Competing as a part-time driver was quite common within the early years of NASCAR, with drivers even successful championships with out committing to the total season-long schedule.
However because the years glided by and the game moved into the fashionable age, the possibilities of a part-time driver prevailing on the high degree of the game grew to become more and more uncommon. It did not occur in any respect within the Nineteen Nineties, and because the flip of the twenty first century, it is solely occurred 9 instances.
At Naval Base Coronado in San Diego final weekend, Corey Heim grew to become the newest, 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…
Word: This checklist solely options deliberate part-time Cup drivers, and never race winners who had been pressured out of the automobile mid-season resulting from accidents or different causes past their management.
Corey Heim – 2026 San Diego Road 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 competition with a flat tire. Additionally, he was the primary driver to ever win a Cup race with the No. 67, doing so in its 650th race.
After the win: Heim has already secured a full-time trip with 23XI Racing for the 2027 season, changing Riley Herbst, and nonetheless has a handful of begins left this yr.
Shane van Gisbergen — 2023 Chicago Road 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 Undertaking 91 program, which is a part-time unchartered entry the crew makes use of to convey worldwide racing stars with 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 avenue course and instantly had the tempo. In moist situations, he excelled, and even after getting on the mistaken finish of the technique recreation, he surged from 18th to first within the closing 30 laps of the race. He was the primary driver in over 60 years to win a Cup race on debut.
After the win: SVG left his profession in Supercars and moved to america, turning into a full-time NASCAR driver for Trackhouse. He has since shattered a number of information on highway and avenue programs with a number of wins, and even earned Rookie of the 12 months honors in 2025. He has tailored to ovals rapidly as effectively, not too long ago incomes his first oval high 5 on the Cup degree.
AJ Allmendinger — 2021 Indianapolis Highway Course
Watch: Allmendinger: ‘We simply received at Indy … let’s go!’
Allmendinger has been out and in of the Cup Sequence a number of instances all through his profession. He discovered a profession resurgence with Kaulig Racing, 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 crew, and in his fourth and 5 begins that yr, he triumphed. Competing on the Indy RC, he restarted third in extra time, which ended up being the proper place. Chase Briscoe lower the course and was going through a penalty, however he additionally spun out Denny Hamlin in retaliation for pushing him astray, 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 several other NASCAR O’Reilly races as effectively. He’s nonetheless racing full-time in Cup, is solidly high 20 within the championship standings, and is about to cross the five hundred profession begins mark at Sonoma Raceway.
Justin Haley — 2019 Daytona Worldwide Speedway
Making his third-ever begin with Spire Motorsports, Haley stayed out as others pitted below warning in the course of the summer time Daytona race. Quickly after, the rain got here 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 brand new group on the grid.
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, successful 4 races with Kaulig and inserting as excessive as third within the championship. He now competes full-time in Vans for Kaulig.
Brian Vickers — 2013 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Race winner Brian Vickers, Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
Picture by: Getty Photos
Driving for Michael Waltrip Racing, Vickers shared the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine with veteran Mark Martin. Making his eighth begin of the yr 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 regarded again, securing what could be the ultimate Cup win for each Vickers and MWR.
After the win: Whereas MWR shut down a few years later, Vickers was pressured to finish his profession early resulting from 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 500
Race winner Trevor Bayne, Wooden Brothers Racing Ford celebrates along with his crew
Picture by: Eric Gilbert
Bayne ran 17 races for the Wooden Brothers in the course of the 2011 season, and was making his first begin of the yr (and second ever) within the sport’s greatest race. In the future after his twentieth birthday, he drove the enduring No. 21 to its fifth Daytona 500 win, and its first since 1976! It was additionally the crew’s first win in any Cup race in a couple of decade. He did it with a useful push from Bobby Labonte, and held off a charging Carl Edwards within the closing seconds of the race.
After the win: Bayne went on to start out virtually 200 Cup races, however by no means returned to Victory Lane. He did accumulate two victories within the NASCAR O’Reilly Sequence after that, and as of late, usually seems as an analyst and reporter for NASCAR broadcasts.
Brad Keselowski — 2009 Talladega Superspeedway
In the course of the 2009 season, the then-rising star began 15 races with each James Finch and Hendrick Motorsports. Making his third begin of the yr at Talladega, he was pushing Carl Edwards in a tandem draft with the duo of Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. proper behind him. In some of the memorable finishes in Talladega historical past, Keselowski made his transfer, and whereas Edwards tried to dam, Keselowski didn’t again down. Edwards spun, went airborne, and flipped into the surface fence. Keselowski earned his first-career win in a shocking upset, and the one victory ever for Finch as a Cup Sequence crew proprietor.
After the win: Keselowski went on to grow to be essentially the most profitable driver on this checklist, successful 36 Cup races, and the 2012 NASCAR Cup Sequence championship. He additionally received the 2010 NASCAR O’Reilly title, accumulating 39 profession wins there, and one Truck win as effectively. He at the moment competes a driver/proprietor at RFK Racing with over 600 Cup begins.
Jamie McMurray — 2002 Charlotte Motor Speedway
Jamie McMurray with crew proprietor Chip Ganassi
Picture by: Rusty Jarrett by way of Getty Photos
In the course of the 2002 season, McMurray crammed 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 essentially the most laps (96), heading off a charging Bobby Labonte to seize the checkered flag.
After the win: McMurray went on to have a profitable profession after that, beginning 584 Cup races and successful seven instances. These victories contains crown jewel triumphs within the 2010 Daytona 500, and the 2010 Brickyard 400. He’s a winner in any respect three nationwide ranges, and now works as a driver analyst for NASCAR broadcasts.
Robby Gordon — 2001 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Race winner Robby Gordon
Picture by: Dave Dalesandro
Gordon changed an injured Mike Skinner at Richard Childress Racing in the course of the 2001 season. He made a complete of 17 begins that yr for 3 totally different groups, and earned his first win within the closing race of the yr at NHMS. The race was purported to happen earlier within the yr, however was rescheduled because of the 9/11 terrorist assaults, and Gordon emerged victorious for RCR after beginning deep within the discipline. Battling Jeff Gordon for the win, he took the lead after knocking Gordon right into a lapped automobile. Jeff Gordon confirmed his displeasure below warning, whereas Robby (no relation) went on to seize the checkered flag.
After the win: Robby Gordon began virtually 400 Cup races, successful 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. He has made a number of begins within the Dakar Rally as effectively, and can also be the founding father of Stadium Tremendous Vans.
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