Last Champ with Fewer than 10 career wins?

[car29]

Assuming Keselowski wins the championship next week (and not the race) he will have only 9 career wins at the time of his championship. Does anyone know who the last champion with fewer than 10 wins was? I thought it was Kurt Busch, but I checked and he had 11 after the 2004 season.

Seems we may have to go pretty far back...

[Talon64]

Matt Kenseth had 7 career wins when he won the championship in 2003, but that included a series-high 5 wins in 2002.

Jeff Gordon had 9 when he won in 1995, but that was just his 3rd full season in Cup. Coincidentally, Keselowski's on the verge of winning the championship in his 3rd season and with 9 career wins, although his first win came in a partial schedule in 2009.

Alan Kulwicki had 5 wins when he won in 1992. In his tragically-shortened career (and life), Kulwicki had 5 wins in 207 career starts.

Dale Earnhardt had 6 wins when he won the championship in just his 2nd full season back in 1980.

And to cap things off for the modern era, Benny Parsons had just 2 wins when he won the championship in 1973. He'd go on to win 18 races from 1975-1981 and his last win was in 1984.

[car29]

Matt Kenseth had 7 career wins when he won the championship in 2003, but that included a series-high 5 wins in 2002.

Jeff Gordon had 9 when he won in 1995, but that was just his 3rd full season in Cup. Coincidentally, Keselowski's on the verge of winning the championship in his 3rd season and with 9 career wins, although his first win came in a partial schedule in 2009.

Alan Kulwicki had 5 wins when he won in 1992. In his tragically-shortened career (and life), Kulwicki had 5 wins in 207 career starts.

Dale Earnhardt had 6 wins when he won the championship in just his 2nd full season back in 1980.

And to cap things off for the modern era, Benny Parsons had just 2 wins when he won the championship in 1973. He'd go on to win 18 races from 1975-1981 and his last win was in 1984.

Thanks, I'd forgotten how early Kenseth won his Championship. I did go back and find Gordon after posting this, but missed Matt entirely...

[HiVolt]

Terry LaBonte had 4 career wins when he won his Winston Cup title in 1984. He had 2 wins in 1984. 2 wins prior to 1984.

[BuckeyeVibe]

Jeff Gordon had 9 when he won in 1995, but that was just his 3rd full season in Cup. Coincidentally, Keselowski's on the verge of winning the championship in his 3rd season and with 9 career wins, although his first win came in a partial schedule in 2009.

Wow, that's a neat parallel.

It'll be interesting to see how Penske getting in bed with Roush affects Brad's performance.

[MadCowRacin]

I wonder if that means all the fans will boo Brad for "winning too much" (and I snicker while saying that laughable phrase) like they did for Gordon if he has as much success.

[Carlo_Carrera]

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