Fans disapprove of Chase Elliott being crowned as NASCAR’s most popular driver for seventh straight year

Some fans have reacted to Chase Elliott winning his seventh consecutive Most Popular Driver award. NASCAR hosted the annual Awards Banquet in Charlotte where drivers were determined based on fan votes. The accolade was presented by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA).

Since 1991, only the Earnhardts and the Elliotts have won the Most Popular Driver award. Elliott's father Bill earned the honor in 1991 and received it consecutively until seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. took over in 2001. Though Bill reemerged in 2002 to secure the award, he was outperformed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. this time, whose streak remained undisputed until the end of the 2017 season.

Chase Elliott got his first Most Popular Driver praise in 2018 and has outvoted every other driver on the paddock since.

It's worth mentioning that even though the 2020 Cup Series champion became the award-winning driver by fan vote, not all were pleased to see him take home his seventh straight award.

Following the results, reactions poured in, largely exhibiting displeasure by the Hendrick Motorsports driver's achievement.

"But why? He's boring, doesn't do anything for the sport. He's no dale jr.," a fan commented.

"Most popular driver but can’t help grow the sport," one fan opined.

"Rigged," a fan reacted.

One fan took the opportunity to jibe at Corey LaJoie, who has been the center of attention several times, not for his performance but regarding his uncertain NASCAR future.

"I’m a chase fan no doubt but it’s kinda redundant having the same driver over and over again every year," one fan commented.

"They were an easy group of guys to like": Chase Elliott makes his feelings known about his family being relatable with the American audience

With the NASCAR Most Popular Driver award, Chase Elliott has become one of five Cup Series drivers to secure praise five times or more. He has joined the ranks of Richard Petty who has eight of them, Dale Jr., who boasts 15, Bobby Allison with six, and his father Bill with the most at 16. Chase also won the Most Popular Driver award in the Xfinity Series in 2014 and 2015.

Before the #9 Chevy driver was crowned the winner, he talked about his father and grandfather Ervin George Elliott Jr. Bill began his Cup Series career driving for his father Ervin's owned venture. Chase's grandfather lent his crew chief and engine builder expertise for Bill's Cup Series career.

Elliott spoke about his family's relatability with the American audience, saying (via Claire B Lang).

"Those guys had such a, him (Bill) and his brothers and my grandfather, I mean they're such a neat story. They were an easy group of guys to like because I think they were extremely relatable with a lot of America and beyond and I think that's really cool," Elliott said.

Chase Elliott scored a solitary win this season -at the Texas Motor Speedway, securing his playoff berth after missing it the previous year. The #9 Chevy driver got eliminated in the Round of 8 elimination race and settled his 10th season in seventh place.