Nascar most popular driver 2022

• Photo: Zach Catanzareti Photo / flickr / CC-BY 2.0

  Elliott couldn't defend his championship in 2021, but he continued to round into form as one of NASCAR's unquestioned elite racers at the ripe age of 26. Hendrick Motorsports has a two-headed beast at the top of its stable and Elliott should easily be "the guy" again this year.

  • Birthplace: Dawsonville, Georgia
  • Team: Hendrick Motorsports

• Photo: Zach Catanzareti Photo / Flickr / CC-BY 2.0

  In 2021, Larson raced a season for the ages, showing off his long-rumored unbelievable talent for once after all those years. At the present moment, it seems as if Larson could be gearing up to become one of NASCAR's all-time greats over the next decade-plus. Back-to-back championships feels entirely in the realm of possibility for Larson in 2022.

  • Birthplace: Kearney, Nebraska
  • Team: Hendrick Motorsports

• Photo: Zach Catanzareti Photo / Flickr / CC-BY 2.0

  The 2018 champion took a statistical dip in 2021, despite making the Round of 8. Logano fans shouldn't be concerned however, as he enteres his age 32 season and it's possible somehow, the 13-year veterans best days lie ahead.

  • Birthplace: Middletown, Connecticut
  • Team: Team Penske

• Photo: Zach Catanzareti / Flickr / CC-BY-SA 2.0

  Like he's shown throughout his career, Chastain turned a lot of heads in 2021, markedly improving on his previous Cup performance. In his first year at Trackhouse in 2022, bookmark "The Watermelon Man" for a slew of highly competitive races.

  • Birthplace: Alva, Florida
  • Team: Trackhouse Racing Team

2017 Most Popular Driver Award

Earnhardt, Jr. wins most popular for 15th year: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrapped up his final season as a NASCAR driver with one last piece of hardware. He won the Most Popular Driver Award on Thursday night for the 15th consecutive time. The award is based on a fan vote and sponsored by the National Motorsports Press Association. Only Bill Elliott won the award more than Earnhardt – 16 times between 1984 and 2002 – before he removed his name from consideration.[More][11-30-2017]

Most Popular Driver voting opens Sept. 3: Voting for the National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver Award will officially open Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017. The 2017 voting period will open at 12:00am/et Sunday and close at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 19. To vote for this year’s award, fans can visit www.nmpamostpopulardriver.com via desktop or the NASCAR MOBILE app.[More][9-2-2017]

2016 Most Popular Driver Award

Earnhardt voted Most Popular Driver for 14th consecutive year: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s hot streak in Las Vegas continued Friday night. The driver of the #88 Chevy was named the National Motorsports Press Association Sprint Most Popular Driver for the 14th consecutive year, extending his record streak. “That’s pretty cool,” Earnhardt said to open his acceptance speech. Earnhardt’s 14 consecutive wins mark the longest streak since the award was first presented in 1953. Bill Elliott — Chase’s father — holds the record for all-time Most Popular Driver honors with 16. He was presented with the award at the black-tie NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards held at Wynn Las Vegas.
The award is determined solely by fan voting, and Earnhardt said it was especially touching to know that his fans supported him even during a year in which he missed the second half of the season due to a concussion. “This year was a difficult year for us and our team,” Earnhardt said. “You think you know just how incredible the NASCAR fans are and how supportive they are. You see them support the drivers through victories and through defeat. But when you go through recovery from an injury or maybe the loss of a loved one or something like that, you really get to the core of what’s great about our fan base.” Earnhardt’s 2016 season came to an end when he was sidelined after the race at Kentucky Speedway in July. In the 18 races in which he participated, he earned five top-five finishes — including four runner-up results — and six top-10s. “I want to thank the fans for all the support and all the well-wishes,” he said. “It really motivated me to get healthy and it also motivated me to come back. I’m looking forward to next year.”[Hendrick Motorsports][12-3-2016]

Update on Most Popular Driver voting: The top 10 drivers according to fan voting through the first eight weeks of the Most Popular Driver contest are [in alphabetical order]: #18-Kyle Busch, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #19-Carl Edwards, #24-Chase Elliott, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #5-Kasey Kahne, #20-Matt Kenseth, #10-Panica Patrick, #14-Tony Stewart, and #78-Martin Truex, Jr.

Voting will close at 11:59pm/et on Sunday, Nov. 20[11-7-2016]

Most Popular Driver voting now underway: Voting for the National Motorsports Press Association Sprint Most Popular Driver Award officially opened Sunday, Sept. 4. The award, sponsored by Sprint and administered by the NMPA, is the only major NASCAR award determined solely by fan vote. It has been presented annually since 1953. The 2016 voting period opened at 12:00am/et Sunday and will close at 11:59pm/et on Sunday, Nov. 20. To vote for this year’s award, fans can visit www.mostpopulardriver.com through either desktop or the NASCAR MOBILE app. Voting is limited to one vote per person per email address per day. Fans are encouraged to share their votes through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Eligible drivers for this year’s award are those who have declared for the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. The winner of this year’s award will be announced during the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards program on Friday, Dec. 2 in Las Vegas.[NMPA][9-4-2016]

2015 Most Popular Driver Award

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. wins Most Popular Driver Award: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. collected his 13th consecutive NMPA Sprint Most Popular Driver award Friday during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ annual Awards Ceremony held at the Wynn Las Vegas. Earnhardt is the only driver to have won the award since 16-time winner Bill Elliott was named the recipient at the conclusion of the 2002 season. Earnhardt was awarded the trophy and the National Motorsports Press Association will donate $10,000 in Earnhardt’s name to the charity of his choice. NASCAR fans cast 410,000 votes during the year’s 11-week voting window that ended with the Sprint Cup Series finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 22. The NMPA Sprint Most Popular Driver award completed its 63rd season, making it one of the oldest awards presented in NASCAR. The fan-driven contest is the only major award in NASCAR determined solely by race fans. “NASCAR fans are the greatest in all of sports,” said NMPA President Brian Nelson, “and I’m delighted that Sprint and the NMPA have given them an opportunity to voice their support. The fans spoke loud and clear, and it’s obvious they support Dale Jr.” Voting totals increased 14 percent over 2014 in spite of a shorter voting window, and more than 40 Sprint Cup Series drivers received one or more votes this season. Race fans were encouraged to vote daily online and using the NASCAR Mobile app. “It is our duty as an organization to provide NASCAR fans with the best possible platform in which to participate, and to provide them with the best possible experience,” said Nelson. The award is sponsored by Sprint, the entitlement sponsor and official wireless partner of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.[NMPA][12-5-2015]

NMPA Sprint Most Popular Driver Award Update Less than one week remains before voting ends in the annual NMPA Most Popular Driver award, which means it’s crucial for NASCAR fans to vote. Last week saw a 14.9% increase in total number of votes cast from the previous week. Sprint has revealed the top 10 vote-getters thus far. Where is your favorite driver? The list is in alphabetical order: #18-Kyle Busch #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. #19-Carl Edwards #24-Jeff Gordon #4-Kevin Harvick #48-Jimmie Johnson #5-Kasey Kahne #20-Matt Kenseth #10-Danica Patrick

#14-Tony Stewart.[NASCAR.com][11-18-2015]

NMPA Sprint Most Popular Driver Award Voting Opens September 6: The National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] and Sprint announced that voting for the 2015 NMPA Sprint Most Popular Driver award will open Sunday, September 6, 2015. The NMPA Sprint Most Popular Driver award is the only major NASCAR award determined solely by fan vote. The voting period will open at 12:01am/et Sunday, September 6, 2015 and run through 11:59pm/et on Sunday, November 22, 2015. Fans can visit www.mostpopulardriver.com to cast their vote for this year’s award. Votes will also be received via the NASCAR Mobile application. Voting is limited to one vote per person per email address per day. Fans are encouraged to share their votes on Facebook and Twitter. The official Twitter hashtag for the NMPA Sprint Most Popular Driver Award is #SprintMPD. Eligible drivers for the award are those who have declared to compete for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship [drivers running for Sprint Cup Series points]. The winner of this year’s award will be announced during NBCSN broadcast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards on Dec. 4 in Las Vegas. A $10,000 donation will be made to the winning driver’s charity of choice.[NASCAR][9-5-2015]

Most Popular Driver award details to be released: Sprint will return as sponsor of the National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver award. Details about the voting window will be announced Sept. 6 at Darlington Raceway during the Southern 500 weekend. This is the 63rd season for the award. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won the award 12 consecutive years. There were 776,000 votes cast during last year’s 19-week voting window.[NBC Sport][8-18-2015]

2015 XFINITY and Camping World Truck SeriesMost Popular Driver Award

Voting begins for XFINITY and Truck Series Most Popular Driver: As on-track competition heats up, there’s another showdown on the line in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR’s seven touring series, as voting for the Most Popular Driver Awards begins on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Chase Elliott looks to defend his NASCAR XFINITY Series Most Popular Driver title while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is guaranteed a new winner. Fans can vote once per day online for the Most Popular Driver Awards at www.NASCAR.com/mostpopulardriver. Voting is open and runs through Friday, Nov. 20 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Saturday, Nov. 21 for the NASCAR XFINITY Series, prior to the respective season finale races at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend. Voting for the seven NASCAR touring series will also conclude Saturday, Nov. 21. The winners will be announced at the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards. The combined postseason gala will take place at the Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, Florida on Monday, Nov. 23. To be eligible to receive Most Popular Driver votes, NASCAR XFINITY Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers must have selected to receive 2015 championship driver points in their respective series. Additionally, drivers in every series must have attempted at least half of each of their series’ races this season.[NASCAR][10-6-2015]

2014 Most Popular Driver Award

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is Most Popular Driver: during the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards, it was announced that #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 2014 NMPA Sprint Most Popular Driver Award. Dale Earnhardt Jr., has won the MPD award for the past 12 seasons. Only NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott has more MPD awards with 16. The Sprint NMPA Most Popular Driver Award is the only major NASCAR award determined solely by fan vote.
AND The top-10 vote-getters for this year’s award [listed alphabetically]: Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart and Josh Wise.[USA Today][12-5-2014]

Most popular driver to be announced Friday: The National Motorsports Press Association will announce the winner of this year’s Sprint NMPA Most Popular Driver Award during Friday evening’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony at the Wynn Las Vegas. The award has been a part of the annual Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon held the day before the Sprint Cup ceremony in recent years. However, Sprint’s sponsorship of the program, which began this year, provided the NMPA the opportunity to make the presentation as part of Friday’s ceremony. It will mark just the second time in recent years that the award has been moved to Friday’s program. In 2001, Teresa Earnhardt, widow of seven-time premier series champion Dale Earnhardt, accepted the award on behalf of her husband during the annual awards show. Earnhardt’s son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., has won the MPD award for the past 11 seasons. Only NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott has more MPD awards with 16. The Sprint NMPA Most Popular Driver Award is the only major NASCAR award determined solely by fan vote.[NASCAR.com][12-3-2014]

Most Popular Driver Voting starts: The voting for the 2014 Sprint NMPA Most Popular Driver Award has started. To vote, visit www.mostpopulardriver.com and follow the online instructions for entering. Voting began at on July 5, 2014 and ends at 8:00pm/et on November 17, 2014. Voting is limited to a] one [1] vote per person per email address per day; b] up to two [2] additional votes per person per email address per day for those who share their votes through social media sites Facebook and/or Twitter. Driver eligibility for the Most Popular Driver award is limited to those candidates that have declared for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship and have entered all points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events contested between Jan. 1, 2014 and July 5, 2014.[7-5-2014]

Most Popular Driver Voting starts in July: The National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver Award will officially launch in July as the association welcomes a new presenting sponsor for the 62-year-old program. The Most Popular Driver Award is the only major NASCAR award determined solely by fan vote. The winner is announced during the annual Myers Brothers Luncheon held in conjunction with Champions’ Week activities in Las Vegas. “We sincerely appreciate the interest expressed by so many fans surrounding the Most Popular Driver program during the past few months,” NMPA president Kenny Bruce said. “Their continued participation, passion and loyalty are the reason for the program’s amazing success and longevity.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. collected his 11th consecutive NMPA Most Popular Driver Award in 2013 as NASCAR fans cast more than 1 million votes throughout the season. Bill Elliott holds the record for most MPD awards as the 1988 NASCAR champion earned the honor 16 times.[NMPA][5-23-2014]

Most Popular Driver voting to start in May: As the fan-driven National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver program launches for its 62nd season, the NMPA announced on Friday that the program will undergo changes for the 2014 season. Voting opens for the Most Popular Driver Award in May and will officially close at midnight on Sunday, Nov. 16. An official launch date will be announced in the near future. Once the program launches, fans will have the opportunity to vote by logging onto www.mostpopulardriver.com throughout the remainder of the season. The NMPA will release the official launch date for the program in the near future.[NASCAR.com][3-1-2014]

2013 Most Popular Driver Award

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. wins 11th Most Popular Driver Award The National Motorsports Press Association announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the recipient of this year’s NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award. It is the 11th consecutive year Earnhardt Jr. has been selected through a vote of the fans, breaking a tie with Bill Elliott for most consecutive awards received. Elliott continues to hold the overall mark, having been named the series’ most popular driver 16 times. “I don’t really keep track of the stats or the score, but Bill was a great driver and ambassador for the sport,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He represents the sport really well to this day, as does his son Chase, who’s coming up and carrying on the family name. But, I’ve always looked up to Bill as a driver so it’s pretty neat.” More than 1 million votes were tallied for 39 eligible drivers from this year’s first race to the last at the site MostPopularDriver.com. Fans voted once per day with Earnhardt Jr. collecting more than 700,000 votes. The award was presented to the Hendrick Motorsports driver today during the annual NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon, a part of the season-ending Champions Week activities in Las Vegas. The final top-10 drivers, in order of votes received were: Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. Earnhardt Jr. is still honored to receive the trophy.[NMPA][12-5-2013]

Most Popular Driver voting open: There’s one guarantee in this year’s voting for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Most Popular Driver Awards: Fans will crown a new winner. With Danica Patrick, last year’s NASCAR Nationwide Series winner, moving to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nelson Piquet Jr., last year’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner, racing in the Nationwide Series, this year’s vote – like the eventual winner’s driving style – is wide open. For the sixth consecutive year, fans can vote online for the Most Popular Driver Award in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Each series has a dedicated site on NASCAR.com for voting. For the NASCAR Nationwide Series, fans can go to www.NASCAR.com/nnsmpd and for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to www.NASCAR.com/ncwtsmpd. Fans are encouraged to vote once per day leading up to the deadline.

Voting is open and runs through Friday, Nov. 15 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Saturday, Nov. 16 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, prior to the respective season finale races at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend. To be eligible to receive votes, drivers must have selected either the NASCAR Nationwide Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to receive 2013 championship driver points. Additionally, drivers must have attempted at least half of each series’ races this season.

The winners will be announced at the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards. The combined post-season gala will once again take place in South Florida at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Monday, Nov. 18.[NASCAR Integrated Marketing][10-9-2013]

Voting Begins for NMPA NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver: Fans of #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will try to defend a 10-year win streak as voting opens today [Feb 25th] for the NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] Most Popular Driver Award. Fans can vote online once a day throughout the 2013 Sprint Cup Series season to earn their driver the coveted “most popular” trophy. This year marks the first year of eligibility for Sprint Cup rookie #10-Danica Patrick, whose fan base could push voting activity and award competition to a new intensity.
Fans can visit www.MostPopularDriver.com and vote once a day for their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup driver among the 39 eligible. All 39 will remain eligible for voting throughout the entire Sprint Cup Series season. Voting will conclude November 17 at 11:59pm/et after the season’s final race at Homestead. The winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in December. Earnhardt Jr. notched his 10th straight NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver award last season, tying a record for consecutive wins set by Bill Elliott. Elliott holds the record for most overall wins with 16. Patrick, who made history last week by becoming the first woman to earn a Sprint Cup pole and to lead the Daytona 500, could challenge Earnhardt Jr.’s streak with her far-reaching fan base that includes women, girls and cross-over fans from her open-wheel racing career. “Dale Jr.’s fans have really staked a claim on this award for the past decade, but the vote could get interesting this year,” said Kenny Bruce, president of the NMPA. “We’ve had some close competitions in the past, so there are actually multiple drivers who could break the streak, and Danica is certainly one of them.” The NMPA Most Popular Driver distinction has been awarded every year since 1956. At one time, the contest was decided by a poll among drivers, taken at the end of the racing season. Later, members of the media determined the winner. Today, race fans from all over the world make the ultimate decision.

For more information and to vote on the NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver Award, visit www.MostPopularDriver.com.[Breaking Limits][2-25-2013]

2012 Most Popular Driver Award

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Again a Winner with NASCAR Fans: The National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] announced, on behalf of all NASCAR fans who voted, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been crowned the 2012 NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver. The award, given annually since 1956, is Earnhardt Jr.’s 10th consecutive honor and was presented to him today during the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon at The Encore at Wynn in Las Vegas, Nev. This now ties him with Bill Elliott as the only other driver to be presented the award 10 consecutive years. Elliott is still the all-time leader with 16 overall. After fans voted from February to September, the top 10 drivers that earned the most votes were reset to zero. Drivers Kyle Busch, Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart were all finalists who fans voted for during the final 10 weeks of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. After more than 934,000 votes were cast this season, Earnhardt Jr. proved once again to be the fans’ favorite.
Completing the voting, in order, were Gordon, Kahne, Stewart, Johnson, Harvick, Kyle Busch, Edwards, Kenseth and Labonte. Earnhardt Jr. has now won the award since 2003, and with Elliott and Richard Petty, are the only drivers to receive it at least five consecutive times. “It was an honor to hear that I won this year and am now tied with Bill [Elliott] for 10 in a row,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I’ve enjoyed this award because it’s a testament to my fans. I appreciate their loyalty and dedication. It was great to get back in Victory Lane this year for my team and for my fans. I’m looking forward to a successful 2013, and am proud to accept this award on behalf of all the fans that voted.” Once again the NMPA was proud to support one of NASCAR’s oldest and most prestigious awards during Champion Week in Las Vegas. “Each year, NASCAR fans show their passion for their favorite driver in the NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver voting,” said Rea White, president of the NMPA. “This award is not only for the driver, but also for the fans as something they can claim as their own at the end of each season. We’re proud we can continue this tradition and once again the fans have spoken, selecting a great representative in Dale Earnhardt Jr.”[Breaking Limits][11-30-2012]

‘Most Popular Driver’ Finalists Unveiled: The National Motorsports Press Association announced the finalists for the NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award today. With more than a half-million votes cast, the top 10 drivers that earned the most votes will now be reset to zero with voting continuing over the next 10 weeks, coinciding with the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup. The 10 finalists are, in alphabetical order: #18-Kyle Busch, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #99-Carl Edwards, #24-Jeff Gordon, #33-Kevin Harvick,#48- Jimmie Johnson, #5-Kasey Kahne, #17-Matt Kenseth, #47-Bobby Labonte and #14-Tony Stewart. Fans now have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day at www.mostpopulardriver.com to determine the winner from the final 10 drivers. Voting will conclude Nov. 18 at 11:59 PM ET and the winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in November.[Breaking Limits][9-12-2012]

Most Popular Driver: as of March 16, 2012, no sponsor for the Most Popular Driver Award for the 2012 season. The award is being run thru the National Motorsports Press Association website at MostPopularDriver.com

Voting for the full field of drivers will end on September 8 at 11:59 PM EST. At that point, the 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as finalists and the vote count will reset to zero. Fans will then have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day to determine the 2012 NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver winner from the final field of 10 drivers.

Voting will conclude November 18 at 11:59 PM EST and the winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in December.[3-16-2012]

2011 Most Popular Driver Award

Earnhardt Jr. Wins Ninth Straight Most Popular Driver Award:Junior Nation has spoken once again. Fans of Dale Earnhardt Jr. voted the Sprint Cup Series driver the NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver for the ninth straight year. Earnhardt Jr. earned the award after receiving the most online fan votes among all eligible drivers throughout the 2011 racing season. The trophy was presented by award sponsor Wheaties FUEL to Earnhardt Jr. at the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers ceremony Thursday in Las Vegas. Fans cast nearly 1.5 million total votes throughout the 2011 campaign, voting up to once per day for their favorite driver at www.WheatiesFuelMostPopularDriver.com. The field was narrowed to 10 finalists and the vote counts were reset to zero for the final 10 races of the season. The nine other finalists were [in alphabetical order]: Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart.

“It’s a big honor. My fans have been real supportive throughout my career,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “This has been a little bit of a turnaround year from the last couple of years, and we want to keep getting better on the racetrack and give our fans what they expect. We’ve got a lot of momentum going into 2012, and I’m proud to accept this award on behalf of all the fans who voted.” Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive Most Popular Driver wins with 10, and he also holds the record for total wins with 16. He removed himself from voting after earning the honor the 16th time. “Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s fans showcase the passion NASCAR drivers can instill,” said Rea White, president of the National Motorsports Press Association. “The NMPA appreciates all the fans who vote to make this award an important part of NASCAR.” Since 1956, the NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver Award, now sponsored by Wheaties FUEL, has recognized NASCAR’s most beloved Sprint Cup driver. The award has been won by champions such as Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison, Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip. It is still the only NASCAR award determined solely by the fans. The contest once was decided by a poll among the drivers taken at the end of the season. Later, only the press was able to vote for the winner. Today, race fans from all over the world make the ultimate decision. General Mills became involved with the award in 2001 and today the Wheaties FUEL brand is the presenting sponsor.[Breaking Limits][12-1-2011]

Wheaties FUEL Reveals ‘Most Popular Driver’ Finalists: Just as NASCAR launches its playoff season this week, so does the campaign for the NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] Wheaties FUEL Most Popular Driver. Voting for the full field of drivers ended September 10 and only the 10 drivers with the most votes remain to battle it out for the title of 2011’s Most Popular Driver. The 10 finalists are, in alphabetical order: Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart. The “playoffs” now begin. Vote totals are reset to zero and fans have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day. at WheatiesFuelMostPopularDriver.com. to determine the winner from the final 10 drivers. Voting will conclude November 20 at 11:59 PM CT and the winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in December. Dale Earnhardt Jr. collected his eighth consecutive Most Popular Driver award at the end of the 2010 campaign, joining Bill Elliott as the only drivers to win the award eight years straight. Elliott holds the record for most consecutive Most Popular Driver wins with 10, and he also holds the record for total wins with 16. He removed himself from voting after earning the honor the 16th time. “The playoff season in any sport is when it really gets intense, and I think we’re going to see the same thing with our online vote,” said Betsy Frost, Wheaties FUEL Marketing Manager. “Once fans know that their guy has a shot at the title, they’re really going to step it up, making sure to vote every day and campaigning amongst their friends and family to get even more votes for their favorite driver.” By Champions. For Champions. Wheaties FUEL was developed in 2009 with the help of Peyton Manning, triathlete Hunter Kemper, Kevin Garnett, gold medal-winning decathlete Bryan Clay, Albert Pujols and sports nutritionist Dr. John Ivy. After a year-long development process, the result is a delicious honey cinnamon crunch that helps meet the nutritional needs of today’s champion athletes and delivers long-lasting energy from complex carbohydrates, includes b-vitamins to help your body release energy provided by food, and provides an excellent source of fiber to help you feel full.

For more information, and to vote on the NASCAR NMPA Wheaties FUEL Most Popular Driver Award, fans should log on to WheatiesFuelMostPopularDriver.com..[9-13-2011]

Voting Underway to Determine NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver:Voting is officially underway to determine the 2011 NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] Wheaties FUEL Most Popular Driver. The 10-week playoff format will return, with the top 10 vote-getters competing for top accolades at the season’s end.
Fans can visit www.WheatiesFuelMostPopularDriver.com and vote once a day for their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Following the race event at Richmond International Raceway, voting for the full field of 36 drivers will end on September 10 at 11:59 pm/ct. At that point, the 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as finalists, and the vote count will reset to zero. Fans will then have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day to determine the 2011 NASCAR Wheaties FUEL Most Popular Driver from the final field of 10 drivers. Voting will conclude November 20 at 11:59 pm/ct. The winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in December. New title sponsor Wheaties FUEL is anxious to engage race fans in the spirited contest. “We love the passion and dedication racing fans have for their drivers, and Wheaties FUEL is thrilled to be part of this great tradition,” said Betsy Frost, Marketing Manager for Wheaties FUEL. “Winning takes intense preparation, and we are glad Wheaties FUEL can provide a forum for fans to support their favorite driver as they prepare to win.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. notched his eighth consecutive NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver Award last season. Only Earnhardt Jr. and Bill Elliott have won the award eight consecutive times since the award’s inception in 1953. “The NMPA is proud to be associated with Wheaties FUEL in giving fans a chance to decide who will be honored with this award,” Said Rea White, President of the NMPA. “The annual award allows the fans to share their opinion and make their choice for favorite driver known.” By Champions. For Champions. Wheaties FUEL was developed in 2009 with the help of Peyton Manning, triathlete Hunter Kemper, Kevin Garnett, gold medal-winning decathlete Bryan Clay, Albert Pujols and sports nutritionist Dr. John Ivy. After a year-long development process, the result is a delicious honey cinnamon crunch that helps meet the nutritional needs of today’s champion athletes and delivers long-lasting energy from complex carbohydrates, includes b-vitamins to help your body release energy provided by food, and provides an excellent source of fiber to help you feel full.

For more information, and to vote on the NASCAR NMPA Wheaties FUEL Most Popular Driver Award, fans should log on to www.WheatiesFuelMostPopularDriver.com.[Breaking Limits][2-20-2011]

2010 Most Popular Driver Award

Most Popular Driver Award winner named: And the streak goes on. Dale Earnhardt Jr. today collected his eighth consecutive NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver Award after receiving the most online fan votes among all eligible drivers throughout the 2010 racing season. He joins Bill Elliott as the only drivers to win the award at least eight years straight. The trophy was presented by Hamburger Helper to Earnhardt Jr. at the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers ceremony Thursday in Las Vegas, Nev. For the first time in award history, a fan was also involved with the presentation ceremony. Rachel Didat, winner of the Hamburger Helper “Most Passionate Fan” Contest, was on stage to help present the award. Fans cast more than 1.5 million total votes throughout the 2010 campaign, voting up to once per day for their favorite driver at www.helpersmostpopulardriver.com. Earnhardt Jr. beat out nine other finalists [in alphabetical order]: Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart. “It was pretty cool to hear that I was eight in a row just like Bill [Elliott],” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I’ve enjoyed winning it – my fan base has stayed strong. It’s become an important honor each year for me. I’m glad that fans still feel their support for me. I appreciate their dedication and loyalty.”
“The legend of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s fan support grows each year he wins this award,” said Dustin Long, President of the National Motorsports Press Association. “The NMPA is appreciative of the fans who vote and continue to make this award a part of the sport’s fabric.” Elliott holds the record for consecutive Most Popular Driver wins with 10, and he also holds the record for total wins with 16. He removed himself from voting after earning the honor the 16th time.
Didat, a racing fan from New Albany, Ind., won the trip to Las Vegas after collecting the most online votes for her video submission in the Hamburger Helper “Most Passionate Fan” Contest. Her video, which shows her cooking Hamburger Helper with the assistance of the famous, four-fingered “Helping Hand,” earned more votes than four other finalists. See all five finalists’ videos, plus other details about the Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver award, at www.helpersmostpopulardriver.com/MostPassionateFanVideoContest.aspx. Hamburger Helper has been making meals easy for 40 years and is proud to sponsor the NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver Award.[General Mills / Breaking Limits][12-2-2010]

Top 10 ‘Most Popular Driver’ Finalists Revealed: Just like drivers trying to get into the chase for the championship, racing fans took it down to the wire to get their favorites in as finalists for the NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver Award. Voting for the full field of drivers is now over and the top 10 vote-getters move on to the “playoff” round of voting. The 10 finalists are, in alphabetical order: Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart. In conjunction with the top-10 announcement, the campaign also announces the “Hamburger Helper Most Passionate Fan Contest.” The winner will receive a trip for two to Las Vegas and the opportunity to help present the NMPA Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver Award to the winning driver at the end of the season in December.

To enter, fans must submit a 15- to 30-second video by October 20 on helpersmostpopulardriver.com/MostPassionateFanVideoContest, demonstrating why they are Helpers’ number-one fan. The top five submissions will be posted on the website on October 25, where fans will vote to choose the winner. Submissions will be judged on passion for the Hamburger Helper brand, originality and creativity, and clarity.

Meanwhile, race fans can continue to vote once a day for one of the top 10 Most Popular Driver finalists. The vote count has been reset to zero, so it’s anybody’s race to win. Voting will conclude November 22 at 11:59 pm/ct and the winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in December in Las Vegas with the help of the winner of the “Hamburger Helper Most Passionate Fan Contest.” Last season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. earned his seventh consecutive Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the NMPA. Only Earnhardt Jr. and Bill Elliott have won the award seven consecutive times since its inception in 1953.

For more information on contest details or to vote on the NASCAR NMPA Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver Award, visit www.HelpersMostPopularDriver.com.[Breaking Limits/General Mills][9-13-2010]

Most Popular Driver Votes Reach 1 Million: The race to the NASCAR Chase is on and so is the chase for its favorite driver – and that effort has reached a major milestone. Fans have now cast more than 1 million votes for the NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver Award at www.HelpersMostPopularDriver.com. Fans only have two more weeks of voting before the competition is narrowed to the top-10 vote-getters. The votes will be reset on September 12 and the 10 driver finalists will then begin a new race to the finish. Race fans have been able to vote online for their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup driver once a day since the racing season began in February. Voting for the full field of 41 eligible drivers will end on September 11 at 11:59 pm/ct, following the race event at Richmond International Raceway. The 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as finalists and the vote count will reset to zero. Fans will then have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day to determine the 2010 NASCAR NMPA Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver winner from the final field of 10 drivers. Voting will conclude November 22 at 11:59 pm/ct and the winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in December in Las Vegas.

Last season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. earned his seventh consecutive Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the NMPA. Only Earnhardt Jr. and Bill Elliott have won the award seven consecutive times since its inception in 1953.[Breaking Limits][8-30-2010]

Most Popular Driver Award update: Just as NASCAR’s championship race is heating up, so is the race for its favorite driver. Fan voting for the NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver Award has now reached more than 750,000 votes. Fans have been voting online at www.HelpersMostPopularDriver.com since the race season began. Not only are they casting their own vote once a day, they are also encouraging their fellow fans to do the same. Social media users have been posting reminders on drivers’ Facebook fan pages and in chat forums and sending the voting link out on Twitter. Race fans can vote once a day for their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Following the race event at Richmond International Raceway, voting for the full field of 41 eligible drivers will end on September 11 at 11:59 PM CT. The 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as finalists and the vote count will reset to zero. Fans will then have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day to determine the 2010 NASCAR NMPA Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver winner from the final field of 10 drivers. Voting will conclude November 22 at 11:59 PM CT and the winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in December in Las Vegas. “It’s cool to see fans not only get excited about voting every day but also doing a little campaigning for their favorite driver, too,” said Jeff Fuller, marketing manager for Hamburger Helper. “They’re passionate about wanting their guy to win, so they’re jumping into the chat forums and the Facebook fan pages and encouraging others to help the cause. It’s been fun to watch.”

Last season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. earned his seventh consecutive Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the NMPA. Only Earnhardt Jr. and Bill Elliott have won the award seven consecutive times since its inception in 1953. Hamburger Helper has been making dinner easy for 40 years and is proud to sponsor the NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver Award. Voters are not only encouraged to vote every day for their favorite driver, but are also reminded that Hamburger Helper is a fast and easy race-day meal for the entire family. For more information and to vote on the NASCAR NMPA Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver Award, fans should log on to www.HelpersMostPopularDriver.com.[Breaking Limits][7-15-2010]

Most Popular Driver Award voting is on [wonder who will win?]:With Speedweeks officially under way, voting is now open for the 2010 NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver Award. Once again, the competition will include a 10-week playoff at season’s end, with the top 10 vote-getters vying for the final prize. Fans can visit www.HelpersMostPopularDriver.com and vote once a day for their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Following the race event at Richmond International Raceway, voting for the full field of 41 drivers will end on September 11 at 11:59pm/ct. At that point, the 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as finalists and the vote count will reset to zero. Fans will then have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day to determine the 2010 NASCAR NMPA Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver winner from the final field of 10 drivers. Voting will conclude November 22 at 11:59 pm/ct and the winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in December. New title sponsor Hamburger Helper is eager to get involved with this fan-favorite activity.[Breaking Limits][2-13-2010]

2009 Chex Most Popular Driver Award

Earnhardt Jr. Scores 7th NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Honor:#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was awarded his seventh consecutive NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver award Thursday in Las Vegas, announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards event at The Venetian Las Vegas Hotel Casino. The result was determined by online voting during the course of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The award comes one week after Brad Keselowski was named Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, giving the JR Motorsports owner/driver tandem its second consecutive sweep of most popular awards. Earnhardt Jr. joins Bill Elliott and Richard Petty as the only drivers to win the award at least seven times. His seven in a row falls short only to Elliott, who won 10 straight from 1991-2000. Earnhardt Jr. now sits behind Elliott [16] and Richard Petty [9] for most total awards.

“I’m extremely honored to win this award again, and I’m happy for Brad to be able to win it again in the Nationwide Series,” said Earnhardt Jr., who drives the #88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports. “As always, I want to thank the fans. They’ve stuck with us, and I’m always humbled by that. We didn’t have the year we were expecting on the Cup side, but Brad and Tony Eury Sr. and everyone at JR Motorsports did a great job this year on the Nationwide side, scored a bunch of wins, and I’m proud of all of them.”[JR Motorsports][12-4-2009]

Most Popular Driver Campaign Announces Top-10 Finalists: The votes are in. NASCAR fans passionate about their favorite drivers have voted in the Top-10 finalists in the 2009 NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] Chex Most Popular Driver Award. The Top-10 drivers who will advance to the final 10 weeks of voting are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson.
Fans have been voting at chexmostpopulardriver.com since the NASCAR Sprint Cup season began in February, with the full field of 44 drivers eligible. The vote count will now reset to zero and fans will have 10 race weeks to cast their votes among the Top-10 finalists to determine the 2009 NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver. Voting will conclude November 23 at 11:59pm/ct, the day after the final race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season in Homestead, Fla. The winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in Las Vegas in December.

Fans can continue to vote for their preferred driver among the Top-10 finalists once a day at chexmostpopulardriver.com. Voters can keep track of the latest news from the campaign on the Facebook Chex Most Popular Driver page and can also look for updates via Twitter from Victoria Lane, host of theracinggal.com. Twitter users can follow Lane at twitter.com/theracinggal.[Breaking Limits][9-16-2009]

Popular Driver Voting Hits Million Mark: Race fans passionate about their favorite drivers pushed voting past the 1 million mark this week for the 2009 NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] Chex Most Popular Driver Award. Fans now have just seven more weeks to help vote their preferred drivers into the field of Top-10 finalists. The 10 drivers currently pulling in the most votes are: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jeff Gordon Tony Stewart Kasey Kahne Matt Kenseth Michael Waltrip Bobby Labonte Kevin Harvick Carl Edwards Jimmie Johnson. The five drivers just outside the Top 10 are Kyle Busch, Elliott Sadler, Marcos Ambrose, Robby Gordon and Mark Martin.

Fans have been voting at chexmostpopulardriver.com since the NASCAR Sprint Cup season began in February. The full field of 44 drivers will remain eligible for votes until after the Richmond International Raceway event on September 13, when the 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as Top-10 finalists. At that time, the vote count will reset to zero and fans will have 10 race weeks to cast their votes to determine the 2009 NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver. Voting will conclude November 23 at 11:59 PM CT and the winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in Las Vegas in December.

Voters can keep tabs on the standings with help from social media sites. The 2009 NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award is now using Facebook and Twitter to keep fans up to date and engaged in the voting campaign. The campaign’s new Facebook page includes updates on fan voting, trivia, contests and polls on other racing “favorites.” Messages will also remind fans when voting deadlines are nearing so they don’t miss any opportunities to vote for their favorite driver. Fans can visit the Facebook Chex Most Popular Driver page and click on “Become a Fan” to get NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award updates on their Facebook home page.

Fans can also look for updates via Twitter from Victoria Lane, host of theracinggal.com. Lane now sends “tweets” – posted messages that must be 140 characters or fewer – to keep fans in tune with the NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award campaign. She will also keep readers apprised of things the drivers do [or don’t do] that might affect their popularity. Twitter users can follow Lane at twitter.com/theracinggal.

Fans can vote once day at 
chexmostpopulardriver.com.[Breaking Limits][7-28-2009]

New Format Creates Suspense in NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Voting
Voting for the 2009 NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] Chex Most Popular Driver Award is now under way. For the first time in its history, the award will incorporate a format change, with the Top 10 drivers battling for fans’ votes at season’s end.

As in years past, voters can visit chexmostpopulardriver.com and vote once a day for their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Following the race event at Richmond International Raceway, voting for the full field of 44 drivers will end on September 13 at 11:59pm/et. At that point, the ten drivers with the most votes will be announced as finalists and the vote count will reset to zero. Fans will then have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day to determine the 2009 NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver winner from the final field of 10 drivers. Voting will conclude November 23 at 11:59pm/et and the winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in New York City in December.

A review of the new voting format: -Voting for the full field of 44 drivers began on February 10 -Voting for the full field will end on September 13 at 11:59 PM CT, at this point, the 10 drivers with most votes will be locked in as finalists with votes resetting to zero. -Fans will vote for these remaining Top 10 drivers until November 23 at 11:59 PM CT

-The winner will be announced in New York City in December 2009

Last season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. earned his sixth consecutive Chex Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the NMPA. Only Earnhardt Jr. and Bill Elliot have won the award six consecutive times since the inception of the award in 1953. Chex Cereal has been on breakfast tables for more than 60 years and has been a proud sponsor of the NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver Award since 2005. Voters are not only encouraged to vote every day for their favorite driver, but are also reminded to start their engines with Chex cereal and enjoy race day with their favorite Chex recipes from www.Chex.com.[Breaking Limits PR][2-15-2009]

2008 Chex Most Popular Driver Award

Most Popular Driver = Dale Jr.: NASCAR fans across the nation have once again made a statement about their favorite driver. After tallying over one million votes, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the recipient of the 2008 NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award. Throughout the race season, fans voted daily for over 40 of their favorite drivers online at chexmostpopulardriver.com. Earnhardt Jr. was presented with the award at the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Media Luncheon in New York City on Dec 4th. The award is Earnhardt Jr.’s sixth consecutive win since 2003. Only Bill Elliott [1991-2000] has more consecutive wins. The NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award has been given annually since 1956 and today is the only award for NASCAR’s top drivers given by the fans. The six wins by Earnhardt Jr. moved him past Bobby Allison and now only behind Richard Petty [9] and Bill Elliott [16] for most total awards. “I’ve been fortunate enough to win this award now for the sixth time, and I can tell you it never gets old.” said Earnhardt Jr. “I’ve said it many times before that this award is special because it’s the voice of the fans. I think back to over a year ago when I made the decision to go to Hendrick Motorsports, and my biggest concern was whether the fans would support my decision.” continued Earnhardt Jr. “They did, and I will always be grateful for that. I appreciate everyone who voted, and I want to thank Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for all they do for the sport.” “The fans have spoken, and it’s obvious that Dale Earnhardt Jr. truly is amongst the elite of fans’ support,” said Tom Jensen, President of the National Motorsports Press Association. “He deserves this award, and we’re thankful for all the fans who continue to vote and make this award a rich part of our sports history.” The NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award is recognized as one of the sport’s pioneering awards.

Drivers first voted amongst themselves for a winner before fans later voted on the winner. The top 10 drivers receiving the most votes in alphabetical order were Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip.[DalrJr.com][12-6-2008]

Chex Most Popular Driver Voting Site Has New Look: A new partnership with Scenedaily.com will enhance the Chex Most Popular Driver voting experience, allowing race fans to now make just one stop to get the latest racing news and vote for their favorite driver. When voters log on to www.chexmostpopulardriver.com to vote, they’ll find the latest updates on their favorite driver and current racing information powered by SceneDaily.com. Voters are encouraged to continue to visit the site, and vote for their favorite driver to win the 2008 NASCAR Chex Most Popular Driver Award which is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA]. Fans can vote once a day, every day for over 40 of their favorite Sprint Cup drivers. Voting continues until the end of the season and the winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in New York City in December.

Already in 2008, nearly one million fans have voted for their favorite driver to win one of NASCAR’s most prestigious and historic awards determined by the fans. The Chex Most Popular Driver award has been won by NASCAR greats such as Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and others. Last season Dale Earnhardt Jr. earned his fifth consecutive award. Only Earnhardt Jr., Petty and Bill Elliott have won the award five consecutive times since the inception of the awards in 1953. For more information and to vote on the Chex Most Popular Driver Award, fans can log on to www.chexmostpopulardriver.com.[5-16-2008]

The Polls are Now Open for 2008 Chex Most Popular Driver VotingEffective immediately, Chex Most Popular Driver wants you, and all your friends and family, to go online and be a part of NASCAR’s prestigious and historic award determined by fans. Fans can now log onto www.mostpopulardriver.com and make their vote count towards the prestigious Chex Most Popular Driver award won by NASCAR greats such as Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and others. This season, new entries for the award include international stars such as former Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti, former Formula One star Jacques Villeneuve and Canadian open-wheel standout Patrick Carpentier. Fans can vote once a day, every day for over 40 of their favorite Sprint Cup stars. Voting continues throughout the season and will conclude on November 17 at 11:59pm/ct. The winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in New York City in December. For more information and to vote on the Chex Most Popular Driver Award, fans

can log on to www.mostpopulardriver.com.[2-16-2008]

2007 Chex Most Popular Driver Award

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Wins Fifth Consecutive NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award: The final race has been run, and the checkered flag has fallen on the NASCAR racing season; but before it was all over, race fans answered the call to vote for their favorite driver. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was voted the 2007 NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver for the fifth consecutive year and was presented with the award today at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon in New York City. “I’m extremely honored to win this award again, because it puts me with a very select group of drivers who I have a lot of respect for,” Earnhardt, Jr. commented. “When I became a Cup driver in 1999, I never would’ve imagined that we’d be talking about five consecutive Most Popular Driver awards. I have a special place at JR Motorsports where I put the MPD trophies, so I’m honored to add another one to the collection. I don’t want it to sound like a cliché, but this award really does mean a lot to me after all we have been through this year,” continued Earnhardt, Jr.. “This year has marked a significant transition in my life and career, and I knew the fans could go either way in supporting my decision or not. It was tough, and I don’t underestimate the fans’ support. It’s been overwhelming, and I really appreciate it.” Throughout the race season, race fans could log on to www.mostpopulardriver.com once a day and vote for their favorite driver. Voting ended on November 19 at 11:59pm/ct. A total of 3.8 million votes were cast this year, with Earnhardt, Jr. receiving 1.4 million votes. “General Mills is very proud to once again present Dale Earnhardt, Jr. with the NASCAR NMPA Chex® Most Popular Driver award,” said Becky O’Grady, Vice President of Marketing for Chex cereal. “Earnhardt, Jr. has a dedicated fan base that has supported him throughout his racing career, and each year it shows in the number of votes he receives as the most popular driver. We are honored to present this prestigious award to Dale Jr., thanks to his loyal fans.”

After receiving the award this year, Earnhardt, Jr. has joined Richard Petty and Bill Elliott as the only drivers to win five straight awards. Petty won from 1974 – 1978 and Elliott won from 1984 – 1988. Other drivers who finished in this year’s top 10 include Jeff Gordon, who finished second in the voting, followed by Michael Waltrip, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Elliott Sadler and Dale Jarrett. More than 50 Nextel Cup Series drivers were eligible in 2007 for the esteemed NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA]. It has been awarded annually since 1956 and is one of the oldest awards in racing.[Elevation Group of Companies PR][11-29-2007]

Most Popular Driver Award Tops Three Million Votes: The NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver award recently surpassed the 3 million mark in votes, and voters are still logging in daily. This new tally tops last year’s total of 2.8 million votes cast. Log on to the Chex Most Popular Driver Website at www.mostpopulardriver.com. The current list of top-ten drivers, in no particular order, includes Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Dale Jarrett, Jimmie Johnson, Elliott Sadler, Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip. The NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver winner will receive the award on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at the annual Myers Brothers Luncheon held in conjunction with the Nextel Cup Series’ end-of -year banquet in New York City. The award has been given annually since 1956. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has four consecutive wins in the voting competition, with his most recent win coming in 2006. He joined drivers Bill Elliott and Richard Petty as the only drivers to win four consecutive awards.[Elevation Group PR][10-10-2007]

NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award Logs Over Two Million Votes: More than two million votes have been tallied in the race for the NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award. Thanks to fans logging in at www.mostpopulardriver.com to support their favorite driver, the goal of topping last year’s total votes is in sight. The current drivers in the top ten include many repeat visitors, and each has a chance at taking home the coveted prize. Listed in alphabetical order, the top ten list includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler, Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip. Fans can vote once a day, every day, but after voting the first time at www.MostPopularDriver.com, fans can register for the monthly online newsletter and complete a sweepstakes entry. Votes will continue to be counted every day through the remainder of the season. Fans should vote once a day, every day before Monday, Nov. 19, at 11:59am/ct.[Elevation Group PR][7-27-2007]

Battle Heats Up for the Most Popular Driver Award: The 2007 season is well under way and the battle is heating up for the 2007 NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award. Race fans have really begun to show their enthusiasm for their favorite driver and
continue to make their votes count at www.MostPopularDriver.com. One million votes have been cast to date, and surpassing last year’s total of 2.8 million votes is in sight. So far this year the competition is among many of the favorites from last year. The top-10 drivers include in alphabetical order: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler, Tony Stewart, and Michael Waltrip. Fans are encouraged to continue voting once a day, every day for their favorite driver. Every time fans vote they increase their chances of winning big themselves with the Chex Vote to Win Sweepstakes. Votes will continue
to be counted every day through the remainder of the season. Fans should vote once a day, every day before Monday, November 19, 2007, at 11:59 a.m. CST to advance their favorite driver to the top of the standings.[PR][5-9-2007]

Online Voting Opened for 2007 NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award: Voting for the 2007 NASCAR NMPA ChexR Most
Popular Driver Award opened recently as pre-season testing started at Daytona International Speedway. As drivers hit the track for the first time in 2007, race fans that attended the test session had the opportunity to be the first to vote at www.MostPopularDriver.com. Voting kicked off earlier this year than in years past to give fans as much time as possible to vote for their favorite driver. “We want fans to be just as excited about this award as we are,” said Rohan Thakur, marketing manager for ChexR. “Millions of race fans show their passion and loyalty to their favorite driver each weekend at the race track and we see that same loyalty from the fans that vote every day. Every vote counts!”

As the race season begins, fans are encouraged to make their vote count and get their favorite driver in the running for the title. Fans can log on to www.MostPopularDriver.com once a day, each day, before voting ends on Monday, November 19, 2007, at 11:59 a.m. CST.

In 2006, a total of 2,835,277 votes were cast with winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. receiving 1,172,195 votes. Other drivers that ranked in the top 10 included Jeff Gordon who finished second, followed by Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and Elliott Sadler. The 2006 season marked the fourth consecutive year Earnhardt, Jr., won the prestigious award. As a result of the 2006 title, Earnhardt, Jr., joined drivers Bill Elliott and Richard Petty as the only drivers to win four consecutive times. More than 50 Nextel Cup Series drivers will be eligible in 2007 for the

esteemed NASCAR NMPA ChexR Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA]. It has been awarded annually since 1953 and is one of the oldest awards in racing.[NMPA PR][1-10-2007]

2006 NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award

and the winner of the NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award is…..:NASCAR fans across the nation logged on to www.mostpopulardriver.com and with the click of a mouse, voted Dale Earnhardt, Jr. the most popular driver in 2006.Earnhardt, Jr. was presented with the NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver award Thursday, Nov 30th at the NASCAR Myers Brothers Award Luncheon in New York City. After receiving the award, this marks the fourth consecutive year the North Carolina native has won the prestigious award. After his selection in 2005, Earnhardt, Jr. joined drivers Bill Elliott and Richard Petty as the only drivers to win four-straight. “I want to thank General Mills, Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for this award,” said Dale Earnhardt, Jr. “It’s a great honor, because it’s the only award in our sport voted on by the fans. I share this award with my fans, because it is as much theirs as it is mine. I’ve always been grateful for their loyalty and support. Words can’t say how much I appreciate it.”

Throughout the race season, race fans logged on to www.mostpopulardriver.com and voted for their favorite driver. A total of 2,835,277 votes were cast this year, with Earnhardt, Jr. receiving 1,172,195 votes. #24-Jeff Gordon finished second in the voting, followed by #9-Kasey Kahne, #20-Tony Stewart, #29-Kevin Harvick, #15-Michael Waltrip, #6-Mark Martin, #17-Matt Kenseth, #48-Jimmie Johnson and #19-Elliott Sadler [no totals were given for the other drivers]. More than 40 Nextel Cup Series drivers were eligible in 2006 for the esteemed NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA]. It has been awarded annually since 1956 and is one of the oldest awards in racing.[Elevation / General Mills PR][12-1-2006]

2005 NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award

Three Straight For Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won his third straight Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award. The announcement was made today during the National Motorsports Press Association’s [NMPA] Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City that a record number of fans nationwide have again voted the North Carolinian as the most popular driver in the most popular form of motorsports in the United States. “It’s a huge honor to win the Most Popular Driver award just one time, but to win it three times in a row is pretty overwhelming. I just want to thank the fans, and I want to thank Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for the award,” Earnhardt said. “This one probably means more to me than the others because of the kind of year we had. It’s one thing to have fan support when you’re riding high and winning races. It’s another thing to have it during the rough times,” he continued. “No matter what we went through this year, I never once felt like my fans were turning on me and the Budweiser team. It’s amazing to have that kind of support. It makes the team want to work that much harder and me drive that much faster. I can’t thank the fans enough for what they’ve meant to me in my career.” A record 4,157,443 votes were cast in 2005, a huge jump for an award which never had more than 400,000 votes in a year prior to General Mills sponsorship. Chex began sponsorship of the award this season, replacing Grands! Biscuits, which had sponsored it since the beginning of the 2002 season. Earnhardt, Jr. has led the voting since the start of the 2003 season, and easily captured enough votes in the record-setting 2005 year to again win the award. He finished with 1,403,544 votes, which is also an all-time record. “The fans have pretty well made a statement in regards to their favorite driver in this era,” said Kenny Bruce, president of the NMPA. “They have also made a statement as to the importance of this award. We appreciate every fan who voted, and we really appreciate Chex for its sponsorship.” “On behalf of Chex and General Mills, I want to congratulate Dale Earnhardt Jr. on winning this award for the third straight year,” said Chex Marketing Manager Trevor Bynum. “We also want to thank the millions of fans who voted and made this award possible with their continued strong support.”

Jeff Gordon finished second in the voting at www.mostpopulardriver.com with 594,434 votes. Kasey Kahne was third with 343,154; 2005 Champion Tony Stewart fourth with 246,026; and retiring Rusty Wallace fifth with 214,026. Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson.

The NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1956, making it one of the oldest and most traditional awards in NASCAR racing. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and later grew to incorporate all NASCAR Nextel Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it is a prestigious award voted on by racing fans throughout the world. Through the years, voters’ choices have

ranged from the obvious to the surprising. Bill Elliott’s 16 most popular wins tops all drivers. He is followed by Richard Petty, who has won nine times. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s win last year made him the fifth driver in NASCAR history to win the award in consecutive seasons, while his win in 2003 made him and his father, the late Dale Earnhardt, the only father-son combination to have won. Other past winners have included such notables as Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip.[Williams Company PR][12-2-2005]

2004 Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits Most Popular Driver

Dale Jr. Donates Most Popular Winnings: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has donated the $10,000 he won in the Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits Most Popular Driver contest to two animal welfare organizations. The Animal Adoption League and the Lake Norman Lucky Cats organization in North Carolina received the money Earnhardt Jr. won from the contest run by the National Motorsports Press Association.[NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter][12-18-2004]

Most Popular to be announced on Friday AND the Winner is……..:The winner of the 2004 Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award will be announced Friday, Dec. 3, 2004, at 10:30am/et during the NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City. One guess who it will be???? The Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1956. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and grew to incorporate all NASCAR Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it’s a prestigious award voted on by racing fans nationwide. This year, nearly four million votes were cast by thousands of fans at www.mostpopulardriver.com.[12-2-2004]
WINNER – Dale Jr: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. continued to set standards among NASCAR fans nationwide in 2004. For the second straight year, fans voted Earnhardt, Jr. the Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver. The announcement was made today during the National Motorsports Press Association’s [NMPA] Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Earnhardt, Jr. becomes just the fifth driver in the award’s history to have won in consecutive years, joining Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Bill Elliott and Darrell Waltrip. A year ago, his selection by race fans made Earnhardt, Jr. and his father, Dale Earnhardt, the only father-son combination to have won NASCAR’s oldest and most traditional off-track honor. “It was fun to win it last year, but to get two in a row really means a lot to me,” said Earnhardt, Jr. “I’ve learned this year about how loyal and supportive my fans are. My team had our best season ever, but we also had a lot of trouble along the way, including my injuries. I used to worry about losing my fans after a bad race or two, but I found out this year the fans really got behind me when I needed it the most. It’s a big compliment to have that many fans voting for me and letting me know they’re supportive and loyal no matter what.” Earnhardt, Jr. has led the voting since the start of the 2004 season, and easily captured enough votes in the record-setting 2004 year to again win the award. He finished with 1,487,512 votes, which exceeds the combined vote totals of the next six most popular drivers. “Dale Jr. is obviously a fan favorite, and this just confirms that,” said Kenny Bruce, president of the National Motorsports Press Association. “All of the drivers in NASCAR racing have fans who support them wholeheartedly, and I think it’s great what the Earnhardt fans have done. We are grateful to all of the NASCAR fans who were part of the voting process, and we feel they made a good choice.”

A record 3.8 million votes were cast in 2004, marking the third straight year more than 3 million votes were cast via the Web site, www.mostpopulardriver.com. Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits, the third-year sponsor of the award which is administered by the NMPA, has worked to reach fans since voting launched with the season-opening Daytona 500.

“It’s been a great honor for us to bring this award to the fans and recognize Dale as their favorite driver,” said Annie Zipfel, marketing manager for Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits at General Mills. “We’ll continue to share the excitement of this announcement with fans by posting award ceremony highlights on www.mostpopulardriver.com. After all, the fans are really what this award is all about.”

Following Earnhardt Jr. in the 2004 Most Popular Driver Award final standings were: #24-Jeff Gordon [496,362] #29-Kevin Harvick [249,228] #15-Michael Waltrip [225,011] #20-Tony Stewart [185,486] #9-Kasey Kahne [178,280] #88-Dale Jarrett [127,423] #6-Mark Martin [98,461] #48-Jimmie Johnson [92,828]

#18-Bobby Labonte [80,680]

More than 40 drivers received votes NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1956. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and grew to incorporate all NASCAR Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it is a prestigious award voted on by racing fans nationwide.

Through the years, the voters’ choices have ranged from the obvious to the surprising. Bill Elliott won the award 16 times before retiring his name from the Most Popular Driver Award voting at the beginning of the 2003 season. Richard Petty won the award nine times.[fingerprint inc./DEI][12-3-2004]

2003 Grands! Biscuits NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award

Most Popular Driver UPDATE and the winner is…………………….:2003 Grands! Biscuits NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award to be announced Friday, Dec. 5, 2003, at 8:30am/et and will be presented to the winning driver in New York City. Votes are in, and one driver will receive the 2003 Grands! Biscuits National Motorsports Press Association [NMPA] NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award. Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1956. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and grew to incorporate all NASCAR Winston Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it’s a prestigious award voted on by racing fans nationwide. This year, more than three million votes were cast by thousands of fans nationwide.[Williams Company PR][12-3-2003]
DALE EARNHARDT JR. The votes are in, and race car fans across the country have named Dale Earnhardt Jr. the 2003 Grands![R] Biscuits NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver. The announcement was made today during the National Motorsports Press Association’s [NMPA] Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. While Earnhardt Jr. finished third in the top on-track honor in major league stock car racing, he led throughout the Most Popular Driver fan balloting for the highest off-track honor in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The driver of the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet maintained a solid first place as voting closed mid-November for the only fan-based award in professional motorsports. “It means a ton to see the support I’ve received from the fans,” said Earnhardt Jr. “I know that no matter how bad things have been in my life that week or if I’ve struggled with the race that weekend, it’s always helpful to hear the cheers when I walk across the stage during driver introductions.” Earnhardt Jr.’s win also marks the first time both a son and a father have received the Most Popular Driver honor. Racing legend Dale Earnhardt won the award posthumously in 2001. “The NASCAR fans are a smart bunch. They choose their favorite drivers based on who that driver is as a person and what they represent,” Earnhardt Jr. continued. “I try to remember that every day. This means a lot to me that the fans have supported me in such a big way. It was emotional for me to have to accept this award on behalf of my dad in 2001, but it will feel a lot better being able to accept the award this year.” From the fan votes to at-track enthusiasm, it’s clear Earnhardt Jr. creates excitement on the racing circuit. “I don’t think anyone is surprised Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the Grands![R] Biscuits NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver,” said journalist Kenny Bruce, president of the National Motorsports Press Association. “He came close to winning a year ago, and anyone who has listened while he was introduced at races would know that the fans really seem to love him. We are grateful to all of the NASCAR fans who were part of the voting process, and we feel they made a good choice.”

For the second year in a row, more than 3 million votes were cast by thousands of race fans nationwide via the Web site, www.mostpopulardriver.com. Pillsbury[R] Grands! Biscuits, the second-year sponsor of the award administered by the National Motorsports Press Association, has worked since voting launched with the season-opening Daytona 500 to increase fan exposure and created new ways for consumers to get involved. “It’s been a great honor for us to bring this award to the fans and recognize Dale as their favorite driver,” said Annie Zipfel, marketing manager for Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits at General Mills. “We’ll continue to share the excitement of this announcement with fans by posting award ceremony highlights on www.mostpopulardriver.com. After all, the fans are really what this award is all about.”

Following Earnhardt Jr. in the 2003 Most Popular Driver Award final standings were drivers Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick in second and third place respectively. Rounding out the top ten in descending order of votes were Steve Park [and with no ride for 2004?], Tony Stewart, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty and Bobby Labonte. More than 50 drivers received votes. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1956. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and grew to incorporate all NASCAR Winston Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it is a prestigious award voted on by racing fans nationwide. Through the years, the voters’ choices have ranged from the obvious to the surprising. Bill Elliott edged out Earnhardt Jr. to win the award in 2002. Elliott won the award 16 times before retiring his name from the Most Popular Driver Award voting at the beginning of the 2003 Winston Cup series. Richard Petty won the award nine times. Other past winners have included such notables as Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip.[Business Wire][12-5-2003]
THE TALLY? Following Earnhardt Jr., who received more than 1.3 millions votes, in the 2003 Most Popular Driver Award final standings were drivers Jeff Gordon [348,629 votes], Kevin Harvick [213,511 votes], Steve Park [152,541 votes], and Tony Stewart [142,899 votes]. Rounding out the top ten in descending order of votes were Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty and Bobby Labonte. More than 50 drivers received votes.[Williams Company PR][12-5-2003]

2000 NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award

the top 5: over 280,000 votes were cast. For the 15th year in the last 17, Bill Elliott is the winner of the National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver Award for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Elliott, the 1988 Nextel Cup champion, received 38.8 percent of more than 280,000 votes cast this year in balloting conducted by the NMPA. Dale Earnhardt, a seven-time Nextel Cup champion, finished second in the voting with 16.2 percent of the vote. Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and 2000 Nextel Cup champion Bobby Labonte rounded out the top five in the vote. Fifty-eight drivers received at least one vote and 20 different drivers getting at least 1,000 votes[That’s Racin’]. NOTE: this is only vote info I have seen, have not seen the top 10 or 20 or what the vote totals were[12-8-2000]

1999 NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award

Bill Elliott[for the 14th time in the last 16 years, [DW won the other two] won in 1999. 22,916 votes were cast, Elliott got 13,849[60.4%], 2nd was Dale Earnhardt who had 2,423 votes. The remaining top 10 were: 3] Jeff Gordon; 4] Dave Marcis; 5] Dale Jarrett; 6] Rusty Wallace; 7] Mark Martin; 8] Dick Trickle; 9] Tony Stewart; and 10] Bobby Labonte. 49 drivers received votes via the 900 phone number[Nextel Cup Scene][12-10-1999]