NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award is awarded to the most popular NASCAR driver in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series every year since 1956. It started as a poll of the drivers and then all NASCAR Cup Series competitors; today, it is voted for by fans across the United States.
The award is presented by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). Sponsored by Hamburger Helper in 2010, it was also sponsored by Wheaties in 2011. The ceremony presenting the award is called the NASCAR Awards Banquet, and it is held in Nashville, Tennessee in November of each year.
The winner of the most awards is Bill Elliott with 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Elliott Sadler and Justin Allgaier have the most with four awards in the Xfinity Series, and Johnny Benson Jr. & Hailie Deegan have the most awards at three in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the second-most awards (15) and holds the longest streak, winning the award in 2003 and every year until his retirement in 2017.[1][2]
- ^ Wilhelm, Chase (December 2, 2016). "Dale Jr. wins NASCAR's Most Popular Driver, reveals wedding date". Foxsports.com. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ^ "Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins NASCAR Most Popular Driver award for 15th time". USA Today. Associated Press. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.