10 Drivers Who Are Due for a Cup Win

The journey to the Chase is past the mid-point, and drivers who must win have become obvious. But, other drivers are unveiling their potential to capture victory this season as evidenced by their performances.

Those drivers who have become mired in the point standings have no choice but to win a couple races to capture the coveted wild-card slots.

There are some surprising names on the shortlist of drivers who must win races, and time is running out for those drivers who have encountered Lady Luck when she was having a bad day.

Drivers in this slideshow have a variety of reasons for needing to win races, so let the slideshow begin and see what they are.

Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, is 12th in the point standings. His teammate, Greg Biffle, was atop the standings for 11 weeks and now his other teammate, Matt Kenseth, is.

Edwards is 96 markers out of the lead, more than two races. He must win a race and do it soon, but something seems to be amiss with his team led by crew chief, Bob Osborne.

This driver has two top-five and eight top-10 finishes this season. He really has not been a contender for wins overall, though some problems that have impacted his performance were out of his control.

The runner-up for the Cup title in 2011 is lurking dangerously close to not making the Chase should he not turn his results around and win a race or two.

Marcos Ambrose

Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 9 Stanley Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports. He may only have two top-10 finishes, but he has had a car capable of running with the lead pack.

Currently this driver is 19th in the standings, 165 points out of the lead.

Ambrose excels on road-course tracks, and the Cup series just happens to have two of those coming up during the summer stretch of races.

It would not be a stretch to see this driver in Victory Lane twice during the next 12 races, allowing him to capture a wild-card slot.

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick is hanging tough in the points at sixth place, but he is still winless with three top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

The driver of the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing should have found a win by now, but he is somewhat off this season when it comes to closing the deal.

Harvick can still be found driving in other series, but he sold his KHI operation to focus on the Cup title and his upcoming fatherhood. He should at least find Victory Lane once before the Chase.

Paul Menard

Paul Menard, driver of the No. 27 Menard's Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, is 13th in the standings, 124 points out of the lead.

Menard is a fairly consistent driver with four top-10 finishes and top-20 finishes, except for a 31st place at Phoenix and 26th place at Kansas.

He is a driver who often lurks with the contenders during a race; at any given track, he could notch a win.

Menard has strong equipment, and he really wants to find the euphoria that he felt with that one Cup win at Indianapolis.

Martin Truex Jr.

Martin Truex Jr. wheels the No. 56 NAPA Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing. He is seventh in the standings, 58 points behind the leader.

Truex has four top-five and eight top-10 finishes with a second place finish at Kansas. He is in the mix of contenders at most races, but a couple accidents have hampered his finishes.

MWR has two drivers in the top 10 of the standings, and Mark Martin has shown a lot of strength with his part-time ride in the No. 55.

Truex could easily get one win in the next 12 races, but he will be really lucky to get two. There is a good chance he will remain high enough in the standings to make the Chase.

Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger/Dupont Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, has had a season filled with wacky happenings that have relegated him to 22nd in the standings.

A variety of mishaps from accidents, cut tires, pit miscues and anything else except crashing into a jet dryer, have him 187 points out of the lead.

Gordon is a four-time Cup champion who has finished the season in the top 10 every year since 1994, except for 2005 when he was 11th.

The driver of the No. 24 has no chance of making the Chase unless he wins at least two races. Gordon has not lacked for fast cars, so the odds still favor him getting a win, but it may not be enough.

Jamie McMurray

Jamie McMurray pilots the No. 1 McDonalds/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. This driver is 19th in the point standings, 177 markers out of the lead.

McMurray's season started off poorly with an accident at Daytona followed by engine problems at Phoenix. He has three top-10 finishes, but for the most part, is a mid-pack finisher.

EGR made massive changes prior to the start of this season with hopes of turning the program around for the two drivers, McMurray and Juan Montoya.

Both drivers have shown moments of speed during the season, but McMurray is the stronger of the two drivers, and he really needs another win to add to his six Cup wins.

He is due for a win. He is capable of winning. But it remains to be seen if EGR can find a victory this season.

Clint Bowyer

Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, is currently ninth in the standings, 80 points behind the leader, Matt Kenseth.

Bowyer has two top-five and seven top-10 finishes for an average finish of 12.5. He has finished just out of the top 10 in the other seven races, except for problems at Phoenix and an engine failure at Kansas.

MWR is producing some strong cars with both full-time drivers in the top 10, though neither has won a race. Bowyer can run with the lead dogs, and he just may get a win before the Chase

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives the No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. He has made his way to second in the standings, 10 points out of the lead.

Earnhardt has 11 top-10 finishes, the most of any driver, and he has completed every lap of every race. It is his consistency that has kept him high in the points. His average finish is 7.9.

The rolling ball of moss that is his winless streak will soon be four years of age and is 143 races strong.

The strength of this team could probably carry him into the Chase, but he really needs to finally get a win. The summer stretch of races has been his toughest part of the season. 

With upcoming road-course races that are hardly his best tracks, he needs to notch a win on an oval.

Kurt Busch

Okay, take a deep breath before ranting about Kurt Busch being able to take the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet to Victory Lane.

Busch has been a bad boy, and he is on his last chance to secure a top-tier ride or keep the one he has in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

This is a driver who is 27th in the standings and a whopping 248 points out of the lead. He has one top-10 finish this season.

Busch probably needs to win more than anyone in the series because he has his future at stake. A win would do wonders for the team, and he is certainly capable of getting one with a good car.

If Busch can keep his mouth reasonably under control, win a race or two and get some top-10 finishes, the sponsors will start sniffing around and his 2013 will start looking brighter.