teammate Kevin Harvick, has one of the best cars consistently week in and week out. With Busch, it feels much more like a case of when rather than if, and when should be much sooner than later.

1. Jeff Gordon

NASCAR win Jeff Gordon

1. Jeff Gordon

NASCAR win Jeff Gordon — After a rough start, Jeff Gordon has top 10s in his last five races, and in the last four he's gone 10th, ninth, seventh and third -- obviously he's trending in the right direction. Gordon is the sentimental favorite in this his last full-time season, and that's probably a lot of pressure to carry. His breakthrough could happen at any track on the circuit, and that kind of versatility makes him the biggest threat on this list.

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