{"id":1514652,"date":"2022-06-14T21:13:04","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T01:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1514652"},"modified":"2022-06-14T21:13:05","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T01:13:05","slug":"3-best-active-drivers-besides-denny-hamlin-seeking-denny-hamlin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/3-best-active-drivers-besides-denny-hamlin-seeking-denny-hamlin\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3 Best Active Drivers Besides Denny Hamlin Seeking Their First NASCAR Cup Series Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every Denny Hamlin<\/a> victory these days is accompanied by a reminder that the 18th<\/sup>-year NASCAR Cup Series<\/a> driver is closing in on both a milestone and a dubious achievement. With two more victories, Hamlin will reach 50 for his career. That will tie him with Junior Johnson for an unwanted distinction: most wins without a series championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamlin has won twice this season and gets 20 more chances to add to his total beginning in two weeks in Nashville. Interestingly, he is 21st<\/sup> in points heading into the Cup Series\u2019 bye week. Thus, the irony would be obvious if he somehow pulled off a championship at Phoenix to conclude the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Short of that, the minority owner of 23XI Racing may have to settle for the same consolation Johnson earned, winning season titles in his role as an owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that as the context, here\u2019s a look at the three best active Cup Series drivers aside from Hamlin still waiting for that first championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Bowman and William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"William
William Byron and crew walk onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway on May 22, 2022. | Buda Mendes\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At this juncture, it\u2019s close to a toss-up as to whether we should be discussing Alex Bowman<\/a> or Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron<\/a> first in the context of best drivers without a NASCAR Cup Series championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bowman, 29, continues to get the nod for now based upon seven career victories. Four of those wins came last season, but Bowman was still an early out in the playoffs and finished 14th<\/sup> in points. Sixth place in the 2020 season is his best finish in the standings, though he\u2019s playoff-bound again this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Byron is coming on quickly, with two victories this year doubling his career total. Though still looking for his first appearance in the Championship 4, Byron is on his way to the playoffs for a fourth straight season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 24 years old, his championship potential is typically spoken of in the context of when rather than if.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n