2017 NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver announced as Dale Earnhardt Jr
DARLINGTON, S.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr., who retired from full-time competition in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the conclusion of the 2017 season, has been named the National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver for the 15th consecutive time.
Earnhardt’s selection was announced Thursday during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards program at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Earnhardt, 43, was named on nearly 68 percent of the votes cast by fans.
The driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt is one of eight drivers to receive the award on multiple occasions. Only one other driver, Bill Elliott, has won the award more often – Elliott was named the series’ most popular driver 16 times between 1984 and 2002.
Completing the top 10 in this year’s voting were (listed alphabetically): Ryan Blaney (Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Ford), Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota), Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet); Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet), Kasey Kahne (Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet), Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota), Kyle Larson (Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet), Danica Patrick (Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 Ford) and Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing No. 78 Toyota).
The Most Popular Driver Award is the only major NASCAR award determined solely by fan vote. It has been presented annually since 1953; the recipients were originally determined by a poll of competitors. It became a fan-driven program in 1984 under the guidance of the NMPA.
Thirty-three drivers received votes for this year’s award.
In addition to hosting the voting platform for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series MPD award, fan votes to determine the Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series were also hosted on NASCAR.com.
Elliott Sadler, who finished second in the XFINITY Series championship battle won the NASCAR XFINITY Series MPD award; Sunoco Rookie of the Year Chase Briscoe was voted Camping World Truck Series MPD by fans.
Sadler and Briscoe will be honored Dec. 9 during NASCAR Champions Week in Charlotte.
NMPA MOST POPULAR DRIVER AWARD
The NMPA Most Popular Driver Award is one of the longest-running awards presented annually by the National Motorsports Press Association. Since 1984, it has been the only major NASCAR award to be determined solely by fan vote.
MOST POPULAR NASCAR DRIVER AWARD HISTORY
1956 – Curtis Turner
1957 – Fireball Roberts
1958 – Glen Wood
1959 – Junior Johnson
1960 – Rex White
1961 – Joe Weatherly
1962 – Richard Petty
1963 – Fred Lorenzen
1964 – Richard Petty
1965 – Fred Lorenzen
1966 – Darel Dieringer
1967 – Cale Yarborough
1968 – Richard Petty
1969 – Bobby Isaac
1970 – Richard Petty
1971 – Bobby Allison
1972 – Bobby Allison
1973 – Bobby Allison
1974 – Richard Petty
1975 – Richard Petty
1976 – Richard Petty
1977 – Richard Petty
1978 – Richard Petty
1979 – David Pearson
1980 – David Pearson
1981 – Bobby Allison
1982 – Bobby Allison
1983 – Bobby Allison
1984 – Bill Elliott
1985 – Bill Elliott
1986 – Bill Elliott
1987 – Bill Elliott
1988 – Bill Elliott
1989 – Darrell Waltrip
1990 – Darrell Waltrip
1991 – Bill Elliott
1992 – Bill Elliott
1993 – Bill Elliott
1994 – Bill Elliott
1995 – Bill Elliott
1996 – Bill Elliott
1997 – Bill Elliott
1998 – Bill Elliott
1999 – Bill Elliott
2000 – Bill Elliott
2001 – Dale Earnhardt
2002 – Bill Elliott
2003 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2004 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2005 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2006 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2007 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2008 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2009 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2010 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2011 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2012 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2013 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2014 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2015 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2016 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2017 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Related: Kevin Harvick comments on Dale Earnhardt Jr as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver
