'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award is presented to the favorite driver in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series annually. Initially, drivers themselves selected the winner, but now fans cast their votes to determine the recipient.
The award is presented by the NMPA at the NASCAR Awards Banquet in Nashville every November. While many drivers have won the award over the years, here are the top five who were named NASCAR's Most Popular Driver the most times during their career.
5. Bobby Allison - Seven
1983 NASCAR Cup Series champion, Bobby Allison, a seven-time recipient of the Most Popular Driver Award in the Cup Series, competed in NASCAR from 1961 to 1988. He was also recognized as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers.
Trending
Allison won 85 races, including three Daytona 500 victories, during his 25-year career in the Cup Series. The 86-year-old is also a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
4. Chase Elliott - Eight
Chase Elliott is the only active driver on this list with eight NASCAR Most Popular Driver awards, six for the Cup Series (between 2018 and 2023) and two for the Xfinity Series.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver won the Cup Series championship title in 2020 and currently drives the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro for the team. Elliott is the son of former NASCAR driver, Bill Elliott.
3. Richard Petty - Nine
Richard Petty won nine NASCAR Popular Driver Awards awards during his 35-year career in the Cup Series. He was the first driver to win the Cup Series championship seven times (1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979).
Petty has 200 career wins, seven Daytona 500 victories and holds the record for most wins, poles, and championships in the sport. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 and now represents Legacy Motor Club. The 87-year-old also owns Petty's Garage.
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 15
NASCAR team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., was named the most popular driver 15 times and holds the record for most consecutive wins from 2003 to 2017.
The two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion retired from full-time racing after the 2017 season and is now a broadcaster for NASCAR. The 50-year-old Dale Jr. has 26 wins in the Cup Series from 631 races over 19 years.
1. 1988 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Bill Elliott - 16
Bill Elliott leads the list of NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award winners with 16 victories (1984-1988, 1991–2000, 2002).
Elliott won 4 races in his 37-year Cup Series career and earned the championship title in 1988. The 69-year-old drove for his father's team, Elliott Racing, early in his career, before starting his team, Bill Elliott Racing, in 1995.
