Everyone knew what Petty meant to this sport. He wears a No. Among Lee Pettys win was the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959. 10.2 Part-time drivers. landon cassill (@landoncassill) January 18, 2023. The sport got this big because it became the popular sport in the country. Look for him to be in the Hall of Fame in the next few years. 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. Elliott has won Most Popular Driver for the fifth year in a row, and he remains one of just five drivers to win the award since 1984. But, he was the first name read for the 2011 class of inductees, as his statistics and demeanor were more than enough to get the respect of his peers and the fans. He won the Daytona 500 and had an opportunity to win the championship in 1992, only to have a wreck take him out of the running. Honorable mentions: Jeff Burton, Jim Paschal, Curtis Turner, Geoffrey Bodine, Buddy Baker, Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant. Probably the first driver to turn car owner and have great success was Junior Johnson. Joey Logano is the best NASCAR driver right now. In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to select the "50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time." But, when Edwards won his first race, he decided to do something different, and at the same time, save the equipment. Despite only competing in 20 or less events a year, Allison was one that every driver knew could be a winner at any point. 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. Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. He chased the championship across 23 full-time seasons in the sport, falling short on several agonizing occasions. The ceremony presenting the award is called the NASCAR Awards Banquet, and it is held in Nashville, Tennessee in November of each year. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. He was the original "Most Popular Driver" in NASCAR. But, he would not get his first career victory until 2001. In 1998, his lone victory showcased Rudd's refusal to yield. The official NASCAR Twitter account shared an image of the current top 10 most popular drivers as voting for the Most Popular Driver continues. Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. 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. It's easy to remember and fans know when they hear that name who is being talked about. This 1939 GMC . Missed one race due to the death of his father. In fact, it was where he locked up his 2000 championship. NASCAR Drivers; No. I don't know what it is about NASCAR drivers, but each likes to make their own stamp on a victory. Other past winners of the award include the aforementioned Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Richard Petty, Bobby Isaac, Cale Yarborough, Darel Dieringer, Fred Lorenzen, Joe Weatherly, Rex White, Jack Smith, Glen Wood, Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner, Tim Flock, and Lee Petty. But, Carl Long does have a place on this list because it was one incident that sparked his popularity among the fans. That honor was achieved by younger brother Bobby in 2000. 5. Kyle was third in line in the family to drive and had a very successful career in NASCAR. The National Motorsports . But, in that moment, Craven earned the respect and popularity at a track that he had to tame the hard way. Everyone believes this man should be higher than he is going to be on this list. 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. There has only been one name in NASCAR with the distinction of going through four generations of drivers. Now NASCAR has revealed the top 10 Cup Series drivers getting votes each day from the fans. Another one of the pioneers of the sport was Cale Yarborough. Elliott earned Most Popular Driver honors through a fan vote. On This Day in NASCAR History; NASCAR Flags; NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees; NASCAR Hall of Fame Information; . 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. NASCAR unveiled the list on November 21 and revealed which drivers in alphabetical order -have been receiving the most votes through the first two weeks. 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. 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. Elliott cruised to the regular season championship and made it all the way to the Championship 4 by winning five times and earning 12 top fives, 20 top 10s and three poles with a Cup Series-leading 857 laps led. That is yet to be seen as his career is just getting warmed up. When he died in 2001, NASCAR itself lost something. As a kid, you always have the goal of one day racing in the Cup Series. In the end, it was that illness that took Richmond away from racing. The 1979 Daytona 500 put not only him, but NASCAR on the map. 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. Lavar Scott, Andrs Prez de Lara, Jaiden Reyna and Justin Campbell are returning to Rev Racing, which operates the diversity program. Maybe next year that success and popularity will return, thanks to JTG Daugherty Racing. Rebuilding will be my top priority. Chase Elliott is the most popular driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, but this year's most popular Xfinity Series driver might be just as obvious. He scored his best points finish second in 1991. I was really mind blown on a few occasions this year of that support to see it first hand.. Eight drivers have been named to this year's NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. It was simply because he gave the champ a run for his money. Forty Cup victories and a reputation as a racers racer gave him clear entry into the Hall of Fame. NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM will provide coverage of this year's program. He's an eye catcher for young girls, and for the guys his driving ability is second to none. The list in alphabetical order includes Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Martin Truex Jr. NASCAR Twitter To be known as a Winston Cup champion became a much-coveted honor. That will never happen again, guaranteed. He was also involved in the finish of the first Daytona 500, despite being two laps down to the leader. Elliott won three races for Evernham, including the Brickyard 400 in 2002. He won the first Chase by eight points, giving Jack Roush his second of two titles. That all changed in 2010 when his career really took off. 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. Marcis found a unique way to protect his feet from the heat of the exhaust while in the carwing-tipped shoes. Sponsored by Hamburger Helper in 2010, it was also sponsored by Wheaties in 2011. 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. The two sit 1-2 in all time victories, but the two were most famously known for their duel in the 1976 Daytona 500. His win at Daytona in 2001 was the win that healed a NASCAR nation. The race winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is covered in 24-karat plated gold. Richard Petty holds the record with at least a win in 18 consecutive seasons. Earnhardt didn't show much emotion, but the loss hit him hard as everyone could tell. RETWEET to congratulate @ChaseElliott on his second! Harvick's third race at the wheel, fourth race of the year in the No. NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award is awarded to the most popular NASCAR driver in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series every year since 1956. Politics aren't exactly something people talk about in happiness. No personality in NASCAR has the longevity, the recognition and the respect like Richard Petty. 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. 3 in this case cause those numbers are Dale Earnhardt's birthday. Petty slid to the infield but stopped just short of the finish line. 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. NASCAR racing has been my life for decades. National award, covering every NASCAR series. Media requests: reply below and Ill answer publicly, the best I can. View Fullscreen. Drivers have a way of earning respect on the track, but that carries over in the garage. 1 of 20. For most of its 75-year history, and particularly since the early 1970s, the focal point of the NASCAR Cup Series has been the season championship. Most of the garage area will agree that if he does go that route, he will be just as successful as he has been in NASCAR. Burton admits that after he is done driving, he would like to get into politics. He also had a Daytona 500 win and a Southern 500 victory among his 84 career wins. That name is Petty. His first race out in the NAPA car, Waltrip won the Daytona 500. You can sound the si-reen again! 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. That's five consecutive years Elliott has earned the honor. It's quite different to see the driver of the No. 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. His excitement for the sport is uncanny, especially when NASCAR heads to Bristol. Finished second in the points three times. He collected 105 series wins, second only to Richard Petty on the all-time list. The list in no alphabetical order features some expected names. Current NASCAR Cup Series drivers name their favorite driver Watch on As the sport has many drivers who have passionate fan bases. His unfortunate death a year later from pneumonia following a scary crash with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson cut short a promising career. No, the heart and soul of NASCAR is in the people that sit in those stands every weekend. NASCAR's 15-time Most Popular Driver and winner of two Daytona 500s, Dale Earnhardt Jr., hosts his very own podcast, The Dale Jr Download on Dirty Mo Media. Less than a month later, Parsons succumbed to the complications. During this period, Ill be training and preparing for the opportunity to win.. At the same time, early in his career, he was also well-hated. With the nickname "Sliced Bread," everyone knew that Joey Logano would be a popular driver. 1 greatest moment in the sport. He was the first NASCAR champion to win back-to-back-to-back championships from 1976-1978. Prior to joining NASCAR, Sawyer served as director of team operations for IMSAs Action Express Racing. An independent group of 51 individuals representing various NASCAR roles were asked to give their objective and educated opinions on who the 50 greatest drivers in NASCAR history were. But, when it comes to NASCAR, they have their own "Mayor.". The Labonte brothers are the only family to have the distinction of winning NASCAR championships at it's highest level. 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. Denny Hamlin 8. That win would be Craven's last and would be the final one for Pontiac. Parsons, or as many knew him BP, is still missed to this day. 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. But, what really set off his popularity in NASCAR was the moment that blasted NASCAR into the main stream. @RossChastains move put the entire sports world on notice pic.twitter.com/HeTYQWUFAM, Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) October 31, 2022. Probst joined NASCAR in 2016, providing senior oversight of an engineering group that develops and incorporates new technology into all aspects of NASCAR competition. That's what earned him induction into the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame. He debuted at Rockingham, and right away, it was seen that the talent was there. Don't forget to vote!: https://t.co/jUZfQDZWSa pic.twitter.com/D1v14X8TYG. 10 car to five top-five finishes, including a second place at Martinsville Speedway, last year. Busch races for the Richard Childress Racing team and has a salary of $16.9 million annually as of 2023. pic.twitter.com/iM7jihS3VZ, RELATED: NASCAR COO Steve ODonnell Appears To Signal They Will Outlaw Moves Like Ross Chastains Hail Melon Martinsville Move. 9 Budweiser Ford or now the Red Bull Toyota, Kahne's fan base is secure. It also meant that when he did get angry, it was something to talk about. 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.. 2. He wasn't very outspoken, but he spoke out when needed. Dale Earnhardt Jr's popularity was secure simply because of the name, and after his father's death, it grew 10-fold. 1958 - Glen Wood. In a way, Michael Waltrip's popularity skyrocketed because of tragedy. 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. Although in his death, NASCAR did mandate the window net, despite it taking seven years to do so. There is no easy path for any of the other Cup Series drivers to take the trophy away from him. 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. Between 2000 and 2002, Busch had an intense rivalry with Jimmy Spencer that saw the two have numerous run-ins on the track. But, who knew that popularity had two different sides. The older of the Labonte brothers, Terry has enjoyed a guaranteed Hall of Fame career in NASCAR. ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images. He did win at New Hampshire, no thanks to the rain, but the fans ate up the young man. The 1999 champion, Dale Jarrett, is on this list not just because of his popularity among the fans and the drivers. 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: Dale Earnhardt Jr. to run Xfinity race at Bristol, MORE: Stewart-Haas sets crew chief lineup, MORE: Chandler Smith to attempt Daytona 500, MORE: NASCAR to award medals to top three finishes in Clash. Who can ever forget the "Golden Benny" which was given to one team or organization after their performance each week. Jacuzzi, who manages aerodynamic engineering for NASCAR, joined the sanctioning body after working as a computational aerodynamicist for Corvid Technologies. The remaining two names are where the list gets interesting. Another driver turned broadcaster that saw some success in NASCAR was Ricky Craven. Tallying 44 wins and one championship over his career, he also scored victories at many of NASCAR's premier tracks. The first winner of the award was Curtis Turner in 1949. 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. No other driver, or personality for that matter, will take as much time with his fans to sign an autograph, talk to people and give the time of day to drivers. 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. Simply put, Tim Richmond was the first "rock star" of NASCAR. 3. Jimmie Johnson As time passes, his accomplishments will be further revered. Blaney has only released two videos so far, but there is an opportunity for more. Popular because he was tough, something many of today's drivers have taken to heart. Much like his father, Davey was a great driver and knew his way around the race car. Probst joined NASCAR in 2016, providing senior oversight of an engineering group that develops and incorporates new technology into all aspects of NASCAR competition. "His wife wears the firesuit in the family," he said, referring to Harvick's wife, Delana. It only took one season for Denny Hamlin to become one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR. With a car that was 22 mph slower than the competitors, he used the draft to find his way to the front and eventually win a race. Chase Briscoe, #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Matt DiBenedetto, #21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Erik Jones, #43 Richard Petty. Now NASCAR has revealed the top 10 Cup Series drivers getting votes each day from the fans. That popularity among his peers and fans earned him a spot in the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class. Despite the treatment working, later that year he was readmitted to the hospital because of complications. But, it was his death the following year that really showed how well he was liked. His transition to the broadcast booth is one of the smoothest by any former driver. 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. 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. It was one of the greatest races NASCAR had ever run, but it was one that Bobby never remembers. His remark following a run-in with Kevin Harvick at Pocono was the most infamous quote of the season. Sponsorships drive my business, and my sponsors over the last two years have been through a lot. Just a huge thank you, he concluded. It's by far his favorite track. NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers is an alphabetical list of NASCAR drivers. He won 26 times between 1961 and 1967 and never ran a full schedule (although . 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,. NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Xfinity Series NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES NASCAR Roots. Who is the most well liked NASCAR driver? His walkouts, his rants and his emotion have given many fans someone to actually hate on race weekends. Probably the fiercest rival to Richard Petty in the 1960s and 1970s was David Pearson. He was the first to eclipse the 210 mph mark on a superspeedway then won the first Winston Million. That happened at Daytona in the early 1980s following a crash in the qualifying race. Tim Richmond Richmond had a short but brilliant career, winning 13 times across seven seasons. 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. 1: Woody Arrington: Aberdeen, North Carolina : 2: Jeff Gordon A four-time champion whose 93 career wins ranks third on the all-time list. Elliott previously won the Most Popular Driver award twice in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2014 and 2015. It can be both behind the wheel and behind the scenes. How can you not love a driver with the nickname "Onion." But, who would have thought that one wreck would set off the popularity, and amount of help, for someone just trying to earn a living. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Oympics. However, as the years progressed, Waltrip continued to win, as his four Cup victories came on restrictor plate tracks. He wasn't always this giving, as his early years in the sport saw him have an attitude and eventually take anger management classes. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nascar | pageType: stories | He wasn't popular because of his racing, nor his success. Who is the most popular driver of all time? On Thursday at NASCAR Champion's Week, Chase Elliott was officially named the winner of NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award for 2021. 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. Kurt Busch became popular probably in the most unorthodox of ways. 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. 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. As one of the originators of the great "Alabama Gang," Donnie Allison was one of the most popular drivers in the 1970s. 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 was a little extreme, but when someone has that much success, anything could be fair game. Allison won four Southern 500s, three Daytona 500s and three Coca-Cola 600s. Could it be his unique way of celebrating a victory, his "Polish Victory Lap?" The short film provided great insight to a man that simply lived on the edge, and eventually, it caught up with him. 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. Jeff Gordon 3. But, he will let you know when he is. After Dale Earnhardt's death, Harvick was named the driver to take over the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. Any driver that earns the respect of the Intimidator is certainly popular among everyone in the garage. Name Hometown D.O.B. He won the Coke 600 and Brickyard 400 four times each and won the Southern 500 and Daytona 500 twice each. Here is a list of those five drivers, listed in alphabetical order. Hes got a way better chance of winning this than I do. He also told Rutledge Wood ahead of the 2020 season that he can be kind of a jerk sometimes.. It has been a great experience over the years seeing him grow and become a very talented driver.. Mark Martin is without question the most popular, most respected and overall most liked driver in the garage. 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. 2. In a series first, NASCAR will award medals to the top three finishers in a Cup race. He could be the most hated and feared enemy on the track, yet when it came to helping others, there was no one with a bigger heart. But, it's the man outside those statistics that make him the most popular driver, and man, in NASCAR history. By Staff Report | Thursday, December 1, 2022. But, as far as popularity, you can't hate someone for doing what they wanted in life. That race has been nicknamed "Won From Above" simply because of how all the numbers lined up. 5. At that point, fans began to hate Busch as he would go on to win the following week at Bristol. Prior to joining NASCAR, Sawyer served as director of team operations for IMSAs Action Express Racing. Still, the seven-time most popular driver is still the hottest-selling driver in NASCAR. After just two races, McMurray put his name on the map as he won at Charlotte. It seems likely that his five consecutive championships will join the mark of Richard Pettys 200 Cup wins as records that will never be broken. But then got asked to drive the No. Thanks to @C_Rice1 and @MattKaulig for the shot in 2022, and for being a great team. 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 . Cale Yarborough Won three consecutive championships (1976-78). Dale Earnhardt The seven-time champion was particularly dominant from 1986-91. Mark Martin 9. 24 Chevrolet at the track with his three-year old daughter, Ella, and also his new son, Leo and wife, Ingrid. 6-keys: media/spln/nascar/reg/free/stories, at The award, which is determined by a fan vote, has been. Let's count down the 50 most popular drivers in NASCAR to find out. 9 Dodge Charger, the No. Bill Elliot Hall of Famer Bill Elliot was voted the sport's most popular driver 16 times throughout his 37 years of racing. 18 car and got his first win. 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. It's a different Gordon, one that has reduced the haters and increased his popularity. The kid had some guts in saying that, and almost instantly, his popularity soared to new heights. Rebuilding will be my top priority. 8. Probably one of the more unique celebrations NASCAR has seen, but it sure is cool for the fans after he wins. But, Lorenzen did it simply because it was something he wanted to do. 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. From 1995-98, he claimed three championships, finished second in the points once and won 40 of 127 races (31.5%). 9. One timetwo timethree timefour timeFIVE-TIME CHAMPION. Chase Elliott sits in fifth with four wins. Kyle Busch 7. Not very many drivers can say they spent the majority of their career with one team, but in the case of Rusty Wallace, that is the case. At the same time, then-Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony Stewart announced he would leave the organization to start his own team. No matter what, he will still have a following, but the frustration will need to turn to celebration. LAS VEGAS - Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR's most popular driver for the seventh consecutive year. He's not just racing for him and his wife, he's racing for his family. Here are some of the most famous NASCAR drivers who are considered the all-time best in the sport. Cassill, 33, drove the No. Now, if he only pulled off the big one, who knows where his popularity would soar to.
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