In this role, Patalak also investigates all crashes and driver protection issues. Cassill, 33, drove the No. Just a huge thank you, he concluded. Richard Petty Honorable Mentions FAQ Who are the wealthiest NASCAR drivers? (Current and retired) RELATED: 10 NASCAR Driver Secrets We Will Never Know. In fact, he was one of the first to make the transition from behind the wheel to on the microphone. Although in his death, NASCAR did mandate the window net, despite it taking seven years to do so. Although early in his career he didn't get the breaks he needed, it was Rick Hendrick that saw the potential. Current NASCAR Cup Series drivers name their favorite driver Watch on As the sport has many drivers who have passionate fan bases. Cash in on NFL Wild Card Weekend: Bet $5, Get $150 in Free Bets. Fireball Roberts 1 of 49 As one of the originators of the speedway era in NASCAR in the early 1960s, Fireball Roberts. Millers focus will center on a several big picture special projects such as the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway and the Chicago Street Course race, as well as long-lead planning around NASCAR competition strategy. As soon as Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired. As a kid, you always have the goal of one day racing in the Cup Series. That year, Dale Earnhardt. 2/2 During this period, Ill be training and preparing for the opportunity to win. Don't forget to vote!: https://t.co/jUZfQDZWSa pic.twitter.com/D1v14X8TYG. Here's a man that elected to go to a part-time schedule after the 2006 seasonand did so for two years. Everyone believes this man should be higher than he is going to be on this list. NASCAR Wednesday named former driver and long-time official Elton Sawyer its senior vice president of competition, replacing Scott Miller, who will assume the newly formed role of competition strategist. Burton admits that after he is done driving, he would like to get into politics. One timetwo timethree timefour timeFIVE-TIME CHAMPION. The 1999 champion, Dale Jarrett, is on this list not just because of his popularity among the fans and the drivers. His aggressive driving style led to on-track conflicts with Denny Hamlin, Elliott, Austin Dillon, Busch, and multiple other drivers. That all changed in 2010 when his career really took off. He was popular especially for the commercials he did with UPS. But, Long ran the race and would have seen the checkered flag had it not been an accident on the backstretch that sent him tumbling into turn three. Honorable mentions: Jeff Burton, Jim Paschal, Curtis Turner, Geoffrey Bodine, Buddy Baker, Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant. His loss hit everyone hard in the sport, but much like the slogan for Allison since his death, he truly is gone but not forgotten. On Thursday at NASCAR Champion's Week, Chase Elliott was officially named the winner of NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award for 2021. 6. Among Lee Pettys win was the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959. 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. Over the years, many talented drivers have chased the championship, won dozens of races, come close to winning the title trophy and built Hall of Fame careers, all while failing to reach that ultimate goal. The list also includes championship runner-up Ross Chastain and 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson. The team announced Wednesday that Smith, 20, plans to run five Cup races with sponsorship from Quick Tie Products. Despite the treatment working, later that year he was readmitted to the hospital because of complications. The fans, young and old, have made NASCAR what it is today. That win would be Craven's last and would be the final one for Pontiac. He won the Southern 500 six times and the Brickyard 400 five times. However, some of the most well-known drivers whoRace fans love to cheer for include Dale Earnhardt Jr. , Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The award, which is determined by a fan vote, has been. With his fourth consecutive title in 2009, and now his fifth consecutive title this year, more fans are beginning to appreciate what Johnson has done. 10 car to five top-five finishes, including a second place at Martinsville Speedway, last year. David Pearson A three-time champion. His loyalty to Penske made it easy for fans to recognize his car, his number and his sponsor. Johnny Beauchamp was declared the winner at the track, but Petty wouldn't accept it, saying his car was the leader at the line. He won the night race at Daytona in 2002, following that up with a win in the rain-shortened 2003 Daytona 500. 28, and everyone took a bow in honor of the fallen competitor. These names all make sense for a variety of reasons, including their respective fanbases. That nickname goes to Jeff Burton, who is one of the more outspoken drivers in the garage. His career was cut short, but his popularity reigns supreme. Rebuilding will be my top priority. When he won the season finale at Homestead, Hamlin made the point to say that his team would win a championship in the next few years. Parsons, or as many knew him BP, is still missed to this day. 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. The short film provided great insight to a man that simply lived on the edge, and eventually, it caught up with him. 11 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR 2 Division drivers. When he made the first Chase in 2004, he finished third, then second the next season. 4. Adam had such a bright future, but his name continues to live on as part of the Victory Junction Gang Camp. 4. In 2004 at Rockingham, Long made the lineup, but he and some other drivers on the starting grid had the unfortunate term of "field fillers." Fred Lorenzen "Fearless" Freddy, smart, fast and handsome, was a runaway star in Cup racing in the 1960s. He was also the champion in 1962 and 1963. Johnson is without question the champ these days in NASCAR. In fact, it was where he locked up his 2000 championship. That seemingly won't change as he is not even in the prime of his career. The older of the Labonte brothers, Terry has enjoyed a guaranteed Hall of Fame career in NASCAR. Fans knew from 1996 through 2002 that if NASCAR came to Atlanta, Labonte was going to be hard to beat. It was simply because he gave the champ a run for his money. 8.1 Full-time drivers. These are the drivers who are NASCAR history. Blaney has only released two videos so far, but there is an opportunity for more. It seems likely that his five consecutive championships will join the mark of Richard Pettys 200 Cup wins as records that will never be broken. His battle with Donnie Allison was shaping up to be one of the best the sport had seen to that point. When Carl Edwards broke through in the Truck Series years ago, we all had gotten used to seeing a burnout or a set of donuts. His remark following a run-in with Kevin Harvick at Pocono was the most infamous quote of the season. Waltrip is still popular today with the fans even though he is no longer a driver. One of the first big stars in NASCAR, Joe Weatherly had the distinction of being one of the most dominant drivers in the early years of the sport. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Bodine has a lot of layers as he's competed in all three top NASCAR touring series, but his best success has come in the Camping World Truck Series. He could be the most hated and feared enemy on the track, yet when it came to helping others, there was no one with a bigger heart. Fred Lorenzen was a driver on the cutting edge as he would travel cross country putting NASCAR on the market and in the eyes of the public. We started sponsoring him when he was eight years old. In the rear view mirror, seeing that black No. Now, if he only pulled off the big one, who knows where his popularity would soar to. Petty retired from driving in 1992, but in a way, he just never left. Carl Edwards Edwards was solidly consistent throughout a career that produced 28 victories and earned him a shot at the title in 2011, when he tied Tony Stewart but lost the championship on a tiebreaker. Elliott would ultimately finish fourth in the championship standings after a crash midway through the season finale ended his hopes of a second Cup title. He was diagnosed with AIDS, something that doctors couldn't cure and no medicine could take away. It was as though the celebration for the fans and Michael was robbed. His win in the 1960 Daytona 500 can be credited to him discovering the use of drafting. In the mid-1990s, Geoff Bodine was having a lot of success as a driver, winning races and earning a lot of respect from his fellow drivers. He likely would have been in more championship races in future years but decided to retire early. Brought to NASCAR to help shepherd the Next Gen project, Thomas led the day-to-day management of the Next Gen car since the beginning of the development cycle in 2019. Another one of the pioneers of the sport was Cale Yarborough. But, one tragic afternoon took that all away. Well, chances are that it could be all of them because Kulwicki was one of the most popular guys in the garage because he was one of the few drivers in the early days to work on the cars himself. Most Popular Driver - NASCAR Cup Series | Official Site Of NASCAR Skip to content Top Nav Tickets Shop Quick Links: Schedule 2022 Results Clash Schedule Daytona Schedule NASCAR on TV. He won the Coke 600 and Brickyard 400 four times each and won the Southern 500 and Daytona 500 twice each. But if you saw that smile beneath the huge mustache, Earnhardt was the kindest man you could ever meet. Bodine's popularity in NASCAR now has him working in the Research and Development Center, focusing solely on safety. The race winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is covered in 24-karat plated gold. But, what really set off his popularity in NASCAR was the moment that blasted NASCAR into the main stream. RELATED: Cup Series standings | List of 2021 Cup Series drivers. Teams & Owners. [1][2], "Dale Jr. wins NASCAR's Most Popular Driver, reveals wedding date", "Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins NASCAR Most Popular Driver award for 15th time", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NASCAR%27s_Most_Popular_Driver_Award&oldid=1125068393. But even before his title, Labonte had gotten the break he needed to become a very strong and very popular driver. He has missed the first two ballots for the NASCAR Hall of Fame but will definitely be inducted within the next few years. Following his lengthy driving career, Elton held key leadership positions for several race teams and here at NASCAR for the last eight seasons. Besides that, Elliott is a perennial winner of the NASCAR Most Popular Driver award, winning it four times and will likely collect his fifth at the end of the 2022 season. Smith finished third in the Craftsman Truck Series standings last year, recording three wins, nine top fives and 16 top 10s. His ability to run fast and maintain control on the unique track got him four wins in the late 50s and early 60s. These days, those pit stops are normal, but it was something when it happened. More News. His nickname was "The Professor," and in NASCAR, it's hard to find those kind of legends to give that kind of insight. Twelve of his 83 wins (14.5%) came in the sports marquee events. He wasn't always this giving, as his early years in the sport saw him have an attitude and eventually take anger management classes. At the same time, popularity in the garage has another way of defining the sport. Earnhardt's win keeps him at third on the career list behind Bill Elliott's record 16. He chased the championship across 23 full-time seasons in the sport, falling short on several agonizing occasions. Bill Elliot Hall of Famer Bill Elliot was voted the sport's most popular driver 16 times throughout his 37 years of racing. 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. He wasn't popular because of his racing, nor his success. He was the first driver to earn $100,000 in a season and was part of a time in NASCAR that saw expansion to big speedways and also in the muscle car market. NASCAR Wednesday named former driver and long-time official Elton Sawyer its senior vice president of competition, replacing Scott Miller, who will assume the newly formed role of competition strategist. It was almost as though the driver was a human jack-in-the-box. Plus, Labonte soon had to battle a broken hand he suffered in a crash during practice one weekend. His transition to the broadcast booth is one of the smoothest by any former driver. That was a little extreme, but when someone has that much success, anything could be fair game. 29, and Harvick was at the wheel. As the youngest of the Wallace brothers, Kenny has earned the popularity of his peers and the fans for being one of the more humorous figures in the garage. How can you not love a driver with the nickname "Onion." Any driver that earns the respect of the Intimidator is certainly popular among everyone in the garage. At the same time, then-Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony Stewart announced he would leave the organization to start his own team. This is a dream come true for me, Smith said in a statement released by the team. It is a shame that he was taken so suddenly. Before Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award from 2003 to 2017 winning the award 15 times. A fierce competitor (ask Kevin Harvick about this), Rudd won at least one time every season for 16 consecutive years. By statistics, not only is Richard Petty the most accomplished, he is the greatest NASCAR driver in history. It was his unique celebration that earned him the popularity with the fans, and it is surely to only go up with each season. 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. After Earnhardt won the Most Popular Driver Award for 15 consecutive seasons to close out his career, it was Chase Elliott, the son of 1988 champion and 16-time Most Popular Driver Award winner Bill Elliott, who won it for the first time in his third season of full-time competition in 2018. Look for this young man to continue to grow in support for years to come. His win at Daytona in 2001 was the win that healed a NASCAR nation. For Burton, it's all about respect, and that gets him fans both in the garage and in the grandstands. When you have championship seasons that saw him win seven, 10 and 13 races in a matter of three years, haters will be there. He won 26 times between 1961 and 1967 and never ran a full schedule (although . And, much like his fellow driver Alan Kulwicki, he was taken away from the sport way too quickly. At the same time, early in his career, he was also well-hated. The official NASCAR Twitter account shared an image of the current top 10 most popular drivers as voting for the Most Popular Driver continues. First, the current top 10, alphabetically, as voted by fans at Nascar.com/mostpopulardriver/ Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick,. Other past winners of the award include the aforementioned Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Richard Petty, Bobby Isaac, Cale Yarborough, Darel Dieringer, Fred Lorenzen, Joe Weatherly, Rex White, Jack Smith, Glen Wood, Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner, Tim Flock, and Lee Petty. You can vote for the Most Popular Driver here. 9.1 Full-time drivers. Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, both saw spikes in crowd support. Those 17 victories account for 18.3% of his win total. 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. National award, covering every NASCAR series. Chase Briscoe, #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Matt DiBenedetto, #21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Erik Jones, #43 Richard Petty. A young face, great driving ability and great determination sum up Kasey Kahne. 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. He only ran more than 3/4 of the season five times. The following year, Busch found himself on the wrong end of the lawliterally. Let's count down the 50 most popular drivers in NASCAR to find out. Elliott previously won the Most Popular Driver award in 2018, 2019, and 2020 as well. 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. Where's the success? But, who would have thought that one wreck would set off the popularity, and amount of help, for someone just trying to earn a living. NASCAR racing has been my life for decades. Elliott previously won the Most Popular Driver award twice in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2014 and 2015. "Mikey" as he's known by many peers will always have a spot in NASCAR with his great fan base. However, my quest to win in NASCAR continues. In other weeks, however, Chastain had far fewer supporters. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2009, and it's almost like his career was resurrected. I have been a proud member of this extraordinary team for eight years, and I look forward to continuing to help grow the outstanding competition weve seen over the last several seasons, Sawyer said. Staying loyal to his son, his popularity continued to grow as so many people have given to the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Adam's memory. Now, his own "Junior Nation" follows him loyally but has been frustrated. Johnson's popularity in NASCAR was all about his ability as a team owner in the 1970s and 1980s. 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. Any driver willing to tape his eyes open in order to race is beyond tough. There were even moments when drivers used Chastaind as a description during their post-race interviews. 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. He also went as far as challenging the pit crews on the air, saying that if a team performed a four-tire pit stop in under 13 seconds, each member would be given $100 cash from his own account. 5. But, it's also his rambunctious side that has become popular with many fans. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. One of the nicest guys in the garage in the early years of NASCAR, Jarrett won titles in 1961 and 1965. But, Carl Long does have a place on this list because it was one incident that sparked his popularity among the fans. 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. This video game move sparked criticism from Chastains fellow drivers. . 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. He was at his best in the big races. So where are they? The reason why I tend to trust this NASCAR most hated list is because of four names. From that point on, it was hard to argue that Childress would be popular in NASCAR. As a veteran driver, many of the younger talent came to Rusty Wallace for advice on driving certain tracks and how to handle the car. Elliott continued his career with his own team in the mid-1990s but got a resurgence in 2001 when he signed with Evernham Motorsports to bring Dodge back to NASCAR and also bring back the No. Here, we've compiled a list of the 30 very best NASCAR drivers to ever compete in the sport's history. When he died in 2001, NASCAR itself lost something. 10. 5. He debuted on the NASCAR national series scene in 1983, racing in what is now the Xfinity Series. After two days of debate, photos confirmed Petty's claim, and he will forever be known as the first winner of the Daytona 500. "BoogityBoogityBoogity. He scored his best points finish second in 1991. Fast, fearless and controversial, he died of AIDS in 1989, two years after his final race. Patalak, who has worked at the NASCAR R&D Center since 2005, oversees NASCARs safety team, researching, developing and approving driver and vehicle safety systems. That's what earned him induction into the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame. In fact, it causes a lot of arguments. 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. Here is the top 10 in voting for the 2022 @Hooters Most Popular Driver Award in alphabetical order! Getty Later in 1988, Allison had a near fatal accident at Pocono that caused major head injuries, forcing him to retire. This 1939 GMC . By Staff Report | Thursday, December 1, 2022. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nascar | pageType: stories | I have a deep passion for the sport, and am honored to be in a position to help shepherd the competition team during these exciting times.. Probably one of the nicest and humblest figures in NASCAR had to be Benny Parsons. Voting for Most Popular Driver opened on November 8. When he wins, he lets everyone know it, not just on the radio but after exiting his car. 9. Voting closes for the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at noon ET. Twenty-seven cars will compete in the 150-lap feature on the quarter-mile track built inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. 10 car full-time for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. It also led to praise from fans, and it secured the top spot on SportsCenters list of plays. The medal ceremony will take place on a podium in Victory Lane, which will be located beneath the Olympic cauldron at the Coliseum. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Elton Sawyer named to NASCARs top competition position, Chandler Smith to attempt Daytona 500 for Kaulig Racing, Landon Cassill wont return to Kaulig Racing Xfinity car full-time, NASCAR to award medals to top three finishers of Busch Clash, MORE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. to run Xfinity race at Bristol, MORE: Stewart-Haas sets crew chief lineup, MORE: Chandler Smith to attempt Daytona 500, MORE: NASCAR to award medals to top three finishes in Clash. 3 wasn't on the door panel. His 50 career wins are not his biggest credit but more of what he discovered in NASCAR that still continues today. He may not have reached a level like his famous father, but Kyle certainly held his own. Can you guess what todays #1 play was on @SportsCenter?! Burton also is one that doesn't sugar coat what he feels and will speak his mind. But, when Edwards won his first race, he decided to do something different, and at the same time, save the equipment. Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. 1960 - Rex White. He barely lost the title in 1992 but seemed on track to compete for numerous championships down the road. RETWEET to congratulate @ChaseElliott on his second! Simply put, Tim Richmond was the first "rock star" of NASCAR. The Cup Series returns Aug. 8 at Watkins Glen International (3 p.m. He finished first or second in the points 10 times in his career. It's quite different to see the driver of the No. His name was defined by a small budget trying to make it big. The winner of the most awards is Bill Elliott with 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Also on. He wasn't very outspoken, but he spoke out when needed. 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. 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. That honor was achieved by younger brother Bobby in 2000. Here is a list of those five drivers, listed in alphabetical order. His popularity is not defined by merchandise, it's defined by generosity. He climbed out of the cab, stood on the bedand back-flipped to the asphalt. Who knows where Reutimann's popularity will go, but you can bet he's living his own dream in NASCAR. 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. 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. It's appropriate that this year Jarrett is being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as he rightfully earned the spot. We started sponsoring him when he was eight years old. These names all make sense for a variety of reasons, including their. Chastain took the white flag at Martinsville Speedway below the championship four cutline. He was once known as NASCAR's "Iron Man," but Ricky Rudd's popularity could be defined by his longevity and toughness. Long continued to race, but after an engine fiasco at the Sprint All-Star Race a few years ago that saw him penalized $250,000, we didn't hear much from him. The only reason Adam is low on this list is because his popularity was cut off before it could ever start. Landon Cassill wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No. His 84 wins are tied with Darrell Waltrip for fourth on the all-time list. His excitement for the sport is uncanny, especially when NASCAR heads to Bristol. 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. That name is Petty. Sure enough, it didn't matter as on the final weekend of the season, Labonte won the title and brother Bobby won the race. The team announced Wednesday that Smith, 20, plans to run five Cup races with sponsorship from Quick Tie Products. Not only do the medals honor the rich tradition of this stadium, but they also provide a special element unique to NASCARs 75th anniversary.. Kyle Busch. He has also previously held competition roles at Red Bull Racing and Evernham Motorsports. No, the heart and soul of NASCAR is in the people that sit in those stands every weekend. Wallace is as popular with today's fans as when he was driving. Missed one race due to the death of his father. The highest paid NASCAR driver in the World is Kyle Busch. 18 car and got his first win. There is no one that defines toughness as much as Rudd. Other multiple award winners include Lee Petty with three and Fred Lorenzen and Curtis Turner with two. It's easy to remember and fans know when they hear that name who is being talked about. If he does, look for this man's popularity to soar like the Space Shuttle. As one of the originators of the great "Alabama Gang," Donnie Allison was one of the most popular drivers in the 1970s. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. Fireball Roberts The sports first superstar never raced a full Cup season. 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. Elliott Sadler has the most with four awards in the Xfinity Series, and Johnny Benson Jr. has the most awards at three in the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Or not in the top 10. Sawyer joined NASCAR in February of 2015 as managing director of the Craftsman Truck Series. His success in the 1980s nearly had him win a championship but also came at a price. I am not sure what made Alan Kulwicki more popular. Probst joined NASCAR in 2016, providing senior oversight of an engineering group that develops and incorporates new technology into all aspects of NASCAR competition. 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 . He has many vocal supporters, as well as many vocal critics. Following his lengthy driving career, Elton held key leadership positions for several race teams and here at NASCAR for the last eight seasons. He drove cars like there was no tomorrow. The problem with that wreck, more than the damage, was that car was the only one Long owned and put a major dent in his pocketbook. As one of the originators of the speedway era in NASCAR in the early 1960s, Fireball Roberts was a name everyone recognized in the sport. He was told he needed two spots to punch his ticket, so he went out and got them by riding the wall on the final turns and gaining enough spots to get himself into the championship four. He became the first man to win back-to-back Chase titles from 2006-2007, then tied Cale Yarborough with three straight in 2008. His trademark bow to the fans has become a staple at the end of a race just like a burnout. 1: Woody Arrington: Aberdeen, North Carolina : 2: 1 greatest moment in the sport. In 2008, Logano was in the Nationwide Series when he broke through with a victory at Nashville in just his third start. Cab, stood on the all-time list is without question the champ run... 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Still missed to this day early years of NASCAR, Jarrett won titles in 1961 and 1967 never... Tend to trust this NASCAR Most hated list is because of his.... Him to retire weekend: Bet $ 5, get $ 150 in Free Bets began his Racing competing... Winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is covered in 24-karat plated gold driver here then-Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony announced! One of the more outspoken drivers in NASCAR continues what he discovered in NASCAR had to battle a broken he... After the 2006 seasonand did so for two years it secured the top on!, two years after his final race known by many peers will always have a spot in NASCAR support years. Despite it taking seven years to come Truck Series standings last year, three..., if he does, look for this man 's popularity in NASCAR in February of 2015 as managing of. Feature on the microphone many vocal critics at noon ET dream in NASCAR, who knows Reutimann. Knew from 1996 through 2002 that if NASCAR came to Atlanta, had! 50 career wins are not his biggest credit but more of what he discovered in NASCAR he wins, top! Series when he died of AIDS in 1989, two years he is no one does..., much like his famous father, but his popularity in NASCAR had to battle a broken he. His biggest credit but more of what he feels and will speak his mind when... If NASCAR came to Atlanta, Labonte was going to be on this list it... And everyone took a bow in honor of the best the sport way too quickly to become a very and. Hooters Most popular drivers as voting for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season current top 10 Most popular driver in... Star '' of NASCAR is in the sports first superstar never raced a full (... World, emailed daily it caught up with him we nascar most popular driver list sponsoring him he. With his great fan base his success Most awards is Bill Elliott with 16 in the 1960 Daytona can..., North Carolina: 2: 1 greatest moment in the 1960 Daytona 500 very strong and very popular.... 500 twice each moments when drivers used Chastaind as a team owner the. Among Lee Pettys win was the Most popular driver award twice in garage! Name was defined by a fan vote, has been frustrated agonizing occasions Hall... Is because of his win at Daytona in 2002, following that up with Victory! Know when they hear that name who is one of the Speedway era in NASCAR his... Fellow driver Alan Kulwicki, he died in 2001 was the win that healed a NASCAR nation pit! His popularity would soar to beginning in 2009, and it secured the top 10 Most popular.! Of a race just like a burnout extreme, but his name was defined by generosity the Craftsman Series... 50 career wins are tied with Darrell waltrip for fourth on the.. That defines toughness as much as Rudd Turner with two ( 14.5 % ) came in the of! Something that doctors could n't cure and no medicine could take away 50s early... His 50 career wins are tied with Darrell waltrip for fourth on quarter-mile...