9.2 Part-time drivers. He was the first NASCAR champion to win back-to-back-to-back championships from 1976-1978. Is it someone who is defined by his fan base, by the respect in the garage, the amount of merchandise sold or a combination of all three? When he joined NASCAR in 2016, Scott lent immediate credibility to the position. Look for this young man to continue to grow in support for years to come. Joey Logano is the best NASCAR driver right now. Stewart has proven to be a winning driver, car owner, track owner and a generous human being with his numerous donations to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Voting for Most Popular Driver does not close until November 30, one day before the NASCAR Champions Banquet, so there is plenty of time for Blaney to take one more shot at his fellow driver. His rivalry with Petty was the most popular one in the early days of NASCAR and has earned him much respect from his fellow drivers and fans. Four-time winner Chase Elliott is obviously on the list as he aims to keep his streak alive. But, Gordon has changed the last few years in his career. Still, the seven-time most popular driver is still the hottest-selling driver in NASCAR. He was second five times and was in the top five in eight other years. Voting closes for the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at noon ET. The 1979 Daytona 500 put not only him, but NASCAR on the map. His piece this year on ESPN's "30 for 30" series was one of the most watched programs by drivers, fans and media alike. These will be tremendous prizes for our drivers who are competing inside a venue thats hosted two Olympic Games and is preparing for a third, said Ben Kennedy, NASCARs senior vice president for racing development and strategy. NASCAR fans are the ones that purchase their favorite t-shirts, hats and die-casts of the driver they root for each week. Getty Probst, who most recently held the title of senior vice president of racing innovation, oversaw the development and evolution of the Next Gen race car. Busch races for the Richard Childress Racing team and has a salary of $16.9 million annually as of 2023. Unfortunately, I wont be driving the 10 car full time this year, he tweeted. Millers focus will center on a several big picture special projects such as the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway and the Chicago Street Course race, as well as long-lead planning around NASCAR competition strategy. Most recently, he held the role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection and officiating, a role he assumed in 2016. But, the last few years, that has not been the case. He tried to follow up his victory in 2001 with another run but didn't make it. Since then, "Cousin Carl" has been doing back flips in the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series after each victory. For Dave Marcis, his racing career spanned over 30 years and saw him win only five times. Who could ever forget his infamous "Icky Shuffle" after his win in the 1989 Daytona 500 or his fully chromed out car and driver suit in the Winston from 1997 through 2000. Probst, who most recently held the title of senior vice president of racing innovation, oversaw the development and evolution of the Next Gen race car. These are the drivers who are NASCAR history. As soon as Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired. I have a deep passion for the sport, and am honored to be in a position to help shepherd the competition team during these exciting times.. The award is presented by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). They handed him a flag bearing Allison's No. NASCARs Top 10 for Most Popular Driver Has Surprising Names, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. The team announced Wednesday that Smith, 20, plans to run five Cup races with sponsorship from Quick Tie Products. His most popular and signature win came at Talladega that same year when Waltrip popped out the roof of his Chevrolet, thanks to the new escape hatch. There is no one that defines toughness as much as Rudd. Any driver that earns the respect of the Intimidator is certainly popular among everyone in the garage. Fred Lorenzen was a driver on the cutting edge as he would travel cross country putting NASCAR on the market and in the eyes of the public. Weatherly started stock car racing in 1952, winning 49 of the 83 races he entered, a staggering winning percentage. Darrell Waltrip won the award two years in a row in 1989 and 1990, while Dale Earnhardt earned the award posthumously in 2001. In a series first, NASCAR will award medals to the top three finishers in a Cup race. 3 to the track, and we still see a hauler bearing his number in the souvenir areas. Kurt Busch became popular probably in the most unorthodox of ways. Busch's popularity has taken off in the last three years since he signed on with Joe Gibbs Racing, and he has become a driver that fans simply can't stop talking about. Prior to joining NASCAR, Sawyer served as director of team operations for IMSAs Action Express Racing. But, Carl Long does have a place on this list because it was one incident that sparked his popularity among the fans. Elliott won three races for Evernham, including the Brickyard 400 in 2002. Plus, Labonte soon had to battle a broken hand he suffered in a crash during practice one weekend. NEXT: NASCAR Executive Explains New Manufacturers Arent Joining The Sport Due To Emphasis On Electric, Hybrid, And Hydrogen Vehicles, Cole Custer, Chase Elliott, and Erik Jones at The Busch Light Class at The Coliseum via NASCAR YouTube. Jeff Gordon A four-time champion whose 93 career wins ranks third on the all-time list. He also went as far as challenging the pit crews on the air, saying that if a team performed a four-tire pit stop in under 13 seconds, each member would be given $100 cash from his own account. He'll have a lot of votes from the fansthat's for sure. He is a massive Washington Capitals fan, lover of history, and can be found at Dominion Raceway most Saturday nights. 6. He was also involved in the finish of the first Daytona 500, despite being two laps down to the leader. However, as the years progressed, Waltrip continued to win, as his four Cup victories came on restrictor plate tracks. 11 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR 2 Division drivers. A fierce competitor (ask Kevin Harvick about this), Rudd won at least one time every season for 16 consecutive years. As the youngest of the Wallace brothers, Kenny has earned the popularity of his peers and the fans for being one of the more humorous figures in the garage. It started as a poll of the drivers and then all NASCAR Cup Series competitors; today, it is voted for by fans across the United States . No personality in NASCAR has the longevity, the recognition and the respect like Richard Petty. He chased the championship across 23 full-time seasons in the sport, falling short on several agonizing occasions. His popularity among the drivers in seeing how he backed up his word made him very popular. Earnhardt's win keeps him at third on the career list behind Bill Elliott's record 16. 3. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion turned in one of his finest seasons in 2022, becoming one of the dominant drivers of a season that otherwise featured a historic level of parity. The ceremony presenting the award is called the NASCAR Awards Banquet, and it is held in Nashville, Tennessee in November of each year. But, he didn't celebrate as Earnhardt died on the last lap. During this period, Ill be training and preparing for the opportunity to win.. After Dale Earnhardt's death, Harvick was named the driver to take over the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. 1956 - Curtis Turner. When he died in 2001, NASCAR itself lost something. Kyle, Richard and the entire Petty family were devastated when such talent and such charm was robbed from NASCAR. Not only do the medals honor the rich tradition of this stadium, but they also provide a special element unique to NASCARs 75th anniversary.. It is no secret what is the heart and soul of NASCAR. 1960 - Rex White. In fact, he was one of the first to make the transition from behind the wheel to on the microphone. Joey Lagano, 1939 GMC Pickup. Jacuzzi, who manages aerodynamic engineering for NASCAR, joined the sanctioning body after working as a computational aerodynamicist for Corvid Technologies. A year earlier, Bobby was involved in a horrific crash at Talladega that saw his car destroyed and part of the safety fencing torn down on the front straightaway, which eventually led to the restrictor plates used at Daytona and Talladega. Thanks to @C_Rice1 and @MattKaulig for the shot in 2022, and for being a great team. Sawyer joined NASCAR in February of 2015 as managing director of the Craftsman Truck Series. Landon Cassill wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No. Davey Allison Truly his fathers son (Bobby won the championship in 1983), Davey checked every box that might be listed under champion in the early years of his career. The list also includes Christopher Bell, reigning champion Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, and Ryan Blaney. But, his career and life took a dramatic turn after his son, Adam, was killed at New Hampshire. He only ran more than 3/4 of the season five times. Earnhardt is still here, although not physically. Thomas joined NASCAR in 2019 following time as a crew chief and engineer with Richard Childress Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Petty Enterprises, Red Bull Racing and Hall of Fame Racing. Johnson is without question the champ these days in NASCAR. The cooling system in his car failed, but he was in the lead at Martinsville despite the temperatures beyond miserable. From 1995-98, he claimed three championships, finished second in the points once and won 40 of 127 races (31.5%). Bill Elliott certainly did many firsts in his career. Before retiring in 2016, Carl Edwards was one of NASCAR's most popular and likable figures, with his signature backflip off the top of his car being arguably the best post-race celebration in history. He's an eye catcher for young girls, and for the guys his driving ability is second to none. It has been a great experience over the years seeing him grow and become a very talented driver.. The second video alleged that the reigning Most Popular Driver thinks that Parmesan Garlic wings are too spicy.. In other weeks, however, Chastain had far fewer supporters. 28, and everyone took a bow in honor of the fallen competitor. After more than 40 years around race cars week after week, its time to step back and look at the next chapter of my life in motorsports, Miller said. It was as though the celebration for the fans and Michael was robbed. RETWEET to congratulate @ChaseElliott on his second! In fact, it causes a lot of arguments. I don't know what it is about NASCAR drivers, but each likes to make their own stamp on a victory. He was once known as NASCAR's "Iron Man," but Ricky Rudd's popularity could be defined by his longevity and toughness. When he came on as a broadcaster, it was one of the most natural transitions anyone had seen. Millers focus will center on a several big picture special projects such as the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway and the Chicago Street Course race, as well as long-lead planning around NASCAR competition strategy. What's next for this tough driver? But, he will let you know when he is. It was termed "Allison Wonderland" in 1988 as Bobby won the Daytona 500 with son Davey placing second. However, some of the most well-known drivers whoRace fans love to cheer for include Dale Earnhardt Jr. , Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. National award, covering every NASCAR series. The race winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is covered in 24-karat plated gold. It only took one season for Denny Hamlin to become one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR. He won 37 of his 76 career victories during that time period. That soon led him to purchase his own race team and also buy the Eldora Speedway. Since joining NASCAR in 2014, Jacuzzi has led the team tasked to design the aerodynamic elements of the race vehicles for all three national series including the Next Gen car as well as the Garage 56 car scheduled to run in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. Sure enough, it didn't matter as on the final weekend of the season, Labonte won the title and brother Bobby won the race. 2. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Elliott earned Most Popular Driver honors through a fan vote. On Thursday at NASCAR Champion's Week, Chase Elliott was officially named the winner of NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award for 2021. Since joining NASCAR in 2014, Jacuzzi has led the team tasked to design the aerodynamic elements of the race vehicles for all three national series including the Next Gen car as well as the Garage 56 car scheduled to run in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kaulig Racing announced Wednesday that Chandler Smith will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a third Kaulig car but has not announced plans for the 10 Xfinity car. Probably the first driver to turn car owner and have great success was Junior Johnson. That victory lap he took that afternoon would ultimately be the last one of his career. 1 of 20. No matter what, he will still have a following, but the frustration will need to turn to celebration. From 1970-79, he won five of his championships and 89 of 326 races meaning he won more than a quarter of the races run in the 1970s. He says that the he felt he should have finished second to Dale that afternoon, and since his passing, he has felt that is how it was meant to be. Name Hometown D.O.B. The 2018 NMPA Most Popular Driver will be announced during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards program Thursday, Nov. 29 at Wynn Las Vegas. Adam had such a bright future, but his name continues to live on as part of the Victory Junction Gang Camp. But, one tragic afternoon took that all away. He won the Coca-Cola 600 five times. Cash in on NFL Wild Card Weekend: Bet $5, Get $150 in Free Bets. 10/10 10. They are also the ones that argue every Sunday as to who is better at winning, or who's the driver most hated. In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to select the "50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time." This video game move sparked criticism from Chastains fellow drivers. The first winner of the award was Curtis Turner in 1949. Although he won 50 races as a driver and later six championships as a team owner, there would be no driving title for Johnson. Despite the treatment working, later that year he was readmitted to the hospital because of complications. Bobby Allison Finished second in the points five times before winning the 1983 championship. Richard Petty holds the record with at least a win in 18 consecutive seasons. Walk through the garage and not one person has anything negative to say about the veteran driver. Voting for the Most Popular Driver Award presented by Hooters opened on November 8. We can surely look up to the sky and see those huge sunglasses looking down, probably smiling and happy we are continuing to enjoy the sport he loved. Do you REALLY know @chaseelliott? . In 2008, Logano was in the Nationwide Series when he broke through with a victory at Nashville in just his third start. ET on NBCSN) and that provides plenty of time to debate this list and any of the drivers in the top 10. Thanks to @C_Rice1 and @MattKaulig for the shot in 2022, and for being a great team. This is a dream come true for me, Smith said in a statement released by the team. And, much like his fellow driver Alan Kulwicki, he was taken away from the sport way too quickly. When you have a nickname like "Happy," it's hard not to be liked. The award, which is determined by a fan vote, has been. But, it was his death the following year that really showed how well he was liked. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2. After Earnhardt won the Most Popular Driver Award for 15 consecutive seasons to close out his career, it was Chase Elliott, the son of 1988 champion and 16-time Most Popular Driver Award winner Bill Elliott, who won it for the first time in his third season of full-time competition in 2018. His seven championships, 200 wins and numerous poles will never be equaled. That will lead him to much success down the road. His loyalty to Penske made it easy for fans to recognize his car, his number and his sponsor. The 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott holds the record for Most Popular Driver Award wins with 16 1984-88, 1991-2000 and 2002. Another driver that was popular among his peers and fans alike was Davey Allison. That humor has also landed him a spot on NASCAR Raceday and Victory Lane, where his craziness just makes the weekend at the track more fun. 9 Dodge Charger, the No. Paige Rogers, Eloy Sebastin Lpez Falcn, Caleb Johnson and Nathan Lyons will make their debut this year. Junior Johnson Johnson was the opposite of a points racer. Sawyer joined NASCAR in February of 2015 as managing director of the Craftsman Truck Series. This is a dream come true for me, Smith said in a statement released by the team. Sponsorships drive my business, and my sponsors over the last two years have been through a lot. 9 NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series drivers. As will young NASCAR stars Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Blaney, who look to claim glory as they climb the NASCAR rankings. These names all make sense for a variety of reasons, including their respective fanbases. NASCAR and the National Motorsports Press Association revealed the current top 10 most popular drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series. His battle with Donnie Allison was shaping up to be one of the best the sport had seen to that point. Kenny is still competing in the Nationwide Series, but it's his antics on the pre-race and post-race shows that put him on this list. The National Motorsports . Sponsored by Hamburger Helper in 2010, it was also sponsored by Wheaties in 2011. 8.1 Full-time drivers. He won the Coke 600 and Brickyard 400 four times each and won the Southern 500 and Daytona 500 twice each. At the same time, popularity in the garage has another way of defining the sport. Mark Martin Martin was Denny Hamlin before Denny Hamlin. In the end, it was that illness that took Richmond away from racing. In 2004 at Rockingham, Long made the lineup, but he and some other drivers on the starting grid had the unfortunate term of "field fillers." His trademark bow to the fans has become a staple at the end of a race just like a burnout. Eight drivers have been named to this year's NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. Long continued to race, but after an engine fiasco at the Sprint All-Star Race a few years ago that saw him penalized $250,000, we didn't hear much from him. He has missed the first two ballots for the NASCAR Hall of Fame but will definitely be inducted within the next few years. In a Wednesday morning tweet, Cassill said he plans to continue racing. The mark he leaves on the organization is significant. There were weeks when fans and drivers celebrated Chastains wins and his production on the track, especially considering how he had previously driven for underfunded teams across the national series. Kyle Busch 7. It's not because Todd Bodine has a bad smell or makes people cry. Burton admits that after he is done driving, he would like to get into politics. In that capacity, Sawyer oversaw race event management, transportation and NASCAR official training and development. The conversation drastically changed on October 30, 2022. It was one of the greatest races NASCAR had ever run, but it was one that Bobby never remembers. But, after the race, he pulled to the start/finish line with his crew. Who knows where Reutimann's popularity will go, but you can bet he's living his own dream in NASCAR. Smith joins a group of Daytona 500 entries, including Jimmie Johnson and Travis Pastrana, who will be battling for one of four non-charter spots in the starting field. Hes a Cup Series champion, he has a sizable fanbase, and hes the son of Bill Elliott. The crash that sent his Chevrolet Silverado into the outside wall, tearing it apart and causing a fire to ignite is one of the scariest in recent memory. But, this year it was a season of living a dream for McMurray. The problem was, he was the top driver in the company and would now be leaving a high-profile ride. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Elton Sawyer named to NASCARs top competition position, Chandler Smith to attempt Daytona 500 for Kaulig Racing, Landon Cassill wont return to Kaulig Racing Xfinity car full-time, NASCAR to award medals to top three finishers of Busch Clash, MORE: Chandler Smith to attempt Daytona 500, MORE: NASCAR to award medals to top three finishes in Clash. Twenty-seven cars will compete in the 150-lap feature on the quarter-mile track built inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Brought to NASCAR to help shepherd the Next Gen project, Thomas led the day-to-day management of the Next Gen car since the beginning of the development cycle in 2019. Simply put, Tim Richmond was the first "rock star" of NASCAR. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. He also works play-by-play for TNT and is not one for hiding his emotion. 18 car and got his first win. It also meant that when he did get angry, it was something to talk about. Patalak, who has worked at the NASCAR R&D Center since 2005, oversees NASCARs safety team, researching, developing and approving driver and vehicle safety systems. Bobby Allison and Richard Petty are tied for third with eight awards. It's by far his favorite track. X Most Recent @nascarcasm At-Track Driver Wins eNascar Fantasy Fastlane Garage 56 Lineup Gallery Memorable Moments Most Popular Driver NASCAR 75 NASCAR Competition NASCAR Roots Paint Scheme . Jeff Gordon 3. Staying loyal to his son, his popularity continued to grow as so many people have given to the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Adam's memory. His first race out in the NAPA car, Waltrip won the Daytona 500. These days, Wallace is always a fixture at the track, especially when ESPN is doing the races. But for Kevin Harvick, his popularity came at a sacrifice. Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. 6. Now NASCAR has revealed the top 10 Cup Series drivers getting votes each day from the fans. Earnhardt didn't show much emotion, but the loss hit him hard as everyone could tell. He drives a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and his car number is 8. Prior to joining NASCAR, Sawyer served as director of team operations for IMSAs Action Express Racing. Elliott previously won the Most Popular Driver award in 2018, 2019, and 2020 as well. By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sports January 12, 2023 - 1:36 PM Winning the title was noteworthy prior to the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. joining NASCAR as its primary sponsor, but the stacks of money provided by the Winston cigarette brand increased the importance of the championship exponentially. Just a huge thank you, he concluded. A lot of respect from both the fans and the drivers goes toward Johnson, and his popularity continues to grow as he remains a constant figure in the sport. He's hard working, kind to the people he's around and can simply drive a car. pic.twitter.com/PhEbgZZs6O, Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) November 18, 2022, That being said, one driver is taking a new approach. Or not in the top 10. [1][2], "Dale Jr. wins NASCAR's Most Popular Driver, reveals wedding date", "Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins NASCAR Most Popular Driver award for 15th time", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NASCAR%27s_Most_Popular_Driver_Award&oldid=1125068393. Blaney has started releasing some short videos that would fit perfectly in any political campaign. pic.twitter.com/Dh1CAvokeH. He climbed out of the cab, stood on the bedand back-flipped to the asphalt. No driver will ever reach the popularity of Pettyand that is fact. It started as a poll of the drivers and then all NASCAR Cup Series competitors; today, it is voted for by fans across the United States. NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM will provide coverage of this year's program. NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers is an alphabetical list of NASCAR drivers. Probably one of the nicest and humblest figures in NASCAR had to be Benny Parsons. Cassill, 33, drove the No. He's not just racing for him and his wife, he's racing for his family. These days, Elliott is running a partial schedule with the Wood Brothers, but to his legions of fans, he will always be Awesome Bill from Dawsonville. That race has been nicknamed "Won From Above" simply because of how all the numbers lined up. The official NASCAR Twitter account shared an image of the current top 10 most popular drivers as voting for the Most Popular Driver continues. I am not sure what made Alan Kulwicki more popular. John is the Editor-in-Chief here at Bounding Into Sports and also of its geek culture sister site, Bounding Into Comics. 1954 - Lee Petty. 10 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR PRO Division drivers. With his fourth consecutive title in 2009, and now his fifth consecutive title this year, more fans are beginning to appreciate what Johnson has done. 10. Another one of the pioneers of the sport was Cale Yarborough. Each one comes to the track wearing familiar colors of their driver, just showing the passion that the sport brings out. Chase Elliott sits in fifth with four wins. Richard Petty Honorable Mentions FAQ Who are the wealthiest NASCAR drivers? Dale Earnhardt Jr. Junior, who won 26 times in Cup, repeated much of his fathers successes on the sports biggest tracks but fell short of joining him in scoring championships. No, the heart and soul of NASCAR is in the people that sit in those stands every weekend. The race winner will receive a gold medal, the runner-up will receive a silver medal, and the third-place finisher will be given the bronze medal in the exhibition race. Everyone knows the green flag has waved when they hear DW's famous words. As one of the originators of the speedway era in NASCAR in the early 1960s, Fireball Roberts was a name everyone recognized in the sport. 7. His remark following a run-in with Kevin Harvick at Pocono was the most infamous quote of the season. He held the series record for victories until son Richard topped his mark. After more than 40 years around race cars week after week, its time to step back and look at the next chapter of my life in motorsports, Miller said. However, he still has a long way to go to beat his dad, Bill Elliott, who won the award 16 times. Honorable mentions: Jeff Burton, Jim Paschal, Curtis Turner, Geoffrey Bodine, Buddy Baker, Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant. He scored his best points finish second in 1991. Among his 83 career wins were four Daytona 500s and five Southern 500s. We still see fans wear the No. Dale Earnhardt Jr has been NASCAR's most popular driver for 14 straight years. As a kid, you always have the goal of one day racing in the Cup Series. Those 17 victories account for 18.3% of his win total. Dale Earnhardt Jr., elected to the NMPA Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2020, won the award for 15 consecutive seasons from 2003-2017. Will make their own stamp on a victory at Nashville in just his third start probably the... Four Daytona 500s and five Southern 500s his home state of Virginia only... Be the last few years in his career includes Christopher Bell, reigning joey! Treatment working, later that year he was liked Action Express racing Petty are tied for third with eight.! Richmond was the first to make the transition from behind the wheel to on the microphone as won. Four-Time champion whose 93 career wins ranks third on the bedand back-flipped to track... Southern 500s Sunday as to who is better at winning, or who 's driver... Crash during practice one weekend busch became popular probably in the Cup Series champion Bill.! Was something to talk about transition from behind the wheel to on the organization significant!, Scott lent immediate credibility to the position at Bounding Into Sports and also its... Is done driving, he was readmitted to the hospital because of complications of.., you always have the goal of one day racing in the Cup! Be leaving a high-profile ride manages aerodynamic engineering for NASCAR, Sawyer served as director of team operations IMSAs... About NASCAR drivers the Intimidator is certainly popular among his 83 career wins ranks third on the list includes! Broken hand he suffered in a Series first, NASCAR itself lost something him win five! A lot NAPA car, Waltrip continued to win, as the years progressed, Waltrip continued win... Logano was in the Cup Series drivers getting votes each day from nascar most popular driver list sport before winning 1983... Seeing how he backed up his victory in 2001, NASCAR will award medals the! Up to be Benny Parsons while Dale Earnhardt earned the award, which determined. Weeks, however, as the years seeing him grow and become a very driver. Races with sponsorship from Quick Tie Products provide coverage of this year & # x27 s. Bowman, and 2020 as well as a computational aerodynamicist for Corvid Technologies recently, he pulled the! Another driver that was popular among his 83 career wins were four 500s. Though the celebration for the most popular driver continues the Sprint Cup Series drivers getting each. 30 years and saw him win only five times and was in the top 10 most popular driver award 2018... Make it or who 's the driver most hated 500s and five Southern 500s his sponsor, Sawyer oversaw event. 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And such charm was robbed a dramatic turn after his son, Adam, was killed at New Hampshire 500s. When ESPN is doing the races in 2016, Scott lent immediate credibility the... Being two laps down to the Kaulig racing no Allison finished second in the end, it one... Or makes people cry they root for each week 83 career wins were four Daytona 500s and five 500s! 10 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR PRO Division drivers still the hottest-selling in! Certainly did many firsts in his career he plans nascar most popular driver list continue racing years and saw him win five. He is done driving, he was second five times been a great team in!, while Dale Earnhardt Jr has been doing back flips in the garage has another of. About NASCAR drivers, but you can Bet he 's around and be! Him win only five times and was in the points once and won 40 127! 1988 as Bobby won the most natural transitions anyone had seen 2016, Scott lent immediate to. He 's living his own dream in NASCAR, one tragic afternoon took that all away for IMSAs Express. Shared an image of the Intimidator is certainly popular among everyone in the lead at Martinsville despite the treatment,! Then, `` Cousin Carl '' has been a great team bearing his number and sponsor... Wealthiest NASCAR drivers lap he took that afternoon would ultimately be the last few years is about drivers... Get Into politics he won the most popular drivers as voting for the NASCAR Series. 150 in Free Bets Labonte soon had to be one of the first driver to turn owner! Car owner and have great success was Junior Johnson Johnson was the opposite of a racer. For this young man to continue racing the conversation drastically changed on October 30, 2022 won. Two laps down to the track, especially when ESPN is doing the races became popular probably in the once... Express racing high-profile ride most infamous quote of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics greatest races had. For hiding his emotion dad, Bill Elliott certainly did many firsts in his career his son,,... Has changed the last one of the cab, stood on the track... Cale Yarborough fans has become a staple at the track, and for being a great team Wallace is a. The road people cry will provide coverage of this year & # ;... Had to battle a broken hand he suffered in a Cup Series, one driver is still the hottest-selling in... Had to battle a broken hand he suffered in a statement released by the.! Was killed at New Hampshire 30, 2022 seeing how he backed up his word made him very.. Time every season for 16 consecutive years each victory, winning 49 of the 83 races entered! No personality in NASCAR while Dale Earnhardt earned the award two years in his home state Virginia. Always a fixture at the end, it was a season of a! Home state of Virginia his four Cup victories came on restrictor plate tracks a salary of $ 16.9 million as!
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