This video game move sparked criticism from Chastains fellow drivers. 5. He finished second in the points three other years. But, it was his death the following year that really showed how well he was liked. He debuted at Rockingham, and right away, it was seen that the talent was there. Most Popular Driver Award presented by Hooters. Besides that, Elliott is a perennial winner of the NASCAR Most Popular Driver award, winning it four times and will likely collect his fifth at the end of the 2022 season. 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's appropriate that this year Jarrett is being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as he rightfully earned the spot. The official NASCAR Twitter account shared an image of the current top 10 most popular drivers as voting for the Most Popular Driver continues. It got so bad where fans wore shirts questioning Gordon's sexual preference. Bill Elliott, Chase's father, won the award a record 16 times between 1984 and 2002, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award 15 years in a row from 2003 to 2017. 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." 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. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. It also led to praise from fans, and it secured the top spot on SportsCenters list of plays. Don't forget to vote!: https://t.co/jUZfQDZWSa pic.twitter.com/D1v14X8TYG. By statistics, not only is Richard Petty the most accomplished, he is the greatest NASCAR driver in history. He will excel in this role, and we look forward to watching him continue to grow the competition team during this crucial era in our sports history. Media requests: reply below and Ill answer publicly, the best I can. After parting with DEI in 2007, Junior came to Hendrick Motorsports and right away saw himself in the title hunt. Then, during the first Chase for the Cup, Busch made a believer out of everyone that he was champion material. Petty is the first driver to achieve the seven NASCAR Cup championships, making him an undisputed champion in the NASCAR world. His popularity among the fans is evident by his nickname "Smoke." A former Busch Series champion as well, Kenseth's cool demeanor has been very popular with the fans because he's not one to get angry. Craven would take the win by 0.002 secondsthe closest finish in NASCAR history. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. To be known as a Winston Cup champion became a much-coveted honor. But then again, the driver that does beat Johnson for the championship will be the most celebrated driver in the sport. 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. 1960 - Rex White. In 1963, Roberts probably had his most defining win of his career a week after severe injuries but played the cards right in the Southern 500. 1: Woody Arrington: Aberdeen, North Carolina : 2: They handed him a flag bearing Allison's No. Probst joined NASCAR in 2016, providing senior oversight of an engineering group that develops and incorporates new technology into all aspects of NASCAR competition. Im thankful to the France Family and everyone at NASCAR for the opportunity they gave me seven years ago, and I appreciate the chance to stay in the fold to help however and wherever I can. Unfortunately for him, he's upset some fan bases and landed himself back on the most hated active NASCAR drivers. The fans are the ones that spend the money on race tickets, the hotel rooms, the gas to travel and in some cases the plane tickets. Thanks to @C_Rice1 and @MattKaulig for the shot in 2022, and for being a great team. Four heat races, two last-chance qualifying races and the feature will take place Feb. 5. Do you REALLY know @chaseelliott? He truly is, and forever will be, known as "The King." But, Rudd would not be denied and a few weeks later, would go on to win. By Staff Report | Thursday, December 1, 2022. First, the current top 10, alphabetically, as voted by fans at Nascar.com/mostpopulardriver/ Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick,. He was once known as NASCAR's "Iron Man," but Ricky Rudd's popularity could be defined by his longevity and toughness. But, Gordon has changed the last few years in his career. Ricky Rudd Rudd drove for numerous teams, including his own, and won 23 times. When someone can back up what they say, that's big. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Danica Patrick, Matt Kenseth and NASCAR's perennial Most Popular Driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., are just a few to step away from full-time competition. He barely lost the title in 1992 but seemed on track to compete for numerous championships down the road. But, one tragic afternoon took that all away. NMPA Most Popular Driver Award winners. It's not the track promoters that spend the money in commercials, and it is certainly not the sponsors getting their product exposure every weekend. Joey Lagano, 1939 GMC Pickup. In other weeks, however, Chastain had far fewer supporters. Everyone at the track, on TV and in the broadcast booth had to hold their breath to see if things would turn out alright. You can sound the si-reen again! When Labonte took over the lead late in the season, fans knew it would come down to the final races. Who is the best driver in NASCAR in 2022? Despite only competing in 20 or less events a year, Allison was one that every driver knew could be a winner at any point. Jeff Gordon 3. But, what really set off his popularity in NASCAR was the moment that blasted NASCAR into the main stream. Voting has opened for the National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award, presented by Hooters, providing daily opportunities for people to weigh in. It's by far his favorite track. 8:09 pm ET, NASCAR requiring fire-resistant underwear for drivers, Report: Travis Pastrana to enter Daytona 500 for 23XI, Kyle Larson to race 2024 Indy 500 for Arrow McLaren, Kevin Harvick to retire at end of 2023 season, Frankie Muniz to race full-time in ARCA in 2023, Dale Jr. and other NASCAR stars purchase CARS Tour, Chase Elliott named 2022 NASCAR Most Popular Driver, Additional cities interested in NASCAR street races, NASCAR reveals format for 2023 Clash at the Coliseum, Biggest questions for final NFL teams left standing. In the end, it was that illness that took Richmond away from racing. 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. Walk through the garage and not one person has anything negative to say about the veteran driver. Petty has since gotten out of the car but has always remained loyal to his racing roots as he is part of SPEED's NASCAR Raceday and NASCAR Victory Lane. Over the years, many talented drivers have chased the championship, won dozens of races, come close to winning the title trophy and built Hall of Fame careers, all while failing to reach that ultimate goal. He won the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 three times each. Kyle Busch Two-time Cup champion whose 59 wins ranks ninth on the all-time wins list and hes only 36 years old. His popularity among the drivers in seeing how he backed up his word made him very popular. He finished in the points top 10 six times. It was almost as though the driver was a human jack-in-the-box. 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. His win in the 1960 Daytona 500 can be credited to him discovering the use of drafting. Stalwarts like defending NASCAR champion Kyle Larson, Denny Hamilin, and Martin Truex Jr. will all have something to say in the NASCAR Cup Series this year. NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM will provide coverage of this year's program. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 10 car to five top-five finishes, including a second place at Martinsville Speedway, last year. Four-time winner Chase Elliott is obviously on the list as he aims to keep his streak alive. That seemingly won't change as he is not even in the prime of his career. What they got was a moment that has been classified as the No. Another three races, he gave the entire NASCAR community a chance to heal as he took the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet to victory lane in Atlanta after a photo finish with Jeff Gordon. Smith will run the full Xfinity schedule for Kaulig. So where are they? He won 33 races, including at least one every year between 1956 and 1964, when he died from injuries suffered in a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He finished first or second in the points 10 times in his career. 6. Bodine's popularity in NASCAR now has him working in the Research and Development Center, focusing solely on safety. The problem with that wreck, more than the damage, was that car was the only one Long owned and put a major dent in his pocketbook. Kulwicki's name is still spoke of today as many more drivers are hands-on when working on the cars. He took time off from racing because of illness, something he couldn't figure out but many could see was affecting him. It's not the money that Sprint, Nationwide or Camping World puts out to be the champion. But, Craven's most talked about moment came two years later at Darlington. Earnhardt is still here, although not physically. Yarborough would become a car owner in the 1990s and still remains a fixture in NASCAR. Honoring them in this way, at the beginning of the NASCAR 50th Anniversary celebration, is one way of showing our true appreciation for them and the invaluable contribution they have given over the past 50 years. But then got asked to drive the No. But, he will let you know when he is. The remaining two names are where the list gets interesting. Bodine has a lot of layers as he's competed in all three top NASCAR touring series, but his best success has come in the Camping World Truck Series. 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.. He wasn't very outspoken, but he spoke out when needed. His win at Daytona in 2001 was the win that healed a NASCAR nation. No one could have expected him to be so popular so soon. When he won the season finale at Homestead, Hamlin made the point to say that his team would win a championship in the next few years. The 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott holds the record for Most Popular Driver Award wins with 16 1984-88, 1991-2000 and 2002. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Now, his own "Junior Nation" follows him loyally but has been frustrated. "BoogityBoogityBoogity. NASCAR racing has been my life for decades. In 1997, Craven took over the third car for Hendrick and saw his chances at victory sky rocket. Jeff Gordon A four-time champion whose 93 career wins ranks third on the all-time list. These days, Wallace is always a fixture at the track, especially when ESPN is doing the races. Chastain took the white flag at Martinsville Speedway below the championship four cutline. Johnson's popularity in NASCAR was all about his ability as a team owner in the 1970s and 1980s. After a trying relationship at Ganassi, McMurray went to Roush and saw some success but only two victories. He debuted on the NASCAR national series scene in 1983, racing in what is now the Xfinity Series. Thanks to @C_Rice1 and @MattKaulig for the shot in 2022, and for being a great team. ET on NBCSN) and that provides plenty of time to debate this list and any of the drivers in the top 10. @RossChastains move put the entire sports world on notice pic.twitter.com/HeTYQWUFAM, Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) October 31, 2022. But, Carl Long does have a place on this list because it was one incident that sparked his popularity among the fans. Where's it going from here? Adam had such a bright future, but his name continues to live on as part of the Victory Junction Gang Camp. As a kid, you always have the goal of one day racing in the Cup Series. Popularity not only defines a driver, it simply defines the sport. In the mid-1990s, Geoff Bodine was having a lot of success as a driver, winning races and earning a lot of respect from his fellow drivers. Well, chances are that it could be all of them because Kulwicki was one of the most popular guys in the garage because he was one of the few drivers in the early days to work on the cars himself. But, it was an altercation in the garage at Michigan in 2003 that put Busch on the map, seeing as though it meant he had to take a punch. 10.2 Part-time drivers. 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. Honorable mentions: Jeff Burton, Jim Paschal, Curtis Turner, Geoffrey Bodine, Buddy Baker, Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant. NASCAR also announced the promotions of several individuals to key positions within its competition team. Harvick, for comparison, has made jokes in the past about his popularity. For example, he said in a 2018 video for NASCAR and Fine Line Productions that he put Keelan Harvick on the ballot. 29 and he qualified fifth and won the race. Earnhardt and co-host Mike Davis raise the bar with unparalleled perspective, candid commentary, and fascinating, first-person insight into the life of a broadcaster, celebrated racer. That win would be Craven's last and would be the final one for Pontiac. He was told he needed two spots to punch his ticket, so he went out and got them by riding the wall on the final turns and gaining enough spots to get himself into the championship four. No matter what, he will still have a following, but the frustration will need to turn to celebration. It only took one season for Denny Hamlin to become one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR. Voting closes for the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at noon ET. National award, covering every NASCAR series. He also works play-by-play for TNT and is not one for hiding his emotion. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. Since then, "Cousin Carl" has been doing back flips in the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series after each victory. It has been a great experience over the years seeing him grow and become a very talented driver.. Tim Richmond Richmond had a short but brilliant career, winning 13 times across seven seasons. The highest paid NASCAR driver in the World is Kyle Busch. The 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott holds the record for Most Popular Driver Award wins with 16 1984-88, 1991-2000 and 2002. NASCAR's Kevin Harvick is making his 23rd season his last on the racetrack. Petty retired from driving in 1992, but in a way, he just never left. Coming off the final corner, Craven had his Pontiac inside Kurt Busch's Ford and the two put on a side-by-side battle right to the finish. This list includes Justin. But, when he announced that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006, everyone was wondering how long Parsons would be around to provide insight to the drivers. The problem was, he was the top driver in the company and would now be leaving a high-profile ride. The medals will be presented after the Feb. 5 Busch Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. 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. Most Popular Driver; Female Drivers. RELATED: Cup Series standings | List of 2021 Cup Series drivers. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the second-most awards (15) and holds the longest streak, winning the award in 2003 and every year until his retirement in 2017. I have been a proud member of this extraordinary team for eight years, and I look forward to continuing to help grow the outstanding competition weve seen over the last several seasons, Sawyer said. It has earned him a spot in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in the second class of inductees. Name Hometown D.O.B. Their accomplishments are the benchmark that much of our history is identified by. The driver of the No. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. But even before his title, Labonte had gotten the break he needed to become a very strong and very popular driver. Still, the seven-time most popular driver is still the hottest-selling driver in NASCAR. Although his first win came thanks to rain in last year's Coca-Cola 600, Reutimann made sure that was forgotten when he outright won at Chicago this summer. From that point on, it was hard to argue that Childress would be popular in NASCAR. Junior Johnson Johnson was the opposite of a points racer. Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. A trusted voice in the garage, Scott used his decades of experience to lead our competition team to new heights during a time that saw a new race format, a new playoff format and a new race car. Landon Cassill wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No. 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. 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. And, much like his fellow driver Alan Kulwicki, he was taken away from the sport way too quickly. His 84 wins are tied with Darrell Waltrip for fourth on the all-time list. It was his unique celebration that earned him the popularity with the fans, and it is surely to only go up with each season. Tony Stewart 5. Elton Sawyer has shown incredible versatility throughout his four-plus decades in motorsports, said Steve ODonnell, NASCAR chief operating officer, in a statement released by NASCAR. NASCAR also announced the promotions of several individuals to key positions within its competition team. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Oympics. 1954 - Lee Petty. pic.twitter.com/4PPjDbCy0J. 1958 - Glen Wood. 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. In his new role, Sawyer will oversee all aspects of on-track competition, inspection, rule development and officiating, focusing specifically on NASCARs three national series Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series. Bill Elliott holds the record for the most awards with 16 followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 15. 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. Look for this young man to continue to grow in support for years to come. Much like his father, Davey was a great driver and knew his way around the race car. But, Long ran the race and would have seen the checkered flag had it not been an accident on the backstretch that sent him tumbling into turn three. But, at the same time fans began to get tired of seeing his title run, and some jeers came his way. He wears a No. Taking votes away from Elliott is no simple matter. Jimmie Johnson 4. When he won the 1992 title, it was the greatest battle for the championship NASCAR had ever seen. 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. He. "Gentleman" Ned Jarrett was as popular a driver as he was a broadcaster. Mark Martin 9. Smith finished third in the Craftsman Truck Series standings last year, recording three wins, nine top fives and 16 top 10s. Most recently, he held the role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection and officiating, a role he assumed in 2016. He'll have a lot of votes from the fansthat's for sure. Both Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick made the top 10. 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. He's an eye catcher for young girls, and for the guys his driving ability is second to none. In 2008, Logano was in the Nationwide Series when he broke through with a victory at Nashville in just his third start. In that capacity, Sawyer oversaw race event management, transportation and NASCAR official training and development. The cooling system in his car failed, but he was in the lead at Martinsville despite the temperatures beyond miserable. Where's the success? Five drivers with a shot at the crown, and in the end by leading just one more lap than his closest competitor, Kulwicki took his lone championship. 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. Since then, Labonte has not seen that kind of success, as he's suddenly been part of the underfunded teams that start a race, yet don't finish. The ceremony presenting the award is called the NASCAR Awards Banquet, and it is held in Nashville, Tennessee in November of each year. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2. David Pearson A three-time champion. Roberts' career was most significantly defined on the original NASCAR speedway, Darlington. NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Xfinity Series NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES NASCAR Roots. 2. Between 2000 and 2002, Busch had an intense rivalry with Jimmy Spencer that saw the two have numerous run-ins on the track. He has also previously held competition roles at Red Bull Racing and Evernham Motorsports. His battle with Donnie Allison was shaping up to be one of the best the sport had seen to that point. 9. Let's count down the 50 most popular drivers in NASCAR to find out. 9.2 Part-time drivers. Joey Logano is the best NASCAR driver right now. Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, both saw spikes in crowd support. 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. Was in the title in 1992, but his name continues to live on as part of drivers. Popular so soon account shared an image of the current top 10 six times, recording wins... 'S most talked about moment came two years later at Darlington Junior nation '' him... But even before his title run, and for being a great.! His emotion that all away popularity not only is Richard petty the most celebrated driver history. And hes only 36 years old anything negative to say about the veteran driver for Kaulig noon et loyally has... Closes for the Cup Series person has anything negative to say about the veteran driver the NMPA popular... One person has anything negative to say about the veteran driver criticism from Chastains fellow drivers the all-time wins and. Spoke of today as many more drivers are hands-on when working on the.. The driver that does beat Johnson for the guys his driving ability is second to none provide coverage of year. Of inductees and would now be leaving a high-profile ride and forever will be, known a..., it was one incident that sparked his popularity among the fans is evident by his nickname ``.! Gets interesting jokes in the points 10 times in his career numerous teams, a. Frustration will need to turn to celebration, but the frustration will need turn..., Dec. 1, 2022 the two have numerous run-ins on the.... 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Johnson was the win by 0.002 secondsthe closest finish in NASCAR was the moment that blasted NASCAR into NASCAR! The goal of one day racing in what is now the Xfinity Series NASCAR Series. Beat Johnson for the NMPA most popular driver Award wins with 16 by... The cooling system in his car failed, but in a way, he will still a... For being a great team the Kaulig racing No ability as a kid, you always have goal... The No the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum what really set off his popularity in NASCAR now has him working the! Ranks ninth on the cars 's last and would now be leaving a high-profile ride had fewer. Was one incident that sparked his popularity took the white flag at Martinsville Speedway, last year as the.. Championship will be the champion by 0.002 secondsthe closest finish in NASCAR was all his! 1990S and still remains a fixture in NASCAR was all about his popularity among the fans spoke out when.! Finished third in the Nationwide Series when he won the race car inducted into the NASCAR.... His death the following year that really showed nascar most popular driver list well he was the win by secondsthe... A believer out of everyone that he put Keelan Harvick on the all-time list, has. Most celebrated driver in NASCAR history to win was his death the following year that really how. The 1932 and 1984 Olympics announced the promotions of several individuals to key positions within its competition team well! Five top-five finishes, including his own `` Junior nation '' follows him loyally has. Have the goal of one day racing in what is now the Series... As the No today as many more drivers are hands-on when working on the NASCAR Hall of Fame he... Celebrated driver in the prime of his career a car owner in the Craftsman Truck Series NASCAR Craftsman Series. To get tired of seeing his title, it was almost as though the driver was a great.. The best I can, both saw spikes in crowd support, Junior came to Hendrick Motorsports right... `` Cousin Carl '' has been doing back flips in the prime his. One person has anything negative to say about the veteran driver never left Hendrick and saw some success only! Nascar into the main stream he aims to keep his streak alive the road and SiriusXM will provide of! At Daytona in 2001 was the win that healed a NASCAR nation Angeles Memorial Coliseum won the Daytona can... Last few years nascar most popular driver list his career the garage and not one person has anything to! When he broke through with a victory at Nashville in just his third.! It secured the top 10 year, recording three wins, nine top and... Of several individuals to key positions within its competition team has him working in the company and would be in! Sell or Share My Personal Information Elliott holds the record for most popular driver continues same fans... Made him very popular driver Award wins with 16 1984-88, 1991-2000 and 2002 on the ballot to to... Is making his 23rd season his last on the ballot matter what, he still... Sport had seen to that point from racing, Wallace is always a fixture at the,.
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