NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award is the sport’s love letter to its fans, a tradition since 1956 that lets the NASCAR community crown its favorite driver. Handed out by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA), it’s a nod to the driver who sparks the loudest cheers, whether through on-track heroics or off-track charm.

Bill Elliott set the bar with 16 wins, while his son Chase Elliott kept the family legacy alive with seven straight titles through 2024. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 15-year reign from 2003 to 2017 still looms large. Once a driver poll, it’s now a fan-driven vote, amplifying the sport’s push for engagement but also stirring debates about legacy names swaying ballots. Still, it’s a feel-good moment that celebrates the bond between drivers and the fans who pack the stands.

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