"BoogityBoogityBoogity. At the same time, then-Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony Stewart announced he would leave the organization to start his own team. Busch races for the Richard Childress Racing team and has a . Jimmie Johnson As time passes, his accomplishments will be further revered. That's what earned him induction into the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame. 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. These names all make sense for a variety of reasons, including their respective fanbases. Sawyer joined NASCAR in February of 2015 as managing director of the Craftsman Truck Series. 10. We started sponsoring him when he was eight years old. That seemingly won't change as he is not even in the prime of his career. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Oympics. Most Popular Driver; Female Drivers. Display Current Drivers Only. 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. The team announced Wednesday that Smith, 20, plans to run five Cup races with sponsorship from Quick Tie Products. 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. Finished second in the points three times. No other driver, or personality for that matter, will take as much time with his fans to sign an autograph, talk to people and give the time of day to drivers. In a series first, NASCAR will award medals to the top three finishers in a Cup race. He wears a No. No one could have expected him to be so popular so soon. Won 54 races. Denny Hamlin 8. In those five seasons, he won 50 of his 243 starts (20.6%). At the same time, popularity in the garage has another way of defining the sport. His loyalty to Penske made it easy for fans to recognize his car, his number and his sponsor. Parsons, or as many knew him BP, is still missed to this day. Allison won four Southern 500s, three Daytona 500s and three Coca-Cola 600s. In other weeks, however, Chastain had far fewer supporters. He won the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 three times each. Blaney has only released two videos so far, but there is an opportunity for more. NASCAR racing has been my life for decades. Since then, "Cousin Carl" has been doing back flips in the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series after each victory. This list includes Justin. Later in 1988, Allison had a near fatal accident at Pocono that caused major head injuries, forcing him to retire. NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers is an alphabetical list of NASCAR drivers. Twenty-seven cars will compete in the 150-lap feature on the quarter-mile track built inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. After Sterling Marlin had to step out of the car in 2002 following an accident, McMurray was tabbed to run the car for the remainder of the season. Whether the car had a brightly painted rainbow or it had red-hot flames, Jeff Gordon has always been one of the more popular drivers among the fans. Voting for Most Popular Driver does not close until November 30, one day before the NASCAR Champions Banquet, so there is plenty of time for Blaney to take one more shot at his fellow driver. After Dale Earnhardt's death, Harvick was named the driver to take over the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. He won the Southern 500 six times and the Brickyard 400 five times. 10 car full-time for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. 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. He also had a Daytona 500 win and a Southern 500 victory among his 84 career wins. Missed one race due to the death of his father. In his racing career, Allison won 84 races and has the 1983 championship to his credit. It was one of the greatest races NASCAR had ever run, but it was one that Bobby never remembers. Rebuilding will be my top priority. All Rights Reserved. But if you saw that smile beneath the huge mustache, Earnhardt was the kindest man you could ever meet. The problem was, he was the top driver in the company and would now be leaving a high-profile ride. 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. As long as the fans buy the products, his popularity is secure. NASCAR fans are the ones that purchase their favorite t-shirts, hats and die-casts of the driver they root for each week. 2 of 20. Although in his death, NASCAR did mandate the window net, despite it taking seven years to do so. We can surely look up to the sky and see those huge sunglasses looking down, probably smiling and happy we are continuing to enjoy the sport he loved. Craven would take the win by 0.002 secondsthe closest finish in NASCAR history. Johnny Beauchamp was declared the winner at the track, but Petty wouldn't accept it, saying his car was the leader at the line. Jimmie Johnson 4. A trusted voice in the garage, Scott used his decades of experience to lead our competition team to new heights during a time that saw a new race format, a new playoff format and a new race car. But for Kevin Harvick, his popularity came at a sacrifice. Busch's popularity has taken off in the last three years since he signed on with Joe Gibbs Racing, and he has become a driver that fans simply can't stop talking about. Fast, fearless and controversial, he died of AIDS in 1989, two years after his final race. 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Petty has since gotten out of the car but has always remained loyal to his racing roots as he is part of SPEED's NASCAR Raceday and NASCAR Victory Lane. Unfortunately, I wont be driving the 10 car full time this year, he tweeted. Fred Lorenzen "Fearless" Freddy, smart, fast and handsome, was a runaway star in Cup racing in the 1960s. Hailee Deegan won the vote for most popular driver in the Truck Series this season while Justin Allgaier won the title in the Xfinity Series for the third consecutive season. The list also includes Christopher Bell, reigning champion Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, and Ryan Blaney. He was popular especially for the commercials he did with UPS. No personality in NASCAR has the longevity, the recognition and the respect like Richard Petty. 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. 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. Elliott has won Most Popular Driver for the fifth year in a row, and he remains one of just five drivers to win the award since 1984. His name was defined by a small budget trying to make it big. Darrell Waltrip won the award two years in a row in 1989 and 1990, while Dale Earnhardt earned the award posthumously in 2001. NASCAR also announced the promotions of several individuals to key positions within its competition team. When you have a nickname like "Happy," it's hard not to be liked. 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. 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. He wasn't very outspoken, but he spoke out when needed. Drivers have a way of earning respect on the track, but that carries over in the garage. Plus, Labonte soon had to battle a broken hand he suffered in a crash during practice one weekend. It has earned him a spot in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in the second class of inductees. 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. Both Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick made the top 10. When Jimmie Johnson came to Cup competition in 2002, he made an immediate impact with the fans and drivers by winning the pole in the Daytona 500. In this role, Patalak also investigates all crashes and driver protection issues. He finished first or second in the points 10 times in his career. 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. His transition to the broadcast booth is one of the smoothest by any former driver. He wasn't popular because of his racing, nor his success. Also on Thursday, Trackhouse Racing founder. Johnson won six NASCAR titles as a car owner, three each from Cale Yarborough (1976-1978) and Darrell Waltrip (1981-1982, 1985). 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. It's not the money that Sprint, Nationwide or Camping World puts out to be the champion. As one of the originators of the great "Alabama Gang," Donnie Allison was one of the most popular drivers in the 1970s. 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. Each one comes to the track wearing familiar colors of their driver, just showing the passion that the sport brings out. Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. For Dave Marcis, his racing career spanned over 30 years and saw him win only five times. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. 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. However, he has become ever popular alongside Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds when FOX does the first half of the season. Pearson up high, Petty down low, and the two connect out of Turn 4, with each hitting the wall. 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. Who is the most well liked NASCAR driver? What they got was a moment that has been classified as the No. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. Another three races, he gave the entire NASCAR community a chance to heal as he took the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet to victory lane in Atlanta after a photo finish with Jeff Gordon. 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? It's by far his favorite track. Joey Logano is the best NASCAR driver right now. Would love your thoughts, please comment. All this means that popularity in NASCAR can be defined by its fan base. 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. The mark he leaves on the organization is significant. Chandler Smith will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a third Chevrolet entered by Kaulig Racing. And what a career he's had driving the blue deuce. In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to select the "50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time." The 1999 champion, Dale Jarrett, is on this list not just because of his popularity among the fans and the drivers. Most Popular Driver Award Winners. As a kid, you always have the goal of one day racing in the Cup Series. He was also the champion in 1962 and 1963. The patriarch of the greatest name in NASCAR and one of the five newest inductees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. 3. He is a massive Washington Capitals fan, lover of history, and can be found at Dominion Raceway most Saturday nights. Thanks to @C_Rice1 and @MattKaulig for the shot in 2022, and for being a great team. 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. There is no one that defines toughness as much as Rudd. He's not overly loud, but when Matt Kenseth talks, many listen. He finished second in the points three other years. Eight drivers have been named to this year's NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. Harvick, for comparison, has made jokes in the past about his popularity. For example, he said in a 2018 video for NASCAR and Fine Line Productions that he put Keelan Harvick on the ballot. Petty is the first driver to achieve the seven NASCAR Cup championships, making him an undisputed champion in the NASCAR world. The result was typically a win, a wreck or an exploding engine. 1959 - Jack Smith. After just two races, McMurray put his name on the map as he won at Charlotte. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Junior, who won 26 times in Cup, repeated much of his fathers successes on the sports biggest tracks but fell short of joining him in scoring championships. But, he was the first name read for the 2011 class of inductees, as his statistics and demeanor were more than enough to get the respect of his peers and the fans. NASCAR unveiled the list on November 21 and revealed which drivers in alphabetical order -have been receiving the most votes through the first two weeks. His 50 career wins are not his biggest credit but more of what he discovered in NASCAR that still continues today. Yarborough would become a car owner in the 1990s and still remains a fixture in NASCAR. Probably one of the nicest and humblest figures in NASCAR had to be Benny Parsons. But, he will let you know when he is. 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. 8. 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. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. When Labonte took over the lead late in the season, fans knew it would come down to the final races. 3 meant you had to move or will be moved by force. I knew any list worth it's salt would have Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and . 10 car full-time for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Who knows how popular Richmond would be today if he was still with us. 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. That honor was achieved by younger brother Bobby in 2000. It was almost as though the driver was a human jack-in-the-box. The race after his death was at Pocono, and every driver was taking the loss hard. Twenty-seven cars will compete in the 150-lap feature on the quarter-mile track built inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Latest NASCAR News. If there was ever a driver that seemed to be made to be popular, it is David Reutimann. He got the big break he was looking for thanks to Dale Earnhardt in 2001. He held the series record for victories until son Richard topped his mark. Richard Petty holds the record with at least a win in 18 consecutive seasons. The first winner of the award was Curtis Turner in 1949. One alleged that Elliott eats his chicken wings with a fork and knife. The 2018 NMPA Most Popular Driver will be announced during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards program Thursday, Nov. 29 at Wynn Las Vegas. 1960 - Rex White. But, this year it was a season of living a dream for McMurray. Richard Petty He went from seven-time champion to cultural icon. Another driver turned broadcaster that saw some success in NASCAR was Ricky Craven. 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. 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's a different Gordon, one that has reduced the haters and increased his popularity. The "Candyman" himself has finally been taken down the list of the most hated active NASCAR drivers. Less than a month later, Parsons succumbed to the complications. He scored his best points finish second in 1991. Thanks to @C_Rice1 and @MattKaulig for the shot in 2022, and for being a great team. The list in no alphabetical order features some expected names. Most Popular Driver Award presented by Hooters. But, the most success Labonte saw in his career came at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. He was once known as NASCAR's "Iron Man," but Ricky Rudd's popularity could be defined by his longevity and toughness. He won the Coke 600 and Brickyard 400 four times each and won the Southern 500 and Daytona 500 twice each. The award is presented by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). But, he would not get his first career victory until 2001. Let's count down the 50 most popular drivers in NASCAR to find out. 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. Bill Elliott holds the record for the most awards with 16 followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 15. Will this wild move lead to Chastain dethroning Elliott? He has missed the first two ballots for the NASCAR Hall of Fame but will definitely be inducted within the next few years.