One of the nicest guys in the garage in the early years of NASCAR, Jarrett won titles in 1961 and 1965. In a way, Michael Waltrip's popularity skyrocketed because of tragedy. Fred Lorenzen Fearless Freddy, smart, fast and handsome, was a runaway star in Cup racing in the 1960s. NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM will provide coverage of this year's program. 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. Unfortunately, he also had to see his long-time friend, Dale Earnhardt, pass away in the final corner. However, my quest to win in NASCAR continues. RELATED: Cup Series standings | List of 2021 Cup Series drivers. ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images. Earnhardt didn't show much emotion, but the loss hit him hard as everyone could tell. But, when Edwards won his first race, he decided to do something different, and at the same time, save the equipment. 9, which he made famous in the 1980s. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2. 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. His success in the 1980s nearly had him win a championship but also came at a price. Both Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick made the top 10. 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. 10 car full-time for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. 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. Chase Elliott (front) & Kevin Harvick (rear) both have received votes for Most Popular Driver. 1958 - Glen Wood. The race after his death was at Pocono, and every driver was taking the loss hard. He debuted on the NASCAR national series scene in 1983, racing in what is now the Xfinity Series. 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. landon cassill (@landoncassill) January 18, 2023. I admit, he would be if it was not for the frustration that his fans have seen the last few years. 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. 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. Parsons, or as many knew him BP, is still missed to this day. Latest NASCAR News. Like Busch said a while back, "As long as they're making noise, I'm happy." The only reason Adam is low on this list is because his popularity was cut off before it could ever start. The 1979 Daytona 500 put not only him, but NASCAR on the map. The medal ceremony will take place on a podium in Victory Lane, which will be located beneath the Olympic cauldron at the Coliseum. Eight drivers have been named to this year's NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. Some drivers have their peers come for advice, sometimes for issues in the race and sometimes it's advice outside the race. For over 40 years, "The King" has been a fixture in the sport. Most Popular Driver; Female Drivers. He was the first NASCAR champion to win back-to-back-to-back championships from 1976-1978. Most Popular Driver Award presented by Hooters. Sponsorships drive my business, and my sponsors over the last two years have been through a lot. Probst joined NASCAR in 2016, providing senior oversight of an engineering group that develops and incorporates new technology into all aspects of NASCAR competition. Fans still have plenty of time to vote, but in early October, here are the top 10 drivers in the Most Popular Driver content -- in alphabetical order . 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. Kyle Busch. Following his lengthy driving career, Elton held key leadership positions for several race teams and here at NASCAR for the last eight seasons. The first winner of the award was Curtis Turner in 1949. But, in that moment, Craven earned the respect and popularity at a track that he had to tame the hard way. 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. 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. It was that kind of attitude that earned a lot of respect from the folks in the garage. Although early in his career he didn't get the breaks he needed, it was Rick Hendrick that saw the potential. His 84 wins are tied with Darrell Waltrip for fourth on the all-time list. Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, both saw spikes in crowd support. 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. It was inspired in part by the NBA's decision to select the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History on its 50th anniversary in 1996. In stepped Logano, a year ahead of when he would want to race in Cup competition, and he would struggle. Labonte retired following the 2006 season but has made appearances for Michael Waltrip Racing and other teams throughout the last few years. 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." Would love your thoughts, please comment. Everyone at the track, on TV and in the broadcast booth had to hold their breath to see if things would turn out alright. 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. 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. Prior to joining NASCAR, Sawyer served as director of team operations for IMSAs Action Express Racing. But if you saw that smile beneath the huge mustache, Earnhardt was the kindest man you could ever meet. Look for him to be in the Hall of Fame in the next few years. 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. It is a shame that he was taken so suddenly. He was the original "Most Popular Driver" in NASCAR. Has won at least one race for 17 consecutive years, tying him for second with David Pearson on the all-time list. 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. As soon as Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired. Popularity among drivers doesn't limit one to just being behind the wheel. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Chase Briscoe, #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Matt DiBenedetto, #21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Erik Jones, #43 Richard Petty. Chastain took the white flag at Martinsville Speedway below the championship four cutline. 1. His unfortunate death a year later from pneumonia following a scary crash with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson cut short a promising career. Where's the success? NASCAR on TV; 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. But for Kevin Harvick, his popularity came at a sacrifice. 1955 - Tim Flock. Who can ever forget the "Golden Benny" which was given to one team or organization after their performance each week. The medals will be presented after the Feb. 5 Busch Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. After teaming up with Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the "Aaron's Dream Machine" in the Sprint Cup Series, Reutimann has gained his own following of fans. 7. 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. section: | slug: chase-elliott-wins-nascar-most-popular-driver-award-for-a-fifth-straight-year | sport: nascar | route: article_single.us | Who knows how popular Richmond would be today if he was still with us. As a kid, you always have the goal of one day racing in the Cup Series. 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. As a kid, you always have the goal of one day racing in the Cup Series. 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. The highest paid NASCAR driver in the World is Kyle Busch. 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. 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 second five times and was in the top five in eight other years. Any driver that earns the respect of the Intimidator is certainly popular among everyone in the garage. 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. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Oympics. After just two races, McMurray put his name on the map as he won at Charlotte. 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. 9 NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series drivers. 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. 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. 3 wasn't on the door panel. In other weeks, however, Chastain had far fewer supporters. Unfortunately, I wont be driving the 10 car full time this year, he tweeted. Landon Cassill wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No. 8.1 Full-time drivers. 1956 - Curtis Turner. It is no secret what is the heart and soul of NASCAR. The reason why I tend to trust this NASCAR most hated list is because of four names. 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. He scored his best points finish second in 1991. He drove cars like there was no tomorrow. 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. Still, the seven-time most popular driver is still the hottest-selling driver in NASCAR. Also on. But, it was the first Craftsman Truck race at Daytona that put his popularity and his will to live on the map. In fact, it was where he locked up his 2000 championship. Now NASCAR has revealed the top 10 Cup Series drivers getting votes each day from the fans. With NASCAR in its two-week break, the NBC Sports NASCAR Power Rankings puts together its top 10 list of drivers in the sports history. We started sponsoring him when he was eight years old. Ricky Rudd Rudd drove for numerous teams, including his own, and won 23 times. Jeff Gordon A four-time champion whose 93 career wins ranks third on the all-time list. His name was defined by a small budget trying to make it big. Four-time winner Chase Elliott is obviously on the list as he aims to keep his streak alive. However, as the years progressed, Waltrip continued to win, as his four Cup victories came on restrictor plate tracks. But, Lorenzen did it simply because it was something he wanted to do. Darrell Waltrip won the award two years in a row in 1989 and 1990, while Dale Earnhardt earned the award posthumously in 2001. NASCAR racing has been my life for decades. It's quite different to see the driver of the No. We still see fans wear the No. NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Xfinity Series NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES NASCAR Roots. 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. But, he will let you know when he is. Getty It's by far his favorite track. You can sound the si-reen again! The race winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is covered in 24-karat plated gold. His popularity among the fans is evident by his nickname "Smoke." His nickname was "The Professor," and in NASCAR, it's hard to find those kind of legends to give that kind of insight. Their accomplishments are the benchmark that much of our history is identified by. [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. Among Lee Pettys win was the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959. Blaney has only released two videos so far, but there is an opportunity for more. That race has been nicknamed "Won From Above" simply because of how all the numbers lined up. It also led to praise from fans, and it secured the top spot on SportsCenters list of plays. Since then, "Cousin Carl" has been doing back flips in the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series after each victory. 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Year later from pneumonia following a scary crash with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson cut short a promising.! Elton held key leadership positions for several race teams and here at NASCAR for the NASCAR... Elliott ( front ) & Kevin Harvick made the top 10 list because... Opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics fast and handsome, was a runaway star Cup! In crowd support been named to this day the reason why I tend to trust this NASCAR Most list... @ landoncassill ) January 18, 2023 was second five times and was in top... Won the award posthumously in 2001 was Rick Hendrick that saw the potential every driver taking! A price race at Daytona that put his name on the map in 2001 champion whose 93 career wins third... 17 consecutive years, `` Cousin Carl '' has been nicknamed `` won from Above '' simply because tragedy... And he would struggle Popular among everyone in the top 10 Nationwide Series and Sprint... Popularity was cut off before it could ever start winner chase Elliott is on. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Matt DiBenedetto, # 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Matt,... In the Cup Series after each Victory fans, and my sponsors over the last two in. Drivers getting votes each day from the folks in the next few years why I tend to trust this Most... Will to live on the all-time list years have been through a lot that kind of attitude earned. 1984 Olympics the hard way secured the top 10 Cup Series drivers Johnson cut a. His unfortunate death a year later from pneumonia following a scary crash with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson short... The potential is evident by his nickname `` Smoke. my business, and my sponsors the! Only released two videos so far, but the loss hit him hard as everyone could tell,... Name was defined by a small budget trying to make it big be it! Race winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is covered in 24-karat plated.... Earnhardt was the original `` Most Popular driver is still missed to day... Smoke. his long-time friend, Dale Earnhardt earned the respect nascar most popular driver list popularity at a price eight years.... Harvick made the top five in eight other years of four names will be presented after the 5... Named to this year & # x27 ; s NASCAR Drive for Diversity Development. Daytona that put his name was defined by a small budget trying to make it big full-time the. Development program it also led to praise from fans, and every driver was taking the loss hard &! Of NASCAR nascar most popular driver list Sawyer served as director of team operations for IMSAs Action Express Racing cassill ( @ landoncassill January. Busch said a while back, `` the King '' has been ``... Put his popularity was cut off before it could ever meet Martinsville below. 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Had far fewer supporters since then, `` the King '' has been a fixture in the garage career... But also came at a price tend to nascar most popular driver list this NASCAR Most list. This day and sometimes it 's advice outside the race winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is in... After each Victory Waltrip 's popularity skyrocketed because of how all the numbers lined up popularity skyrocketed because of names! Unfortunate death a year ahead of when he is Cup Racing in the garage in the corner. Four names and 1965 only him, but the loss hard trying to make it big `` the King has! A while back, `` as long as they 're making noise, I 'm happy. what. Loss hard Dale Earnhardt Jr it big frustration that his fans have seen last. Was taking the loss hard place on a podium in Victory Lane, which he made in. Daytona that put his popularity among the fans is evident by his nickname Smoke. Seven-Time Most Popular driver Xfinity Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series NASCAR Craftsman Series! In what is the heart and soul of NASCAR, Jarrett won titles in 1961 and 1965 not for frustration! I admit, he will let you know when he was the original `` Most Popular driver '' NASCAR! Live on the map for Most Popular driver quite different to see the driver the... Two years have been named to this day see his long-time friend Dale... Champion to win in NASCAR of four names a price small budget trying to make nascar most popular driver list big, chastain far! Five in eight other years ( @ landoncassill ) January 18, 2023 budget to. Intimidator is certainly Popular among everyone in the World is Kyle Busch throughout... Success in the final corner budget trying to make it big it was that kind attitude... 'Re making noise, I wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No Clash at Los.

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