With so much emphasis on winning races and the Championship, one wonders why the Most Popular Driver does not always fall within that criteria.
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The Most Popular Driver Award is the most prestige off-track honor in the Sprint Cup Series. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1956. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and grew to incorporate all NASCAR cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it is a prestigious award voted on by racing fans nationwide. The award is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association and sponsored by Chex. The winner is typically announced in December.
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This award is about the fans and it honors their relationship with the drivers. Having a family-oriented product like Chex be a part of the Most Popular Driver Award demonstrates their commitment to families and racing.
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While everyone loves a winner, NASCAR fans don’t necessarily base their devotion on first-place finishes. While Dale Earnhardt, Jr., has endured his share of struggles on the track the past few seasons, he remains the most loved competitor on the circuit today, as evidenced by five straight National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Awards.
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Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has led the voting since the start of the 2004 season, and easily captured enough votes in the record-setting 2004 year to win the award. He received a record 1,403,544 votes in 2005. Jeff Gordon finished second with 594,434 votes.
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Despite a year of personal upheaval and on-track failures, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. remained as popular as ever. He was selected the most popular driver for the fifth straight year, drawing more than 1.5 million of the over 3.8 million votes cast online. The award came after he decided to leave the NASCAR team founded by his late father to join powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports with a new sponsor and a new car number.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins Richard Petty and Bill Elliott winning five consecutive times since the award’s inception. Dale Earnhardt Jr. becomes just the fifth all time driver in the award’s history to have won in consecutive years, joining Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Bill Elliott, and Darrell Waltrip. And Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his father, Dale Earnhardt, Sr., are the only father-son combination to have won NASCAR’s oldest off-track honor.
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So what is it about Dale Earnhardt Jr. that makes him so popular—even in Canada? Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is an amazing NASCAR role model who has adapted to the times. Dale Sr. was a Southern legend, but the well-spoken and considerate Dale, Jr. has the ability to become an All-American legend. NASCAR is lucky to have such a man in its garages, one who can lead by example and bridge barriers between economic and racial problems. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, known for his boyish charm and easygoing, frat-boy lifestyle. He is a favorite of corporate America, and easily outdistances any other driver when it comes to endorsement deals.
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A testament to Dale Jr.s’ popularity is his win at Michigan. In the grandstands the crowd chanted ‘Junior, Junior,” as he took the green flag. Everyone was a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fan for that moment. Staying hours after the race, only leaving when it rained, fans remained in the grandstands as he and his crew celebrated his win.
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5 Comments
Sissylynn
Jun 27 2008 15:25
Yeah 18
Bill won 16 times 1984 – 2002 with the exception of Darrell Waltrip in 1989 & 1990 and Dale, Sr. 2001 after his passing, which I thought was sad, but probably was the way fans wanted to honor him. I would love it if my favorite driver won this award, I think he is just as deserving, but I need to convince a few more people. LOL
triplH
Jun 27 2008 10:19
popularity for a driver
ends up being more money in the bank account….
CEFan6099
Jun 27 2008 10:16
If I were a driver
I would say that this award is an honor—maybe ranking up there with the cup as a trophy I want in my trophy case!Great Blog!
18packAbs
Jun 27 2008 10:11
Popularity and Championships
Now that is a debate that only the Drivers could answer. Bill Elliot won it 16 times and only won 1 championship. And not to ever diminish a great career of a legendary driver, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. won the year he died at Daytona, and I have no problem with that, but he didn’t race that whole season. But no doubt Junior is popular and ever increasing. I bet he would change all that for the Trophy, though.
rpkasper88
Jun 27 2008 10:02
Great Blog!
There are other driver’s with more wins, but not more heart! Thanks for the blog Sissylynn. I am proud to be one of his loyal voters!