NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver

Everyone loves a winner, but NASCAR fans don’t necessarily base their devotion on first-place finishes. While Dale Earnhardt, Jr., has endured his share of struggles on the track the past few seasons, he remains the most loved competitor on the circuit, as evidenced by five straight National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Awards.

That’s an impressive run, certainly, but Junior has a way to go to top Bill Elliott, who won the award 15 times, including streaks of five (1984-88) and 10 straight years (1991-2000). Richard Petty finished first on eight different occasions, capped by a five-year run from 1974-78. Bobby Allison enjoyed two streaks of three consecutive victories, separated curiously enough by a decade (1971-73, 1981-83).

The Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1953 and is presented annually by the NMPA. It is the only major NASCAR honor determined wholly by fan vote.

Here’s the full list:

2007 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2006 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2005 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2004 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2003 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2002 Bill Elliott
2001 Dale Earnhardt
2000 Bill Elliott
1999 Bill Elliott
1998 Bill Elliott
1997 Bill Elliott
1996 Bill Elliott
1995 Bill Elliott
1994 Bill Elliott
1993 Bill Elliott
1992 Bill Elliott
1991 Bill Elliott
1990 Darrell Waltrip
1989 Darrell Waltrip
1988 Bill Elliott
1987 Bill Elliott
1986 Bill Elliott
1985 Bill Elliott
1984 Bill Elliott
1983 Bobby Allison
1982 Bobby Allison
1981 Bobby Allison
1980 David Pearson
1979 David Pearson
1978 Richard Petty
1977 Richard Petty
1976 Richard Petty
1975 Richard Petty
1974 Richard Petty
1973 Bobby Allison
1972 Bobby Allison
1971 Bobby Allison
1970 Richard Petty
1969 Bobby Isaac
1967 Cale Yarborough
1966 Darel Dieringer
1965 Fred Lorenzen
1964 Richard Petty
1963 Fred Lorenzen
1962 Richard Petty
1961 Joe Weatherly
1960 Rex White
1959 Jack Smith
1958 Glen Wood
1957 Fireball Roberts
1956 Curtis Turner
1955 Tim Flock
1954 Lee Petty
1953 Lee Petty

Source: npmaonline.com