Top 25 Worst NASCAR Seasons by Great Drivers
25. Jeff Gordon – 2008
After nearly winning the 2007 title, Gordon stumbled with 1 win, 13 top-5s, 19 top-10s, a 13.2 average finish, and 7th in points.
24. Richard Petty – 1984
The King went winless for the first time in 23 years, recording 0 wins, 7 top-5s, 13 top-10s, and finishing 10th.
23. Tony Stewart – 2015
A disastrous year saw Stewart post 0 wins, 3 top-10s, a 24.1 average finish, and 28th in points.
22. Jimmie Johnson – 2018
Johnson’s decline began with his first winless season, managing 2 top-5s, 11 top-10s, a 16.7 average finish, and 14th place.
21. Bill Elliott – 1992
Elliott’s 5 wins, 13 top-5s, and runner-up points finish still stung as he collapsed late and lost the title to Alan Kulwicki.
20. Mark Martin – 2004
Martin endured a rare winless season with 0 wins, 10 top-5s, 19 top-10s, and a 14th-place points finish.
19. Rusty Wallace – 2002
Rusty broke his 16-year win streak, going 0-for-36 with 12 top-5s, 20 top-10s, and 7th in points.
18. Kurt Busch – 2012
Driving for Phoenix Racing, Busch slumped with 0 wins, 1 top-5, 3 top-10s, a 25.1 average finish, and 25th in points.
17. Darrell Waltrip – 1990
After a vicious Daytona crash, Waltrip ran just 17 races with 0 wins, 2 top-5s, and 7 top-10s.
16. Matt Kenseth – 2014
Following a 7-win year in 2013, Kenseth shockingly went winless with 13 top-5s, 22 top-10s, and 7th in points.
15. Terry Labonte – 1999
Injuries derailed Labonte’s season, leaving him with 0 wins, 1 top-5, 5 top-10s, and 25th in points.
14. Kevin Harvick – 2009
Harvick had his worst year at RCR with 0 wins, 5 top-5s, 9 top-10s, a 20.3 average finish, and 19th place.
13. Carl Edwards – 2009
After 9 wins in 2008, Edwards went winless with 0 wins, 7 top-5s, 14 top-10s, and 11th in points.
12. Bobby Labonte – 2001
Fresh off his championship, Labonte dropped off with 2 wins, 9 top-5s, 20 top-10s, and a 6th-place points finish.
11. Kyle Busch – 2014
Despite making the Chase, Busch struggled with 1 win, 9 top-5s, 15 top-10s, and a 12th-place finish.
10. Denny Hamlin – 2013
Hamlin’s Fontana crash left him missing 4 races, ending with 1 win, 4 top-5s, 8 top-10s, a 23.8 average finish, and 23rd in points.
9. Cale Yarborough – 1981
Far removed from his ’70s dominance, Cale ran part-time with 0 wins, 3 top-5s, 8 top-10s, and 19th in points.
8. Dale Jarrett – 2005
The former champ posted 1 win, 5 top-5s, 8 top-10s, and a 15th-place finish, a shadow of his early-2000s peak.
7. Joey Logano – 2017
His Richmond win was encumbered, officially making him winless with 0 wins, 10 top-5s, 17 top-10s, and missing the playoffs.
6. Kyle Larson – 2020
Larson’s suspension ended his year after just 4 races, where he had 0 wins, 1 top-10, and a 19.5 average finish.
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 2009
In his lowest point at Hendrick, Junior managed 0 wins, 2 top-5s, 9 top-10s, a 20.6 average finish, and 25th in points.
4. David Pearson – 1986
The Silver Fox’s full-time comeback attempt was ugly, with 0 wins, 1 top-5, 4 top-10s, and 22nd in points.
3. Kasey Kahne – 2010
Once a rising star, Kahne flopped with 0 wins, 6 top-5s, 9 top-10s, and a 20th-place points finish before leaving RPM.
2. Bobby Allison – 1988
After his Pocono crash, Allison’s season ended with 0 wins and just 2 starts, effectively ending his Hall of Fame career.
1. Dale Earnhardt – 1992
The Intimidator’s worst full season saw 1 win, 8 top-5s, 15 top-10s, a 14.2 average finish, and 12th in points, a far cry from his 7 championships.
