Competing as a part-time driver was quite common within the early years of NASCAR, with drivers even profitable championships with out committing to the complete season-long schedule.
However because the years glided by and the game moved into the fashionable age, the probabilities of a part-time driver prevailing on the prime degree of the game turned more and more uncommon. It did not occur in any respect within the Nineties, and because the flip of the twenty first century, it is solely occurred 9 occasions.
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At Naval Base Coronado in San Diego final weekend, Corey Heim turned the latest, and the primary since SVG did it three years in the past. However who else has proven up as a part-time driver and captured a checkered flag over the previous 25 years of NASCAR Cup racing, and the way did they do it? Let’s have a look…
Corey Heim – 2026 San Diego Avenue Course
Watch: Heim takes late lead, wins at Coronado
Making simply his thirteenth profession begin and his sixth of the 2026 season, the 2025 NASCAR Truck Sequence champion was driving a fourth, unchartered entry for 23XI Racing. He certified thirteenth, however did not lead a single lap till he handed championship-leading teammate Tyler Reddick with three laps to go. He even bounced off the wall as the 2 made contact, however then drove off to a ten.3 second win over teammate Bubba Wallace as Reddick fell out of rivalry with a flat tire.
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After the win: Heim has already secured a full-time journey with 23XI Racing for the 2027 season, changing Riley Herbst on the Cup degree, and he nonetheless has a handful of begins remaining this 12 months. His subsequent look might be at Chicagoland Speedway.
Shane van Gisbergen — 2023 Chicago Avenue Course
Watch: ‘That is what you dream of’: Shane van Gisbergen wins debut race
The three-time Supercars champion was making his NASCAR Cup debut with Trackhouse’s Mission 91 program, which is a part-time unchartered entry the group makes use of to deliver worldwide racing stars to NASCAR. Kimi Raikkonen had pushed it earlier than SVG, whereas Helio Castroneves and Kevin Magnussen did so later. Van Gisbergen arrived on the scene at an all-new road course and instantly had the tempo to win. In moist circumstances, he excelled, and even after getting on the unsuitable finish of the technique sport, he surged from 18th to first within the ultimate 30 laps of the race, profitable the inaugural occasion. He was the primary driver in over 60 years to win a Cup race on debut.
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After the win: SVG left his profession in Supercars behind and moved to america after his huge win, turning into a full-time NASCAR driver for Trackhouse. He has since shattered a number of information on highway and road programs with a number of wins, and even earned Rookie of the 12 months honors in 2025. SVG is now the winningest foreign-born driver in NASCAR historical past. He has tailored to ovals shortly as effectively, lately incomes his first oval prime 5 on the Cup degree.
AJ Allmendinger — 2021 Indianapolis Highway Course
Watch: Allmendinger: ‘We simply received at Indy … let’s go!’
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Allmendinger has been out and in of the Cup Sequence a number of occasions all through his profession. He discovered a resurgence with Kaulig Racing just a few years in the past, and was competing full-time for them within the NASCAR O’Reilly Sequence in 2021. He additionally ran a handful of Cup races for the group, and in his fourth of 5 begins that 12 months, he triumphed over the sector. Competing on the Indy RC, he restarted third in extra time, which ended up being the right place. Chase Briscoe lower the course and was dealing with a penalty, however he additionally spun out Denny Hamlin in retaliation for pushing him off target, which opened the door for Allmendinger. It was his first Cup win since 2014, and the first-ever Cup win for Kaulig Racing.
After the win: Allmendinger received one other Cup race for Kaulig on the Charlotte Roval in 2023, and 18 NASCAR O’Reilly races as effectively. He’s nonetheless racing full-time in Cup and is solidly prime 20 within the championship standings proper now, and is about to cross the five hundred profession begins mark at Sonoma Raceway.
Justin Haley — 2019 Daytona Worldwide Speedway
Making his third-ever Cup begin with Spire Motorsports, Haley stayed out as others pitted beneath warning through the summer season Daytona race. Quickly after, the rain began pouring down, and he was declared the race winner in a surprising upset. He began thirty fourth and led only one lap. It was Haley’s solely win within the Cup Sequence, and the primary for Spire as a then-new group on the grid.
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After the win: Haley raced in Cup full-time for a number of years after that, however did not discover a lot success. He additionally raced full-time within the NASCAR O’Reilly Sequence, profitable 4 races with Kaulig and putting as excessive as third within the championship. He now competes full-time in Vehicles for Kaulig and Ram.
Brian Vickers — 2013 New Hampshire Motor SpeedwayRace winner Brian Vickers, Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
Race winner Brian Vickers, Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
Driving for Michael Waltrip Racing, Vickers shared the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine with veteran Mark Martin. Making his eighth begin of the 12 months within the Spherical #19 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, he took the lead for the primary time with 16 laps to go and by no means relinquished it. He handed Tony Stewart and by no means appeared again, securing what could be the ultimate Cup win for each Vickers and MWR.
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After the win: Whereas MWR shut down a few years later, Vickers was pressured to finish his profession early attributable to recurring blood clots, requiring him to go on blood thinners. He ended his profession with 323 Cup begins and three victories.
Trevor Bayne — 2011 working of the Daytona 500Race winner Trevor Bayne, Wooden Brothers Racing Ford celebrates along with his group
Race winner Trevor Bayne, Wooden Brothers Racing Ford celebrates along with his group
Bayne ran 17 races for the Wooden Brothers through the 2011 season, and was making his first begin of the 12 months (and second ever) within the sport’s greatest race. At some point after his twentieth birthday, he drove the enduring No. 21 to its fifth Daytona 500 victory, and the group’s first since 1976! It was additionally the group’s first win in any Cup race in a few decade. He did it with a useful push from Bobby Labonte, and held off a charging Carl Edwards within the ultimate seconds of the race.
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After the win: Bayne went on to start out virtually 200 Cup races, however by no means returned to Victory Lane. He did acquire two victories within the NASCAR O’Reilly Sequence after that, and nowadays, typically seems as an analyst and reporter for NASCAR broadcasts.
Brad Keselowski — 2009 Talladega Superspeedway
Throughout the 2009 season, the then-rising star began 15 races with each James Finch and Hendrick Motorsports. Making his third begin of the 12 months at Talladega, he was pushing Carl Edwards in a tandem draft with the duo of Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. shut behind him. In some of the memorable finishes in Talladega historical past, Keselowski made his transfer to the within with the checkered flag in sight, and whereas Edwards tried to dam, Keselowski didn’t again down. Edwards spun throughout his nostril, went absolutely airborne, and flipped into the skin fence. Keselowski earned his first-career win in a shocking upset, and the one victory ever for Finch as a Cup Sequence group proprietor.
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After the win: Keselowski went on to grow to be probably the most profitable driver on this checklist, profitable 36 Cup races, and the 2012 NASCAR Cup Sequence championship. He additionally received the 2010 NASCAR O’Reilly title, amassing 39 profession wins there, and one Truck win as effectively. He at present competes as a driver/proprietor at RFK Racing with over 600 profession Cup begins.
Jamie McMurray — 2002 Charlotte Motor SpeedwayJamie McMurray with group proprietor Chip Ganassi
Jamie McMurray with group proprietor Chip Ganassi
Throughout the 2002 season, McMurray stuffed in for an injured Sterling Marlin at Chip Ganassi Racing. Making simply his second profession begin at Charlotte Motor Speedway late within the season, he certified fifth. He went on to guide probably the most laps (96), keeping off a charging Bobby Labonte to seize the checkered flag.
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After the win: McMurray went on to have a profitable profession after that, beginning 584 Cup races and profitable seven occasions. These victories contains crown jewel triumphs within the 2010 Daytona 500, and the 2010 Brickyard 400 with Ganassi. He’s a winner in any respect three nationwide ranges as effectively, and now works as a driver analyst for NASCAR broadcasts.
Robby Gordon — 2001 New Hampshire Motor SpeedwayRace winner Robby Gordon
Race winner Robby Gordon
Gordon changed an injured Mike Skinner at Richard Childress Racing through the 2001 season. He made a complete of 17 begins that 12 months for 3 completely different groups, and earned his first win within the ultimate race of the season at NHMS. The race was imagined to happen earlier in September, however was rescheduled as a result of 9/11 terrorist assaults, and Gordon emerged victorious for RCR after beginning deep within the subject. Battling Jeff Gordon (no relation) for the win, he took the lead after knocking JG right into a lapped automobile. Jeff Gordon confirmed his displeasure beneath warning, whereas Robby went on to seize the checkered flag.
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After the win: Robby Gordon began virtually 400 Cup races, profitable 3 times. He additionally received within the NASCAR O’Reilly Sequence, and is an open-wheel race winner in CART as effectively. Robby truly tried the Indy 500/Coke 600 Double greater than any driver in historical past, and took half in ten Indianapolis 500s with a number of top-five finishes. He has made a number of begins within the Dakar Rally through the years, and can be the founding father of Stadium Tremendous Vehicles off-road racing collection.
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