nascar most popular driver list

Any driver that earns the respect of the Intimidator is certainly popular among everyone in the garage. His remark following a run-in with Kevin Harvick at Pocono was the most infamous quote of the season. With the nickname "Sliced Bread," everyone knew that Joey Logano would be a popular driver. 43, they know who drove it. 10. Let's count down the 50 most popular drivers in NASCAR to find out. However, he has become ever popular alongside Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds when FOX does the first half of the season. 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.. They are also the ones that argue every Sunday as to who is better at winning, or who's the driver most hated. 1956 - Curtis Turner. In fact, it was where he locked up his 2000 championship. 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. Thanks to @C_Rice1 and @MattKaulig for the shot in 2022, and for being a great team. In a Wednesday morning tweet, Cassill said he plans to continue racing. His name was defined by a small budget trying to make it big. 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. Each one comes to the track wearing familiar colors of their driver, just showing the passion that the sport brings out. Danica Patrick 10. 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. 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. 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. 6. After two days of debate, photos confirmed Petty's claim, and he will forever be known as the first winner of the Daytona 500. But, Gordon has changed the last few years in his career. But, when it comes to NASCAR, they have their own "Mayor.". 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 can be both behind the wheel and behind the scenes. One alleged that Elliott eats his chicken wings with a fork and knife. But, his popularity among the ladies is rather obvious. 1959 - Jack Smith. But, he didn't celebrate as Earnhardt died on the last lap. Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. On Thursday at NASCAR Champion's Week, Chase Elliott was officially named the winner of NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award for 2021. He won 26 times between 1961 and 1967 and never ran a full schedule (although . Most recently, he held the role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection and officiating, a role he assumed in 2016. 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. Sponsored by Hamburger Helper in 2010, it was also sponsored by Wheaties in 2011. Allison only has 10 wins to his credit, but that includes wins at some of NASCAR's famed tracks, including both Charlotte and Bristol. Everyone knows the green flag has waved when they hear DW's famous words. After a trying relationship at Ganassi, McMurray went to Roush and saw some success but only two victories. It got so bad where fans wore shirts questioning Gordon's sexual preference. 1: Woody Arrington: Aberdeen, North Carolina : 2: ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images. With his fourth consecutive title in 2009, and now his fifth consecutive title this year, more fans are beginning to appreciate what Johnson has done. Media requests: reply below and Ill answer publicly, the best I can. But, it was his death the following year that really showed how well he was liked. 18 car and got his first win. 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. In NASCAR, he became arguably the most popular driver of the 2000s by winning 49 career Cup Series races from 1999-2016. Since then, "Cousin Carl" has been doing back flips in the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series after each victory. He has also previously held competition roles at Red Bull Racing and Evernham Motorsports. 3 wasn't on the door panel. RETWEET to congratulate @ChaseElliott on his second! His first race out in the NAPA car, Waltrip won the Daytona 500. 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. 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. When you have championship seasons that saw him win seven, 10 and 13 races in a matter of three years, haters will be there. 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. Weatherly started stock car racing in 1952, winning 49 of the 83 races he entered, a staggering winning percentage. Kulwicki's name is still spoke of today as many more drivers are hands-on when working on the cars. It's not the money that Sprint, Nationwide or Camping World puts out to be the champion. On This Day in NASCAR History; NASCAR Flags; NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees; NASCAR Hall of Fame Information; . The result was typically a win, a wreck or an exploding engine. Joey Lagano, 1939 GMC Pickup. 5. 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. Petty is the first driver to achieve the seven NASCAR Cup championships, making him an undisputed champion in the NASCAR world. Hailee Deegan again won the vote for most popular driver in the Truck Series this season while Noah Gragson won the title in the Xfinity Series. In this role, Patalak also investigates all crashes and driver protection issues. Smith finished third in the Craftsman Truck Series standings last year, recording three wins, nine top fives and 16 top 10s. 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. The list also includes Christopher Bell, reigning champion Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, and Ryan Blaney. To quote Bill France Jr., president of NASCAR: These are the men who define the competition of our sport. 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. Fireball Roberts 1 of 49 As one of the originators of the speedway era in NASCAR in the early 1960s, Fireball Roberts. 9 Cup Series car was named the sport's most popular driver in 2022 at NASCAR's end-of-season awards show in Nashville on Thursday night. He was diagnosed with AIDS, something that doctors couldn't cure and no medicine could take away. He was the original "Most Popular Driver" in NASCAR. He collected 105 series wins, second only to Richard Petty on the all-time list. Yarborough would become a car owner in the 1990s and still remains a fixture in NASCAR. Will this wild move lead to Chastain dethroning Elliott? He debuted on the NASCAR national series scene in 1983, racing in what is now the Xfinity Series. In other weeks, however, Chastain had far fewer supporters. Regardless of where Chastain finishes in the final voting, there is no denying that his 2022 season featured a significant number of changes in terms of public opinion. 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. A lot of respect from both the fans and the drivers goes toward Johnson, and his popularity continues to grow as he remains a constant figure in the sport. He won four titles in that span and finished second in the points one year and third the other year. In 2008, Logano was in the Nationwide Series when he broke through with a victory at Nashville in just his third start. This man isn't blowing smoke, but he does know how to smoke the competition. But, it was the first Craftsman Truck race at Daytona that put his popularity and his will to live on the map. 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. However, my quest to win in NASCAR continues. 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. During this period, Ill be training and preparing for the opportunity to win.. Here is a list of those five drivers, listed in alphabetical order. The race winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is covered in 24-karat plated gold. 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 died in a helicopter crash in 1993. It also led to praise from fans, and it secured the top spot on SportsCenters list of plays. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Blaney has started releasing some short videos that would fit perfectly in any political campaign. Lee Petty was one of the first superstars of the sport and was instrumental in the first Daytona 500, in that he was adamant that he won the race. 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. I am not sure what made Alan Kulwicki more popular. Brad isn't a bad driver, but man is he having a tough go at this next-gen car. Has won at least one race for 17 consecutive years, tying him for second with David Pearson on the all-time list. He climbed out of the cab, stood on the bedand back-flipped to the asphalt. 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 award is presented by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). However, he still has a long way to go to beat his dad, Bill Elliott, who won the award 16 times. In 1998, his lone victory showcased Rudd's refusal to yield. The only reason Adam is low on this list is because his popularity was cut off before it could ever start. 1 of 20. 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. That's what earned him induction into the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame. His loyalty to Penske made it easy for fans to recognize his car, his number and his sponsor. But who is the most popular driver of all-time? Lavar Scott, Andrs Prez de Lara, Jaiden Reyna and Justin Campbell are returning to Rev Racing, which operates the diversity program. Prior to joining NASCAR, Sawyer served as director of team operations for IMSAs Action Express Racing. Most Popular Driver Award Winners. pic.twitter.com/4PPjDbCy0J. In the race for the championship, however, he has finished second, third three times, fourth twice and fifth twice. These names all make sense for a variety of reasons, including their respective fanbases. 3. Media requests: reply below and Ill answer publicly, the best I can. Plus, Labonte soon had to battle a broken hand he suffered in a crash during practice one weekend. They handed him a flag bearing Allison's No. So where are they? While Elliott took home Most Popular Driver honors for the Cup Series, the award was also given to two star drivers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series. Latest NASCAR News. As a kid, you always have the goal of one day racing in the Cup Series. 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. Johnson is without question the champ these days in NASCAR. He took time off from racing because of illness, something he couldn't figure out but many could see was affecting him. The driver of the No. Fred Lorenzen "Fearless" Freddy, smart, fast and handsome, was a runaway star in Cup racing in the 1960s. 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. But, what really set off his popularity in NASCAR was the moment that blasted NASCAR into the main stream. Busch races for the Richard Childress Racing team and has a . When he won the 1992 title, it was the greatest battle for the championship NASCAR had ever seen. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Oympics. But, the most success Labonte saw in his career came at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. [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. 2. 9.1 Full-time drivers. 9 NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series drivers. 8. Tony Stewart 5. Look for this young man to continue to grow in support for years to come. 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 . Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. Not in competition, but he did drive one. Unfortunately, he also had to see his long-time friend, Dale Earnhardt, pass away in the final corner. No, the heart and soul of NASCAR is in the people that sit in those stands every weekend. 4. Current NASCAR Cup Series drivers name their favorite driver Watch on As the sport has many drivers who have passionate fan bases. 10 car full-time for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. He finished first or second in the points 10 times in his career. Cassill, 33, drove the No. Please feel free to share your thoughts about our greatest NASCAR drivers ranking, in our comments section. 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. In simple terms, NASCAR is all about popularity. The medal ceremony will take place on a podium in Victory Lane, which will be located beneath the Olympic cauldron at the Coliseum. And what a career he's had driving the blue deuce. He has many vocal supporters, as well as many vocal critics. Its unlikely based on recent history, but it certainly serves as a significant change in perception for the Florida native. These days, Lorenzen focuses mainly on the stock market and makes a lot of money using his portfolio. 2/2 During this period, Ill be training and preparing for the opportunity to win. Much like his father, Davey was a great driver and knew his way around the race car. His walkouts, his rants and his emotion have given many fans someone to actually hate on race weekends. It will come, but the question is when. It's easy to remember and fans know when they hear that name who is being talked about. By statistics, not only is Richard Petty the most accomplished, he is the greatest NASCAR driver in history. Here is the top 10 in voting for the 2022 @Hooters Most Popular Driver Award in alphabetical order! No one could have expected him to be so popular so soon. 3. As one of the originators of the great "Alabama Gang," Donnie Allison was one of the most popular drivers in the 1970s. That's five consecutive years Elliott has earned the honor. Before even stepping into the broadcast booth, Darrell Waltrip was certainly a character in NASCAR. I cant say thanks enough. But, at the same time fans began to get tired of seeing his title run, and some jeers came his way. But, after the race, he pulled to the start/finish line with his crew. As will young NASCAR stars Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Blaney, who look to claim glory as they climb the NASCAR rankings. 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. That smile, the joy and the happiness grew on the fans and will only continue as the years progress. Despite the treatment working, later that year he was readmitted to the hospital because of complications. It was his unique celebration that earned him the popularity with the fans, and it is surely to only go up with each season. 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. 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. RELATED: Jeff Burton Explains Why He Believes Joey Logano Is The Most Valuable Race Car Driver In The Sport. For over 40 years, "The King" has been a fixture in the sport. Let's count down the 50 most popular drivers in NASCAR to find out. His success in the 1980s nearly had him win a championship but also came at a price. As a kid, you always have the goal of one day racing in the Cup Series. He won the season . In fact, it causes a lot of arguments. That nickname goes to Jeff Burton, who is one of the more outspoken drivers in the garage. He's an eye catcher for young girls, and for the guys his driving ability is second to none. The list in no alphabetical order features some expected names. Another one of the pioneers of the sport was Cale Yarborough. The list also includes championship runner-up Ross Chastain and 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson. 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. Is it someone who is defined by his fan base, by the respect in the garage, the amount of merchandise sold or a combination of all three? He was also involved in the finish of the first Daytona 500, despite being two laps down to the leader. He also works play-by-play for TNT and is not one for hiding his emotion. Who are the wealthiest NASCAR drivers? Tim Richmond Richmond had a short but brilliant career, winning 13 times across seven seasons. 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. But, he will let you know when he is. GettyJoey Logano (left) & Ryan Blaney (right) race at Phoenix Raceway. We still see fans wear the No. 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. The medal ceremony will take place on a podium in Victory Lane, which will be located beneath the Olympic cauldron at the Coliseum. 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. 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. It also meant that when he did get angry, it was something to talk about. As long as the fans buy the products, his popularity is secure. Or, could it have something to do with his most famous sponsor, Hooters? 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. The sport got this big because it became the popular sport in the country. Although his NASCAR career didn't see victory lane in Cup competition, Wallace admits his proudest moment was finishing second behind Dale Earnhardt in his final victory. National award, covering every NASCAR series. Wallace is as popular with today's fans as when he was driving. This is a dream come true for me, Smith said in a statement released by the team. 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. However, my quest to win in NASCAR continues. Denny Hamlin 8. In 1995, he signed on with Joe Gibbs Racing to race the No. Landon Cassill wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No. Among Lee Pettys win was the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959. Unfortunately for him, he's upset some fan bases and landed himself back on the most hated active NASCAR drivers. But, as far as popularity, you can't hate someone for doing what they wanted in life. Saving his equipment and running to the front with 75 laps to go, Roberts ran away with the victory. Any driver willing to tape his eyes open in order to race is beyond tough. But if you saw that smile beneath the huge mustache, Earnhardt was the kindest man you could ever meet. Although in his death, NASCAR did mandate the window net, despite it taking seven years to do so. 1954 - Lee Petty. Kyle Busch Two-time Cup champion whose 59 wins ranks ninth on the all-time wins list and hes only 36 years old. 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. Bill Elliott holds the record for the most awards with 16 followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 15. Each year his popularity among the fans grew by leaps and bounds. Display Current Drivers Only. Voting for Most Popular Driver opened on November 8. After an altercation with police in Phoenix, Busch was released from Roush and soon began his career with Roger Penske. The patriarch of the greatest name in NASCAR and one of the five newest inductees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He wasn't popular because of his racing, nor his success. Now, if he only pulled off the big one, who knows where his popularity would soar to. 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. He still remains a fixture in NASCAR to this day, and his legacy will never be forgotten. The race after his death was at Pocono, and every driver was taking the loss hard. Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, both saw spikes in crowd support. Elliott won three races for Evernham, including the Brickyard 400 in 2002. 10 car full-time for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. He was also the champion in 1962 and 1963. Sawyer joined NASCAR in February of 2015 as managing director of the Craftsman Truck Series. It took just two races to cement Jamie McMurray's popularity in NASCAR. He got the big break he was looking for thanks to Dale Earnhardt in 2001. 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. 1. But, Lorenzen did it simply because it was something he wanted to do. You can vote for the Most Popular Driver here. The documentary "Dale" is one of the most watched films in recent memory. He has missed the first two ballots for the NASCAR Hall of Fame but will definitely be inducted within the next few years. All this means that popularity in NASCAR can be defined by its fan base. If he does, look for this man's popularity to soar like the Space Shuttle. There were weeks when fans and drivers celebrated Chastains wins and his production on the track, especially considering how he had previously driven for underfunded teams across the national series. Elliott previously won the Most Popular Driver award in 2018, 2019, and 2020 as well. 50. The ceremony presenting the award is called the NASCAR Awards Banquet, and it is held in Nashville, Tennessee in November of each year. section: | slug: chase-elliott-wins-nascar-most-popular-driver-award-for-a-fifth-straight-year | sport: nascar | route: article_single.us | 9. He's not just racing for him and his wife, he's racing for his family. 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.. Cale Yarborough Won three consecutive championships (1976-78). Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Labonte retired following the 2006 season but has made appearances for Michael Waltrip Racing and other teams throughout the last few years. 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. The cooling system in his car failed, but he was in the lead at Martinsville despite the temperatures beyond miserable.