Ricky Craven, ESPN NASCAR analyst: Brad Keselowski had three wins in 2017 and four wins the year before. I expected Keselowski to pick up right where he left off having made it to the championship race last November. I would have said Kyle Larson, but I’m giving him a pass because he has been a legitimate force in a Camaro that has disappointed on unrestricted ovals most of this season. Brad doesn’t get the same consideration because Kevin Harvick leads the series with seven wins — in a Ford. Keselowski, 34, is in the sweet spot of his career, with the added value of having won a title already. I’m doubling down with the hope he and crew chief Paul Wolfe will gain strength — and maybe a win — in September, October and maybe November.
Ryan McGee, ESPN senior writer: I look at others in the winless column, and I see guys who’ve repeatedly not won until late in the season or have been super streaky or are with teams that have struggled in recent times. Brad Keselowski isn’t on any of those lists. He has been a consistent winner with a team that’s a consistent winner and they’ve been together for nearly a decade now. He won seven races across 2016-17 and Fords clearly have speed (see: Stewart-Haas Racing). So, it feels like a breakthrough is imminent. But I’ve also been saying that since March.
Alisha Miller, ESPN.com: Sure, Ryan Blaney won his first Cup race driving for the Wood Brothers in June 2017 at Pocono. Sure, no one expected him (or would have believed him) to pull a Harvick and rack up seven wins already with 12 races to go in 2018. But, Blaney has improved on his top-5s, is on pace to improve his top-10s and has tied his poles (2) from his breakout performance last year. So, with that show of improvement and the backing of Team Penske, color me surprised that Blaney hasn’t won yet.
Scott Page, Jayski editor: Jimmie Johnson is probably the obvious choice, but I’m going to go with Brad Keselowski. He has won at least one race for the past seven seasons and he has 11 top-10 finishes this season. Team Penske is running well, with Joey Logano getting a win this year and Ryan Blaney running up front some too, but Keselowski and Paul Wolfe just haven’t been able to put it all together yet.
Bob Pockrass, ESPN.com: A veteran driver such as Denny Hamlin should have a 2018 race trophy in his case by now. No doubt Hamlin has been good this season as he sits 10th in the Cup standings and should clinch a spot in the playoffs at Darlington. But he has won just two stages this year and hasn’t won a race while his teammate, Kyle Busch, has won six races and five stages. Hamlin has led in 14 races this year, including more than 20 laps in four of the first six events. He couldn’t close the deal then and has led only 66 laps in the past 18 races.
Matt Willis, ESPN Stats & Information: Denny Hamlin, mostly because he has won a race in each of the first 12 full seasons of his Cup career. But also because two of his teammates, Kyle Busch and Erik Jones, have won this season. And because he has won a pair of poles recently, but finished those races in 13th and eighth, leading a combined total of 15 laps in those races. In 2013, his only win came in the last race of the season. If he could get to the Championship Four, that’s a good race to win.
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