VK: In a year to forget for most of HMS, Earnhardt was, in all likelihood, the team's strongest driver - and particularly excelled when the package seemed at his best. NASCAR’s most popular beard-wearer looks more and more convincing at Hendrick, and is a contender once again. JU: Got off to a slow start but seemed to turn the corner in time for the Chase. VK: Even his biggest fans will admit this wasn't Johnson's strongest season. No, he didn’t go out on top but Gordon will be hard to replace. PF: Remember Phoenix?

CB: If I’d offered at the start of the season that he’d score as many wins as Kevin Harvick, you’d have taken the bet, right? 2015 was the story of 'what could' have been for the former series champion. That being said, the early exit from the Chase was not his fault in the slightest and five wins is nothing to scoff at. Tenth in the points is not representative of Johnson’s season, nor ability. Brad Keselowski: If he doesn't wreck at Martinsville, he likely makes the final four. CB: His last hurrah was a great effort, but his underlying powers have faded to the point that he’s timed his retirement to perfection. But before we get to the actual countdown, here's a look at the honorable mentions that didn't quite make the cut for the final ten. Eye in the Sky: Clayton Hughes enjoys winning with Martin Truex Jr. Kyle Larson issues public apology to Rick Hendrick for comments, Penske Entertainment “committed” to Indy Lights in 2021, How Tony Stewart pranked Chase Briscoe over 2021 Cup graduation, Erik Jones joins Richard Petty Motorsports for 2021 Cup Series, Joey Logano "has lived this story once" and it turned out well, 'Transformation' in Chase Briscoe leads to promotion to Cup, Erik Jones to RPM, will drive No. Dec 12, 2015, 8:18 PM. 24 attained. Denny Hamlin: The only driver to win multiple races but in the end fail to make it onto our list, Hamlin ran another solid season, but unfortunately it was yet another year where he was remembered more for something that happened off the race track than on it. Previous year Next year. The panel.

The No. JU: Got off to a slow start but seemed to turn the corner in time for the Chase.

CB: On the back of all the off-track drama in his life, the elder Busch bro put the baggage behind him with some tidy performances. PF: Remember Phoenix? It’s unlikely Junior slept well after Talladega. CB: Scored as many wins as KyBu, but fell foul of the Chase playoffs that were seemingly devised to thwart him. Judge him on next year’s campaign. Judge him on next year’s campaign.

The debacle that was the Talladega finish eliminated the No. VK: Even his biggest fans will admit this wasn't Johnson's strongest season. LS: Four-time delivered the win at Martinsville Speedway in order to transfer to the Champion’s Round. Tenth in the points is not representative of Johnson’s season, nor ability. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings for 2015 Click on the Driver to see 2015 race-level statistics for that driver. NDG: We didn't get the fairytale ending to Gordon's storybook Chase. View the latest results for NASCAR Cup 2015. 24 got better when it counted, but this was never going to be a championship year. His pace seemed a bit erratic and there were a couple of uncharacteristic, unforced errors. DM: Off-track distractions resolved, Kurt Busch was solid, consistent and swift, but needs to step up his game to match the speed/consistency combination of his SHR teammate Harvick. 48 had no trouble finding Victory Lane, but this new Chase format has thrown the six-time champions off for the second consecutive season, shockingly eliminated in Round 1.

VK: In a year to forget for most of HMS, Earnhardt was, in all likelihood, the team's strongest driver - and particularly excelled when the package seemed at his best.

© 2020 Forbes Media LLC. Valentin Khorounzhiy (VK) - Editorial Assistant, Pete Fink (PF) - Motorsport.com Germany U.S. NDG: Kurt's impressive comeback story was overshadowed by brother Kyle's, as was his successful season, due to his blistering fast teammate in the No.

JU: There were highs and lows for Earnhardt in his first season working with crew chief Greg Ives but the sport's most popular driver once again made the Chase and is enjoying his most consistent run of success since joining Hendrick Motorsports. 88 team promise for 2016. JU: He began the season looking like a serious contender for Sprint Cup championship No. Valentin Khorounzhiy (VK) - Editorial Assistant, Pete Fink (PF) - Motorsport.com Germany U.S. Apparently there were still lingering issues as Edwards is getting a new crew chief for the 2016 season. JU: There were highs and lows for Earnhardt in his first season working with crew chief Greg Ives but the sport's most popular driver once again made the Chase and is enjoying his most consistent run of success since joining Hendrick Motorsports. 48 had no trouble finding Victory Lane, but this new Chase format has thrown the six-time champions off for the second consecutive season, shockingly eliminated in Round 1. He rebounded late in the year with another win at Texas to hopefully provide some momentum into next season. That being said, the early exit from the Chase was not his fault in the slightest and five wins is nothing to scoff at. (CLICK HERE for Part 2). His pace seemed a bit erratic and there were a couple of uncharacteristic, unforced errors. All Rights Reserved. DM: He went out on a high, despite not winning the title, and that does help salve the wounds from the three years he lost the title to the strange Chase system. The No.

NDG: You know you're good when a five-win season isn't good enough. DM: He certainly wasn’t overwhelmed by his teammates as he has been occasionally in years past, but he was as lucky to win at Phoenix as he was unlucky to miss out at Talladega and therefore his chance to progress in the Chase. Glossary Tweet Driver Races Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led Earnings AvSt AvFn RAF Miles LLF Points Diff; 1 14 at SHR, Kyle Larson reinstated, eligible to race in 2021. No, he didn’t go out on top but Gordon will be hard to replace. Very solid performance, and, don't forget, he also missed three races.

A jumped-start away from the Final Four. 43 in 2021, Chase Briscoe moves to Cup, will drive No. DM: Off-track distractions resolved, Kurt Busch was solid, consistent and swift, but needs to step up his game to match the speed/consistency combination of his SHR teammate Harvick. It was a slow start, but there some flashes of brilliance throughout their debut season. What a driver, what a gentleman, what a career – what a great TV pundit he’ll make. His Chase was a slapstick comedy of ludicrously poor luck and was fittingly capped off with a ludicrously lucky win at Phoenix, a cruel reminder of what might have been.

JU: A storybook final season for Gordon. Suspended for the first three races with a cloud of turmoil surrounding his name and yet, he still overcomes it all and scores two wins before season's end. PF: Best plate-racer once again. Still, he ran three fewer races than most of the field and only eight drivers scored more cumulative points. Suspended for the first three races with a cloud of turmoil surrounding his name and yet, he still overcomes it all and scores two wins before season's end. But before we get to the actual countdown, here's a look at the honorable mentions that didn't quite make the cut for the final ten. CB: If I’d offered at the start of the season that he’d score as many wins as Kevin Harvick, you’d have taken the bet, right? Kurt Busch began the season suspended for his involvement in a domestic violence dispute with his ex-girlfriend. NDG: We didn't get the fairytale ending to Gordon's storybook Chase. That victory provided Gordon the chance to win one final championship before his NASCAR driving career ended. I still think there is a Sprint Cup title in Junior, so long as he can maintain his motivation at the age of 41. DM: Is it a mini crisis when JJ fails to win the Sprint Cup title for two straight years? That victory provided Gordon the chance to win one final championship before his NASCAR driving career ended. 7 but was eliminated early in the Chase. LS: Mere inches kept Busch from a potential spot in the Champion’s Round. A jumped-start away from the Final Four. 24 attained. NDG: Don't let his final position in the championship standings misguide you in regards to how well Earnhardt ran this year. 43 in 2021, Chase Briscoe moves to Cup, will drive No.

VK: The rose-tinted glasses of the retirement year aside, Gordon was, quite simply, not that quick in 2015 - and it was not impossible to imagine him missing the Chase entirely. 7 but was eliminated early in the Chase.

NDG: Considering this was a brand new team for JGR, Edwards' 2015 season was impressive. The Motorsport.com team have come together to determine who the ten best NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers were during the 2015 season. PF: To keep a long story short: Delivered the best emotional moments of 2015. It’s unlikely Junior slept well after Talladega.

DM: He went out on a high, despite not winning the title, and that does help salve the wounds from the three years he lost the title to the strange Chase system. The top 12 banked $187 million last year. 24 got better when it counted, but this was never going to be a championship year. The No. I still think there is a Sprint Cup title in Junior, so long as he can maintain his motivation at the age of 41. The No. comments. 4. Top 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers of 2015 - Part 1. shares. 2015 was the story of 'what could' have been for the former series champion. JU: He began the season looking like a serious contender for Sprint Cup championship No.

He rebounded late in the year with another win at Texas to hopefully provide some momentum into next season. CB: His big move to Joe Gibbs Racing was pretty impressive, given his long association with Jack Roush’s team.

He makes the Chase without a win, then inherits a victory at Martinsville when Matt Kenseth wrecks leader Joey Logano. (CLICK HERE for Part 2). Very solid performance, and, don't forget, he also missed three races. He, like his brother, wasted no time upon his return winning a race and qualifying for the Chase. Needed just a few yards to not be kicked out of the Chase in Talladega.

Top 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers of 2015 - Part 1. shares. 88 from the Chase, but after seeing his performance in the following round, one has to wonder how different his 2015 story would have played out if fate was just a couple feet kinder in Alabama. 4. If he doesn't get passed with less than five laps to go and wins Texas, he makes the final four. Nascar's Highest-Paid Drivers 2015 Our earnings include salaries and endorsements, as well as the drivers share of winnings/bonuses and licensing income for the 2014 season. NDG: Kurt's impressive comeback story was overshadowed by brother Kyle's, as was his successful season, due to his blistering fast teammate in the No. But knowing what he accomplished with rookie crew chief Greg Ives offers the No. VK: The rose-tinted glasses of the retirement year aside, Gordon was, quite simply, not that quick in 2015 - and it was not impossible to imagine him missing the Chase entirely. All Rights Reserved.

On his day, there are few who can match Johnson, and his robbing Keselowski of the win in Texas showed supreme opportunism and also his still-intense desire. JU: Second only to brother Kyle in comeback stories.

He, like his brother, wasted no time upon his return winning a race and qualifying for the Chase. 88 team promise for 2016. CB: His last hurrah was a great effort, but his underlying powers have faded to the point that he’s timed his retirement to perfection.