First Time Winners

ToyYoda

ToyYoda

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With three first time winners already this year, I was wondering what the record is for most first time winners in a season, and if it might possibly be broken this year. In the modern era, it looks like the record is 5, which has happened on 3 separate occasions (2001, 2002, and 2011)...

2017 - 3 (Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney)

2016 - 2 (Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson)

2015 - 0

2014 - 2 (Aric Almirola, AJ Allmendinger)

2013 - 0

2012 - 0

2011 - 5 (Trevor Bayne, Regan Smith, David Ragan, Paul Menard, Marcos Ambrose)

2010 - 0

2009 - 3 (Brad Keselowski, David Reutimann, Joey Logano)

2008 - 0

2007 - 4 (Casey Mears, Martin Truex, Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya, Clint Bowyer)

2006 - 2 (Denny Hamlin, Brian Vickers)

2005 - 3 (Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch)

2004 - 0

2003 - 1 (Greg Biffle)

2002 - 5 (Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Johnny Benson)

2001 - 5 (Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler, Ricky Craven, Robby Gordon)

2000 - 4 (Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Matt Kenseth, Steve Park, Jerry Nadeau)

1999 - 2 (Tony Stewart, Joe Nemechek)

1998 - 1 (Jeremy Mayfield)

1997 - 2 (Jeff Burton, John Andretti)

1996 - 1 (Bobby Hamilton)

1995 - 2 (Bobby Labonte, Ward Burton)

1994 - 3 (Sterling Marlin, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Spencer)

1993 - 0

1992 - 0

1991 - 1 (Dale Jarrett)

1990 - 3 (Derrike Cope, Brett Bodine, Ernie Irvan)

1989 - 1 (Mark Martin)

1988 - 4 (Lake Speed, Phil Parsons, Ken Schrader, Alan Kulwicki)

1987 - 1 (Davey Allison)

1986 - 3 (Kyle Petty, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Hillin)

1985 - 1 (Greg Sacks)

1984 - 1 (Geoff Bodine)

1983 - 2 (Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott)

1982 - 2 (Harry Gant, Tim Richmond)

1981 - 3 (Morgan Shepherd, Jody Ridley, Ron Bouchard)

1980 - 1 (Terry Labonte)

1979 - 1 (Dale Earnhardt)

1978 - 1 (Lennie Pond)

1977 - 1 (Neil Bonnett)

1976 - 0

1975 - 2 (Darrell Waltrip, Dave Marcis)

1974 - 1 (Earl Ross)

1973 - 2 (Mark Donohue, Dick Brooks)

1972 - 0

As far as if we can get to 6 this year, you'd think Chase Elliott has to win at some point, Erik Jones has been inconsistent but has shown he can run up front, Daniel Suarez is steadily improving, and Ty Dillon has been in the Top 5 in the late stages of a couple races this year. Plus you never know when something fluky could happen like with Buescher at Pocono last year. So it's definitely possible we could get to 6 first-timers in 2017.
 
ToyYoda said:
With three first time winners already this year, I was wondering what the record is for most first time winners in a season, and if it might possibly be broken this year. In the modern era, it looks like the record is 5, which has happened on 3 separate occasions (2001, 2002, and 2011)...

2017 - 3 (Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney)

2016 - 2 (Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson)

2015 - 0

2014 - 2 (Aric Almirola, AJ Allmendinger)

2013 - 0

2012 - 0

2011 - 5 (Trevor Bayne, Regan Smith, David Ragan, Paul Menard, Marcos Ambrose)

2010 - 0

2009 - 3 (Brad Keselowski, David Reutimann, Joey Logano)

2008 - 0

2007 - 4 (Casey Mears, Martin Truex, Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya, Clint Bowyer)

2006 - 2 (Denny Hamlin, Brian Vickers)

2005 - 3 (Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch)

2004 - 0

2003 - 1 (Greg Biffle)

2002 - 5 (Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Johnny Benson)

2001 - 5 (Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler, Ricky Craven, Robby Gordon)

2000 - 4 (Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Matt Kenseth, Steve Park, Jerry Nadeau)

1999 - 2 (Tony Stewart, Joe Nemechek)

1998 - 1 (Jeremy Mayfield)

1997 - 2 (Jeff Burton, John Andretti)

1996 - 1 (Bobby Hamilton)

1995 - 2 (Bobby Labonte, Ward Burton)

1994 - 3 (Sterling Marlin, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Spencer)

1993 - 0

1992 - 0

1991 - 1 (Dale Jarrett)

1990 - 3 (Derrike Cope, Brett Bodine, Ernie Irvan)

1989 - 1 (Mark Martin)

1988 - 4 (Lake Speed, Phil Parsons, Ken Schrader, Alan Kulwicki)

1987 - 1 (Davey Allison)

1986 - 3 (Kyle Petty, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Hillin)

1985 - 1 (Greg Sacks)

1984 - 1 (Geoff Bodine)

1983 - 2 (Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott)

1982 - 2 (Harry Gant, Tim Richmond)

1981 - 3 (Morgan Shepherd, Jody Ridley, Ron Bouchard)

1980 - 1 (Terry Labonte)

1979 - 1 (Dale Earnhardt)

1978 - 1 (Lennie Pond)

1977 - 1 (Neil Bonnett)

1976 - 0

1975 - 2 (Darrell Waltrip, Dave Marcis)

1974 - 1 (Earl Ross)

1973 - 2 (Mark Donohue, Dick Brooks)

1972 - 0

As far as if we can get to 6 this year, you'd think Chase Elliott has to win at some point, Erik Jones has been inconsistent but has shown he can run up front, Daniel Suarez is steadily improving, and Ty Dillon has been in the Top 5 in the late stages of a couple races this year. Plus you never know when something fluky could happen like with Buescher at Pocono last year. So it's definitely possible we could get to 6 first-timers in 2017.
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Looking back to your list as far as 2001 I can pick out the plate and road course winners that have augmented the totals and I don't see any newbie road course winners this year but it would not be surprising to pick up 1 new winner from the remaining 2 plate races. I am confident Jones can win a race before the year is out and I think it is entirely possible that Suarez could too. I would really like to see Elliott win but he has to get rid of the black cloud following him around first.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
Looking back to your list as far as 2001 I can pick out the plate and road course winners that have augmented the totals and I don't see any newbie road course winners this year but it would not be surprising to pick up 1 new winner from the remaining 2 plate races. I am confident Jones can win a race before the year is out and I think it is entirely possible that Suarez could too. I would really like to see Elliott win but he has to get rid of the black cloud following him around first.
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Pretty crazy that there were 14 first time winners between 2000-2002. Some of those were guys that had been in the sport awhile (i.e. Michael Waltrip), but that era was a "changing of the guard" of sorts. We could be entering a similar era now.
 
ToyYoda said:
Pretty crazy that there were 14 first time winners between 2000-2002. Some of those were guys that had been in the sport awhile (i.e. Michael Waltrip), but that era was a "changing of the guard" of sorts. We could be entering a similar era now.
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I agree and with new drivers coming to HMS next year it will only add to the mix.
 
The Honorable Hendrick (Hendricks for our special friends) will be among mere mortals when Johnson 'n Knaus are gone.
 
This weekend is the race I pegged all offseason for Chase.

I'm honestly not sure why he hasn't won yet. His cars have been very fast. I will say that at the most crucial points in races he seems to encounter some sort of adversity. Whether it be a bad pit stop or a caution falling at the wrong time. I mean he was 4 laps from winning the opening race of the Chase last year and Mcdowell blows a tire. Spanks the field at Charlotte last October and has a bad pit stop then gets caught up in someone's restart mess. Takes the lead at Kansas in the 2nd half of the race and blows his own tire. Runs out of fuel with 3 laps left in the 500. Spun by Dinger at Dega this year. Just really really dumb luck. It's extremely frustrating as a fan, I can't imagine how he must feel.
 
(Trevor Bayne, Regan Smith, David Ragan, Paul Menard, Marcos Ambrose)

Yikes.
 
R Clarence said:
The Honorable Hendrick (Hendricks for our special friends) will be among mere mortals when Johnson 'n Knaus are gone.
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It's definitely gonna hurt. Back in the early 00's Hendrick had the good fortune of Jimmie Johnson coming in right about the time Gordon's dominance started tailing off a little. I don't know if he's gonna have that when Jimmie hangs it up. At this point I can't tell if Chase Elliott is gonna be the next Jeff Gordon or if he's gonna be the next Kasey Kahne. Bowman (assuming he gets the 88) is okay, but I don't think he'll ever come close to being a Jeff/Jimmie caliber driver. And it's way too early to tell on William Byron.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
This weekend is the race I pegged all offseason for Chase.

I'm honestly not sure why he hasn't won yet. His cars have been very fast. I will say that at the most crucial points in races he seems to encounter some sort of adversity. Whether it be a bad pit stop or a caution falling at the wrong time. I mean he was 4 laps from winning the opening race of the Chase last year and Mcdowell blows a tire. Spanks the field at Charlotte last October and has a bad pit stop then gets caught up in someone's restart mess. Takes the lead at Kansas in the 2nd half of the race and blows his own tire. Runs out of fuel with 3 laps left in the 500. Spun by Dinger at Dega this year. Just really really dumb luck. It's extremely frustrating as a fan, I can't imagine how he must feel.
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It is the black cloud thing.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
This weekend is the race I pegged all offseason for Chase.

I'm honestly not sure why he hasn't won yet. His cars have been very fast. I will say that at the most crucial points in races he seems to encounter some sort of adversity. Whether it be a bad pit stop or a caution falling at the wrong time. I mean he was 4 laps from winning the opening race of the Chase last year and Mcdowell blows a tire. Spanks the field at Charlotte last October and has a bad pit stop then gets caught up in someone's restart mess. Takes the lead at Kansas in the 2nd half of the race and blows his own tire. Runs out of fuel with 3 laps left in the 500. Spun by Dinger at Dega this year. Just really really dumb luck. It's extremely frustrating as a fan, I can't imagine how he must feel.
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Jeff Gordon finished second 8 times in 2014. The car is cursed.
 
ToyYoda said:
It's definitely gonna hurt. Back in the early 00's Hendrick had the good fortune of Jimmie Johnson coming in right about the time Gordon's dominance started tailing off a little. I don't know if he's gonna have that when Jimmie hangs it up. At this point I can't tell if Chase Elliott is gonna be the next Jeff Gordon or if he's gonna be the next Kasey Kahne. Bowman (assuming he gets the 88) is okay, but I don't think he'll ever come close to being a Jeff/Jimmie caliber driver. And it's way too early to tell on William Byron.
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It is so difficult to know what kind of series these young bucks will be driving in as there could be half a dozen stages per race, shortened or timed races or even a reduced schedule or completely different cars. What I am trying to say is that tomorrow's drivers may be shooting for an entirely different benchmark that renders comparisons to different eras moot.
 
ReturnTrip said:
Jeff Gordon finished second 8 times in 2014. The car is cursed.
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I actually forgot all about that stat. Shoulda been his year.

Chase's numbers are exactly why I couldn't get behind the Blaney adoration yesterday. He's got twice as many top 5's and 10 more top 10's in 23 fewer races. As the bitter fan that I am, I hate seeing all these first time winners not named Elliott lol.
 
4 top 5's out of 14 races, and in 6th place? That is a good record in my book Elliott is only in part of his second full year. Blaney has 13 more cup races under his belt. Give Elliott 13 more shots at it. Who knows he might pull one off. Larson had almost three years of races before he won a race. I like Jones a whole 17 races in cup and a top 5 and 3 top 10's
 
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Heh, heh, heh.....

I guess that changes everything. Elliott for the win by 'higan II!
 
AdoubleU24 said:
I actually forgot all about that stat. Shoulda been his year.

Chase's numbers are exactly why I couldn't get behind the Blaney adoration yesterday. He's got twice as many top 5's and 10 more top 10's in 23 fewer races. As the bitter fan that I am, I hate seeing all these first time winners not named Elliott lol.
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Elliott's driving numbers are phenomenal but he isn't Mr personality. He needs to work on that sponsor stuff smile more.
 
All this angst over Chase Elliott. He will be fine. He'll get a win sooner or later. It took Kyle Larson a couple years to win.

Hendrick as a team has a lot of work to do. Other than the 48 stealing a couple races late, the performance just hasn't been there this season. The 5 and 88 are out to lunch. The 48 is checkers or wreckers. The 24 has had bad luck, but hasn't shown the overall speed they had last year.

Something tells me they will get it turned around.
 
StandOnIt said:
Elliott's driving numbers are phenomenal but he isn't Mr personality. He needs to work on that sponsor stuff smile more.
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True. It may come, I just think he's generally a low key kind of guy.

Also, I was incorrect, he's only got 13 fewer starts.
 
13 is a lot of races if you have Elliott's stats, just like Pocono , his experience got him a good finish, he worked his brakes and got a good result.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
I actually forgot all about that stat. Shoulda been his year.

Chase's numbers are exactly why I couldn't get behind the Blaney adoration yesterday. He's got twice as many top 5's and 10 more top 10's in 23 fewer races. As the bitter fan that I am, I hate seeing all these first time winners not named Elliott lol.
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Why not both bruh?

I think Blaney has had a little better luck than Elliott as of late. Chase has had hotrods but been bit my **** crucial pit stops. He's uber consistent & with the points formatted the way it is now he will benefit greatly in the long run - win or no win. Hold strong, mate!

In the meantime revel in the Blaney victory! :D
 
ToyYoda said:
2001 - 5 (Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler, Ricky Craven, Robby Gordon)
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All five of these were classics too.

Michael Waltrip's win in a thrilling Daytona 500, but overshadowed by the death of Dale Earnhardt.

Kevin Harvick beating Jeff Gordon in a photofinish in Atlanta.

Elliott Sadler in the Wood Brothers 21 holding off John Andretti in the Petty Enterprises 43 at Bristol.

Ricky Craven edging Dale Jarrett in a Monday matinee.

Robby Gordon getting the best of Jeff Gordon in the season finale at Loudon.

2001 was my favorite season by a long shot. Just about every race was good and it seemed like it came down to the last lap close to every week. But that season will always be overshadowed by Dale Earnhardt dying. Not to mention, it was something I could watch to get away from "life" for a few hours a week (home life sucked, school sucked, 9/11 blah blah blah, ****** miserable year all around).

ToyYoda said:
2002 - 5 (Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Johnny Benson)
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Jimmie Johnson's first win, same day, same hour actually, that an F5 tornado tore through downtown La Plata.



Johnny Benson's first win at Rockingham ... guess who finished second in that race? :mad:

Another ****** year Mark Martin should've won the ****** championship but he and Jimmie Johnson crashed in pre-race at ****** Talladega because of course. But I ain't mad or anything. :mad:
 
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Ty Dillon, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, and Chase Elliott are all realistic possibilities. So is Alex Bowman if he needs to be a relief driver for a few races. Then there's also the chance of a back-marker sneaking in a win at Daytona or Talladega like Patrick, McDowell, Gaulding, or someone else.
 
Some things are out of your hands but to blame LUCK both good or bad is just wrong. Bad luck for a poor pit stop? NO it is all about the people. Again bad luck for a gun to be in the wrong direction? NO an over confident operator who hit all five lug nuts with out knowing.
You make your own luck, but as driver you are at the mercy of the whole pit crew.
 
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