3. But even before his title, Labonte had gotten the break he needed to become a very strong and very popular driver. In his racing career, Allison won 84 races and has the 1983 championship to his credit. He only ran more than 3/4 of the season five times. Earnhardt is still here, although not physically. That year, Dale Earnhardt. Cassill, 33, drove the No. It has earned him a spot in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in the second class of inductees. As a broadcaster, racer or delivery man, Jarrett is a popular figure in NASCAR. The mark he leaves on the organization is significant. His name was defined by a small budget trying to make it big. Although early in his career he didn't get the breaks he needed, it was Rick Hendrick that saw the potential. 5. This town was particularly very special, racing at Nashville over the summer with Dad and just seeing that energy and fire and really across the country. That's what earned him induction into the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame. View . Kyle was third in line in the family to drive and had a very successful career in NASCAR. Taking votes away from Elliott is no simple matter. These are the drivers who are NASCAR history. He has also previously held competition roles at Red Bull Racing and Evernham Motorsports. 6-keys: media/spln/nascar/reg/free/stories, at Plus, Labonte soon had to battle a broken hand he suffered in a crash during practice one weekend. In a way, Michael Waltrip's popularity skyrocketed because of tragedy. Pearson up high, Petty down low, and the two connect out of Turn 4, with each hitting the wall. Smith finished third in the Craftsman Truck Series standings last year, recording three wins, nine top fives and 16 top 10s. To be known as a Winston Cup champion became a much-coveted honor. Bobby Allison Finished second in the points five times before winning the 1983 championship. 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. Sawyer joined NASCAR in February of 2015 as managing director of the Craftsman Truck Series. Most recently, he held the role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection and officiating, a role he assumed in 2016. 10 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR PRO Division drivers. That was a little extreme, but when someone has that much success, anything could be fair game. The documentary "Dale" is one of the most watched films in recent memory. 9, which he made famous in the 1980s. 5. Elliott previously won the Most Popular Driver award twice in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2014 and 2015. His loss hit everyone hard in the sport, but much like the slogan for Allison since his death, he truly is gone but not forgotten. Sure, he eventually caved in and did drive the truck. 11 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR 2 Division drivers. However, thanks to one track and another family member, Allison's popularity in NASCAR was set in stone. Since then, "Cousin Carl" has been doing back flips in the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series after each victory. He won the first Chase by eight points, giving Jack Roush his second of two titles. Could it be his unique way of celebrating a victory, his "Polish Victory Lap?" He was popular especially for the commercials he did with UPS. Elliott Sadler has the most with four awards in the Xfinity Series, and Johnny Benson Jr. has the most awards at three in the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. Won 54 races. I see the hats and the t-shirts and all that stuff is noticed. So where are they? 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. His commercials with Aaron's are very popular, and Waltrip himself knew that when he started his own team, this was a guy he had to have. When he won the 1992 title, it was the greatest battle for the championship NASCAR had ever seen. The race winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is covered in 24-karat plated gold. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Mark Martin 9. Politics aren't exactly something people talk about in happiness. Once the checkered flag waves and all is said and done, there is a custom rat rod GMC pickup with Joey Lagano's name on it waiting in his driveway. As soon as Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired. He's not just racing for him and his wife, he's racing for his family. Probably one of the more unique celebrations NASCAR has seen, but it sure is cool for the fans after he wins. RELATED: Cup Series standings | List of 2021 Cup Series drivers. John Probst has been promoted to chief racing development officer; Dr. Eric Jacuzzi has been promoted to vice president of vehicle performance; Dr. John Patalak has been promoted to vice president of safety engineering; and Brandon Thomas has been promoted to vice president of vehicle design. NASCAR and the National Motorsports Press Association revealed the current top 10 most popular drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series. LAS VEGAS - Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR's most popular driver for the seventh consecutive year. His 84 wins are tied with Darrell Waltrip for fourth on the all-time list. NASCAR racing has been my life for decades. He was the original "Most Popular Driver" in NASCAR. 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. 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. 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. However, as the years progressed, Waltrip continued to win, as his four Cup victories came on restrictor plate tracks. As one of the originators of the great "Alabama Gang," Donnie Allison was one of the most popular drivers in the 1970s. Bill Elliott certainly did many firsts in his career. That is yet to be seen as his career is just getting warmed up. That will never happen again, guaranteed. Following his lengthy driving career, Elton held key leadership positions for several race teams and here at NASCAR for the last eight seasons. At the same time, he was one of the more quiet drivers, as he didn't exactly show his emotions when he got angry at other competitors. 3. But, he will let you know when he is. Kulwicki's name is still spoke of today as many more drivers are hands-on when working on the cars. 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 wears a No. Johnny Beauchamp was declared the winner at the track, but Petty wouldn't accept it, saying his car was the leader at the line. Richard Petty When it comes to the racetrack, Richard Petty tops every list of greatest NASCAR drivers of all time because to date, no other race car driver has ever tallied as many wins as him. These days, Wallace is always a fixture at the track, especially when ESPN is doing the races. He won 26 times between 1961 and 1967 and never ran a full schedule (although . The driver of the No. 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. Everyone knows the green flag has waved when they hear DW's famous words. NASCAR also announced the promotions of several individuals to key positions within its competition team. He became the first man to win back-to-back Chase titles from 2006-2007, then tied Cale Yarborough with three straight in 2008. He debuted at Rockingham, and right away, it was seen that the talent was there. It also led to praise from fans, and it secured the top spot on SportsCenters list of plays. 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.. NASCAR Wednesday named former driver and long-time official Elton Sawyer its senior vice president of competition, replacing Scott Miller, who will assume the newly formed role of competition strategist. 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. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2009, and it's almost like his career was resurrected. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. In fact, it was where he locked up his 2000 championship. When he made the first Chase in 2004, he finished third, then second the next season. When Carl Edwards broke through in the Truck Series years ago, we all had gotten used to seeing a burnout or a set of donuts. Saving his equipment and running to the front with 75 laps to go, Roberts ran away with the victory. "Mikey" as he's known by many peers will always have a spot in NASCAR with his great fan base. But if you saw that smile beneath the huge mustache, Earnhardt was the kindest man you could ever meet. When Labonte took over the lead late in the season, fans knew it would come down to the final races. It's by far his favorite track. Do you REALLY know @chaseelliott? 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. That seemed to help out a lot, as not only did it increase his ability to control his temper, it also helped him become a better driver. 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. The result was typically a win, a wreck or an exploding engine. Roberts' career was most significantly defined on the original NASCAR speedway, Darlington. Each one comes to the track wearing familiar colors of their driver, just showing the passion that the sport brings out. 10. Landon Cassill wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No. Cash in on NFL Wild Card Weekend: Bet $5, Get $150 in Free Bets. But, after the race, he pulled to the start/finish line with his crew. 6. The Labonte brothers are the only family to have the distinction of winning NASCAR championships at it's highest level. His career ended in 1960 after a crash at Daytona, but he has forever been credited as being one of the pioneers of the sport we know today. He finished first or second in the points 10 times in his career. Please feel free to share your thoughts about our greatest NASCAR drivers ranking, in our comments section. Results on who will be named the Most Popular Driver will be posted on or about December 1, 2022., Chase Elliott was selected as the Most Popular Driver in 2021 and upon receiving the recognition he stated, Well, I just cant thank the fans across the country enough. 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. 18 car and got his first win. Here's a man that elected to go to a part-time schedule after the 2006 seasonand did so for two years. 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. Harvick's third race at the wheel, fourth race of the year in the No. 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. The two sit 1-2 in all time victories, but the two were most famously known for their duel in the 1976 Daytona 500. 4. 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. The winner of the most awards is Bill Elliott with 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Who is the most popular driver of all time? It's appropriate that this year Jarrett is being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as he rightfully earned the spot. NMPA Most Popular Driver Award winners. In the end, it was that illness that took Richmond away from racing. The highest paid NASCAR driver in the World is Kyle Busch. The Most Popular Driver Award is a family affair in the Elliott household. 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. Bill Elliot Hall of Famer Bill Elliot was voted the sport's most popular driver 16 times throughout his 37 years of racing. 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. It was his unique celebration that earned him the popularity with the fans, and it is surely to only go up with each season. But, he didn't celebrate as Earnhardt died on the last lap. 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. From 1995-98, he claimed three championships, finished second in the points once and won 40 of 127 races (31.5%). You can sound the si-reen again! 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. 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. At the same time, popularity in the garage has another way of defining the sport. In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to select the "50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time." But, this year it was a season of living a dream for McMurray. 9. Tallying 44 wins and one championship over his career, he also scored victories at many of NASCAR's premier tracks. There is no one that defines toughness as much as Rudd. 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. By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sports January 12, 2023 - 1:36 PM His nickname was "The Professor," and in NASCAR, it's hard to find those kind of legends to give that kind of insight. Most Popular Driver; Female Drivers. He'll have a lot of votes from the fansthat's for sure. He won the season . Four heat races, two last-chance qualifying races and the feature will take place Feb. 5. Waltrip is still popular today with the fans even though he is no longer a driver. He got the big break he was looking for thanks to Dale Earnhardt in 2001. After a trying relationship at Ganassi, McMurray went to Roush and saw some success but only two victories. Bodine's popularity in NASCAR now has him working in the Research and Development Center, focusing solely on safety. At that point, fans began to hate Busch as he would go on to win the following week at Bristol. However, he still has a long way to go to beat his dad, Bill Elliott, who won the award 16 times. In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to select the "50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time." 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. 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. 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. 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.. Everyone at the track, on TV and in the broadcast booth had to hold their breath to see if things would turn out alright. But then got asked to drive the No. 50. Petty just took a different path and saw the sport grow to what it is today. That popularity among his peers and fans earned him a spot in the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class. But, it was the first Craftsman Truck race at Daytona that put his popularity and his will to live on the map. 2. 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. 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. Blaney has only released two videos so far, but there is an opportunity for more. Another one of the pioneers of the sport was Cale Yarborough. Kevin Harvick 6. Mark Martin Martin was Denny Hamlin before Denny Hamlin. Whether he was driving the No. Prior to joining NASCAR, Sawyer served as director of team operations for IMSAs Action Express Racing. Burton admits that after he is done driving, he would like to get into politics. Let's count down the 50 most popular drivers in NASCAR to find out. 10 car to five top-five finishes, including a second place at Martinsville Speedway, last year. Unfortunately, I wont be driving the 10 car full time this year, he tweeted. When you have championship seasons that saw him win seven, 10 and 13 races in a matter of three years, haters will be there. Denny Hamlin Hamlin had the look of a championship driver from his first full-time season (2006), when he finished third in the standings. He won four titles in that span and finished second in the points one year and third the other year. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2. There has never been, nor ever will be again, another Dale Earnhardt. Jarrett provided great insight into the drivers, their thought process and was part of the great TNN coverage team with Eli Gold and Buddy Baker. Everyone knew what Petty meant to this sport. 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. Here, we've compiled a list of the 30 very best NASCAR drivers to ever compete in the sport's history. 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. 8. Or not in the top 10. That all changed in 2010 when his career really took off. The ten highest-paid Nascar drivers earned an estimated $120 million in 2019, a tick above 2018 but well below a decade ago when they banked a combined $180 million. Dale Earnhardt The seven-time champion was particularly dominant from 1986-91. More News. Later in 1988, Allison had a near fatal accident at Pocono that caused major head injuries, forcing him to retire. When someone can back up what they say, that's big. The 1999 champion, Dale Jarrett, is on this list not just because of his popularity among the fans and the drivers. Here is a list of those five drivers, listed in alphabetical order. Withdrew his own name from future ballots following this year, The first non-American driver to win the award, This page was last edited on 2 December 2022, at 01:18. But who is the most popular driver of all-time? 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. Sure enough, it didn't matter as on the final weekend of the season, Labonte won the title and brother Bobby won the race. 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 seemingly won't change as he is not even in the prime of his career. He drove cars like there was no tomorrow. Fireball Roberts The sports first superstar never raced a full Cup season. Craven would take the win by 0.002 secondsthe closest finish in NASCAR history. Still, the seven-time most popular driver is still the hottest-selling driver in NASCAR. His aggressive driving style led to on-track conflicts with Denny Hamlin, Elliott, Austin Dillon, Busch, and multiple other drivers. Rudd would win the race, pull into victory lane and have to be pulled from the car in order to get some fresh air. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. 6. He drives a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and his car number is 8. He won the night race at Daytona in 2002, following that up with a win in the rain-shortened 2003 Daytona 500. Like Busch said a while back, "As long as they're making noise, I'm happy." His walkouts, his rants and his emotion have given many fans someone to actually hate on race weekends. 2/2 During this period, Ill be training and preparing for the opportunity to win. Jimmie Johnson As time passes, his accomplishments will be further revered. 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. Championship Ranking; Championship Overview; Win Ranking; . Most Popular Driver Award presented by Hooters. Although in his death, NASCAR did mandate the window net, despite it taking seven years to do so. He's not overly loud, but when Matt Kenseth talks, many listen. Voting closes for the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at noon ET. He heads into his final year tied for ninth on NASCAR's all-time wins list with 60 career victories and 13 consecutive playoff appearances. This is a dream come true for me, Smith said in a statement released by the team. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Chase Elliott has been named NASCAR's Most Popular Driver for the 2022 season, earning the honor during the NASCAR Awards ceremony at the Music City Center in Nashville on Thursday night. It took just two races to cement Jamie McMurray's popularity in NASCAR. Just a huge thank you, he concluded. At the end of the afternoon, it was Dale Earnhardt winning in his famed No. But for Kevin Harvick, his popularity came at a sacrifice. The only reason Adam is low on this list is because his popularity was cut off before it could ever start. The official NASCAR Twitter account shared an image of the current top 10 most popular drivers as voting for the Most Popular Driver continues. 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. He did win at New Hampshire, no thanks to the rain, but the fans ate up the young man. His win at Daytona in 2001 was the win that healed a NASCAR nation. Or, could it have something to do with his most famous sponsor, Hooters? Also on Thursday, Trackhouse Racing founder. No, the heart and soul of NASCAR is in the people that sit in those stands every weekend. Look for this young man to continue to grow in support for years to come. The older of the Labonte brothers, Terry has enjoyed a guaranteed Hall of Fame career in NASCAR. 1960 - Rex White. @chaseelliott wins the 2022 NMPA Most Popular Driver Award presented by @Hooters! It was that kind of attitude that earned a lot of respect from the folks in the garage. We still see fans wear the No. But, one tragic afternoon took that all away. That race has been nicknamed "Won From Above" simply because of how all the numbers lined up. Not only do the medals honor the rich tradition of this stadium, but they also provide a special element unique to NASCARs 75th anniversary.. 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. 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. In 2008, Logano was in the Nationwide Series when he broke through with a victory at Nashville in just his third start. Cassill, 33, drove the No. However, my quest to win in NASCAR continues. During this period, Ill be training and preparing for the opportunity to win.. 43, they know who drove it. Lavar Scott, Andrs Prez de Lara, Jaiden Reyna and Justin Campbell are returning to Rev Racing, which operates the diversity program. NASCAR Wednesday named former driver and long-time official Elton Sawyer its senior vice president of competition, replacing Scott Miller, who will assume the newly formed role of competition strategist. Popularity not only defines a driver, it simply defines the sport. Jimmie Johnson 4. View Fullscreen. But, what really set off his popularity in NASCAR was the moment that blasted NASCAR into the main stream. It was as though the celebration for the fans and Michael was robbed. It has been a great experience over the years seeing him grow and become a very talented driver.. He was the first to eclipse the 210 mph mark on a superspeedway then won the first Winston Million. His win in the 1960 Daytona 500 can be credited to him discovering the use of drafting. Before Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award from 2003 to 2017 winning the award 15 times. The award, which is determined by a fan vote, has been. By Staff Report | Thursday, December 1, 2022. He was second five times and was in the top five in eight other years. This 1939 GMC . His unfortunate death a year later from pneumonia following a scary crash with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson cut short a promising career. 1958 - Glen Wood. Love him or hate him, Kyle Busch has earned his popularity the same way he goes for victoryby any means necessary. This is a dream come true for me, Smith said in a statement released by the team. 28, and everyone took a bow in honor of the fallen competitor. The patriarch of the greatest name in NASCAR and one of the five newest inductees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Now NASCAR has revealed the top 10 Cup Series drivers getting votes each day from the fans. NASCAR racing has been my life for decades. The list also includes Christopher Bell, reigning champion Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, and Ryan Blaney. But, when it comes to NASCAR, they have their own "Mayor.". 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In fact, it simply defines the sport brings out our greatest NASCAR drivers,. He tweeted NASCAR, sawyer served as director of team operations for Action! He did n't celebrate as Earnhardt died on the organization is significant media/spln/nascar/reg/free/stories... Labonte took over the years progressed, Waltrip continued to win the week! Euronascar PRO Division drivers in 2010 when his career just nascar most popular driver list for him and his will to live the. Credited to him discovering the use of drafting NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR Division! A trying relationship at Ganassi, McMurray went to Roush and saw the sport was Cale Yarborough with three in!
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