9 Dodge Charger, the No. Im hoping that comes true in this years Daytona 500.. Love him or hate him, Kyle Busch has earned his popularity the same way he goes for victoryby any means necessary. Let's count down the 50 most popular drivers in NASCAR to find out. Although he won 50 races as a driver and later six championships as a team owner, there would be no driving title for Johnson. In his new role, Sawyer will oversee all aspects of on-track competition, inspection, rule development and officiating, focusing specifically on NASCARs three national series Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series. I admit, he would be if it was not for the frustration that his fans have seen the last few years. The list also includes Christopher Bell, reigning champion Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, and Ryan Blaney. By statistics, not only is Richard Petty the most accomplished, he is the greatest NASCAR driver in history. It has earned him a spot in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in the second class of inductees. Most recently, he held the role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection and officiating, a role he assumed in 2016. Bobby Allison Finished second in the points five times before winning the 1983 championship. Forty Cup victories and a reputation as a racers racer gave him clear entry into the Hall of Fame. Allison only has 10 wins to his credit, but that includes wins at some of NASCAR's famed tracks, including both Charlotte and Bristol. He debuted on the NASCAR national series scene in 1983, racing in what is now the Xfinity Series. A fierce competitor (ask Kevin Harvick about this), Rudd won at least one time every season for 16 consecutive years. Paige Rogers, Eloy Sebastin Lpez Falcn, Caleb Johnson and Nathan Lyons will make their debut this year. But, this year it was a season of living a dream for McMurray. 1954 - Lee Petty. Most recently, he held the role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection and officiating, a role he assumed in 2016. Although in his death, NASCAR did mandate the window net, despite it taking seven years to do so. Landon Cassill wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No. For Dave Marcis, his racing career spanned over 30 years and saw him win only five times. Wait until 2011 to find out. In 1986, he won seven races and finished third in points. The 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott holds the record for Most Popular Driver Award wins with 16 1984-88, 1991-2000 and 2002. 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 Nashville on Thursday night. If he does, look for this man's popularity to soar like the Space Shuttle. Rebuilding will be my top priority. There really is no telling how far "Fireball" could have gone in the sport. 1 greatest moment in the sport. @RossChastains move put the entire sports world on notice pic.twitter.com/HeTYQWUFAM, Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) October 31, 2022. It was inspired in part by the NBA's decision to select the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History on its 50th anniversary in 1996. He got the big break he was looking for thanks to Dale Earnhardt in 2001. The reason why I tend to trust this NASCAR most hated list is because of four names. The medals will be presented after the Feb. 5 Busch Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Busch races for the Richard Childress Racing team and has a . Los Angeles will host the 2028 Oympics. While Elliott took home Most Popular Driver honors for the Cup Series, the award was also given to two star drivers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series. 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. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award for 15 consecutive. Taking votes away from Elliott is no simple matter. 6. 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. We are thrilled that Scott Miller has chosen to remain a key part of the NASCAR competition team. Kurt Busch became popular probably in the most unorthodox of ways. 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. Another one of the pioneers of the sport was Cale Yarborough. Fred Lorenzen Fearless Freddy, smart, fast and handsome, was a runaway star in Cup racing in the 1960s. 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. ISC Archives via Getty Images. It was simply because he gave the champ a run for his money. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. But, when it comes to NASCAR, they have their own "Mayor.". One thing is for sure, the "Ice Man" was always cool when behind the wheel. 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. He did win at New Hampshire, no thanks to the rain, but the fans ate up the young man. Between 2000 and 2002, Busch had an intense rivalry with Jimmy Spencer that saw the two have numerous run-ins on the track. He scored his best points finish second in 1991. Also on Thursday, Trackhouse Racing founder. Who are the wealthiest NASCAR drivers? Stewart has proven to be a winning driver, car owner, track owner and a generous human being with his numerous donations to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Or not in the top 10. The Cup Series returns Aug. 8 at Watkins Glen International (3 p.m. 1953 - Lee Petty. He held the series record for victories until son Richard topped his mark. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2009, and it's almost like his career was resurrected. Less than a month later, Parsons succumbed to the complications. When Jimmie Johnson came to Cup competition in 2002, he made an immediate impact with the fans and drivers by winning the pole in the Daytona 500. 6. Now, if he only pulled off the big one, who knows where his popularity would soar to. 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. Getty He wasn't always this giving, as his early years in the sport saw him have an attitude and eventually take anger management classes. Along the way, he has won the Daytona 500 three times, won 48 Cup races and built a Hall of Fame resume. However, as the years progressed, Waltrip continued to win, as his four Cup victories came on restrictor plate tracks. Kenny is still competing in the Nationwide Series, but it's his antics on the pre-race and post-race shows that put him on this list. This video game move sparked criticism from Chastains fellow drivers. It was termed "Allison Wonderland" in 1988 as Bobby won the Daytona 500 with son Davey placing second. Petty just took a different path and saw the sport grow to what it is today. Denny Hamlin Hamlin had the look of a championship driver from his first full-time season (2006), when he finished third in the standings. The 1979 Daytona 500 put not only him, but NASCAR on the map. He won the Coke 600 and Brickyard 400 four times each and won the Southern 500 and Daytona 500 twice each. NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (as of February 1998), List of all-time NASCAR Cup Series winners, List of members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, The Inside Groove.com Historical NASCAR Image Gallery, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NASCAR%27s_50_Greatest_Drivers&oldid=1130570646, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, * = Deceased before February 1998 ceremony, ** = Deceased after February 1998 ceremony, This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 21:21. Voting has opened for the National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award, presented by Hooters, providing daily opportunities for people to weigh in. His transition to the broadcast booth is one of the smoothest by any former driver. That honor was achieved by younger brother Bobby in 2000. He won 33 races, including at least one every year between 1956 and 1964, when he died from injuries suffered in a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He drove cars like there was no tomorrow. NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM will provide coverage of this year's program. To quote Bill France Jr., president of NASCAR: These are the men who define the competition of our sport. Joey Logano is the best NASCAR driver right now. View Fullscreen. He debuted at Rockingham, and right away, it was seen that the talent was there. He was the first to eclipse the 210 mph mark on a superspeedway then won the first Winston Million. In a series first, NASCAR will award medals to the top three finishers in a Cup race. 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. NMPA Most Popular Driver Award winners. He has 25 wins behind the wheel of the truck and is a two-time champion in the series, winning his second title this season. A young face, great driving ability and great determination sum up Kasey Kahne. 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. Smith joins a group of Daytona 500 entries, including Jimmie Johnson and Travis Pastrana, who will be battling for one of four non-charter spots in the starting field. He wasn't popular because of his racing, nor his success. 8.1 Full-time drivers. He won four titles in that span and finished second in the points one year and third the other year. In this role, Patalak also investigates all crashes and driver protection issues. 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. Just a huge thank you, he concluded. 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. That's what earned him induction into the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame. Denny Hamlin 8. 1956 - Curtis Turner. His commercials with Aaron's are very popular, and Waltrip himself knew that when he started his own team, this was a guy he had to have. Parsons, or as many knew him BP, is still missed to this day. It's a different Gordon, one that has reduced the haters and increased his popularity. Most Popular Driver; Female Drivers. Please feel free to share your thoughts about our greatest NASCAR drivers ranking, in our comments section. Kyle, Richard and the entire Petty family were devastated when such talent and such charm was robbed from NASCAR. Still, the seven-time most popular driver is still the hottest-selling driver in NASCAR. Hailee Deegan again won the vote for most popular driver in the Truck Series this season while Noah Gragson won the title in the Xfinity Series. 2 of 20. Following his lengthy driving career, Elton held key leadership positions for several race teams and here at NASCAR for the last eight seasons. NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award is awarded to the most popular NASCAR driver in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series every year since 1956. Were extremely excited about continuing our sponsorship of Chandler, Quick Tie CEO Harvel Crumley said. Kaulig Racing announced Wednesday that Chandler Smith will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a third Kaulig car but has not announced plans for the 10 Xfinity car. At the end of 2017, you can be certain it will be 15. NASCAR racing has been my life for decades. That will lead him to much success down the road. He climbed out of the cab, stood on the bedand back-flipped to the asphalt. Pearson up high, Petty down low, and the two connect out of Turn 4, with each hitting the wall. Politics aren't exactly something people talk about in happiness. In a series first, NASCAR will award medals to the top three finishers in a Cup race. He won 37 of his 76 career victories during that time period. He's not just racing for him and his wife, he's racing for his family. But, after the race, he pulled to the start/finish line with his crew. There is no easy path for any of the other Cup Series drivers to take the trophy away from him. He was also the champion in 1962 and 1963. He was second five times and was in the top five in eight other years. The short film provided great insight to a man that simply lived on the edge, and eventually, it caught up with him. From 1970-79, he won five of his championships and 89 of 326 races meaning he won more than a quarter of the races run in the 1970s. "His wife wears the firesuit in the family," he said, referring to Harvick's wife, Delana. 9. 5. The fans have grown to appreciate this young talent, and have also been introduced to a new way of celebrating a win. 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. Drivers have a way of earning respect on the track, but that carries over in the garage. pic.twitter.com/iM7jihS3VZ, RELATED: NASCAR COO Steve ODonnell Appears To Signal They Will Outlaw Moves Like Ross Chastains Hail Melon Martinsville Move. 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. He loved to party, was boisterous and at the same time could drive a race car. Whether at the wheel or at the mic, Jarrett is as popular now as in his driving days. Among his 83 career wins were four Daytona 500s and five Southern 500s. I am not sure what made Alan Kulwicki more popular. Coming off the final corner, Craven had his Pontiac inside Kurt Busch's Ford and the two put on a side-by-side battle right to the finish. The highest paid NASCAR driver in the World is Kyle Busch. The 2018 NMPA Most Popular Driver will be announced during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards program Thursday, Nov. 29 at Wynn Las Vegas. A win in the Daytona 500, then at Indianapolis and again at Charlotte was by far the best season of his entire career. That smile, the joy and the happiness grew on the fans and will only continue as the years progress. NASCAR's 15-time Most Popular Driver and winner of two Daytona 500s, Dale Earnhardt Jr., hosts his very own podcast, The Dale Jr Download on Dirty Mo Media. The list also includes Christopher Bell, reigning champion Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, and Ryan Blaney. Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. Now, his own "Junior Nation" follows him loyally but has been frustrated. The 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott holds the record for Most Popular Driver Award wins with 16 1984-88, 1991-2000 and 2002. 10 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR PRO Division drivers. When he joined NASCAR in 2016, Scott lent immediate credibility to the position. 3 in this case cause those numbers are Dale Earnhardt's birthday. He became the first man to win back-to-back Chase titles from 2006-2007, then tied Cale Yarborough with three straight in 2008. That happened at Daytona in the early 1980s following a crash in the qualifying race. The "Candyman" himself has finally been taken down the list of the most hated active NASCAR drivers. Who is the most well liked NASCAR driver? The interesting thing about Lorenzen was that he never ran a full schedule. For Burton, it's all about respect, and that gets him fans both in the garage and in the grandstands. The mark he leaves on the organization is significant. But, what really set off his popularity in NASCAR was the moment that blasted NASCAR into the main stream. 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. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Junior, who won 26 times in Cup, repeated much of his fathers successes on the sports biggest tracks but fell short of joining him in scoring championships. Maybe next year that success and popularity will return, thanks to JTG Daugherty Racing. This is a dream come true for me, Smith said in a statement released by the team. But, Gordon has changed the last few years in his career. The Hail Melon went on to generate millions of views while helping bring more attention to the sport. NASCAR Drivers; No. Jarrett provided great insight into the drivers, their thought process and was part of the great TNN coverage team with Eli Gold and Buddy Baker. Elliott previously won the Most Popular Driver award in 2018, 2019, and 2020 as well. Chastain took the white flag at Martinsville Speedway below the championship four cutline. Hes a Cup Series champion, he has a sizable fanbase, and hes the son of Bill Elliott. As will young NASCAR stars Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Blaney, who look to claim glory as they climb the NASCAR rankings. Earnhardt's win keeps him at third on the career list behind Bill Elliott's record 16. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion turned in one of his finest seasons in 2022, becoming one of the dominant drivers of a season that otherwise featured a historic level of parity. Since then, Labonte has not seen that kind of success, as he's suddenly been part of the underfunded teams that start a race, yet don't finish. His piece this year on ESPN's "30 for 30" series was one of the most watched programs by drivers, fans and media alike. 1. Chase Briscoe, #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Matt DiBenedetto, #21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Erik Jones, #43 Richard Petty. His legacy is set and is still growing with every season. Cash in on NFL Wild Card Weekend: Bet $5, Get $150 in Free Bets. 1959 - Jack Smith. Lee Petty First three-time Cup champion in series history. Those 17 victories account for 18.3% of his win total. When he wins, he lets everyone know it, not just on the radio but after exiting his car. Elliott has won Most Popular Driver for the fifth year in a row, and he remains one of just five drivers to win the award since 1984. 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. His remark following a run-in with Kevin Harvick at Pocono was the most infamous quote of the season. Ricky Rudd Rudd drove for numerous teams, including his own, and won 23 times. Fans knew from 1996 through 2002 that if NASCAR came to Atlanta, Labonte was going to be hard to beat. After just two races, McMurray put his name on the map as he won at Charlotte. Chandler Smith will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a third Chevrolet entered by Kaulig Racing. He won the Winston Open that year to qualify for the Winston event at Charlotte. It's quite different to see the driver of the No. At the same time, popularity in the garage has another way of defining the sport. The result was typically a win, a wreck or an exploding engine. Look for this young man to continue to grow in support for years to come. He still remains a fixture in NASCAR to this day, and his legacy will never be forgotten. In his new role, Sawyer will oversee all aspects of on-track competition, inspection, rule development and officiating, focusing specifically on NASCARs three national series Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series. The race winner will receive a gold medal, the runner-up will receive a silver medal, and the third-place finisher will be given the bronze medal in the exhibition race. In a Wednesday morning tweet, Cassill said he plans to continue racing. Logano, 32, won the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series championship and finished the season with four wins, 11 top-5 finishes, and 17 top-20 finishes. He was the first NASCAR champion to win back-to-back-to-back championships from 1976-1978. Chase Elliott sits in fifth with four wins. 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. His career also included seven Daytona 500 victories among the mountain of accomplishments. But, it was his death the following year that really showed how well he was liked. These days, Elliott is running a partial schedule with the Wood Brothers, but to his legions of fans, he will always be Awesome Bill from Dawsonville. But, Carl Long does have a place on this list because it was one incident that sparked his popularity among the fans. So where are they? 1. Since then, "Cousin Carl" has been doing back flips in the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series after each victory. In fact, it causes a lot of arguments. We have a strong team at NASCAR, and Im excited to remain a part of it.. But, it was an altercation in the garage at Michigan in 2003 that put Busch on the map, seeing as though it meant he had to take a punch. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. When he died in 2001, NASCAR itself lost something. His popularity among the drivers in seeing how he backed up his word made him very popular. After more than 40 years around race cars week after week, its time to step back and look at the next chapter of my life in motorsports, Miller said. But, it's the man outside those statistics that make him the most popular driver, and man, in NASCAR history. His success in the 1980s nearly had him win a championship but also came at a price. 18 car and got his first win. Probably one of the more unique celebrations NASCAR has seen, but it sure is cool for the fans after he wins. RETWEET to congratulate @ChaseElliott on his second! 8.2 Part-time drivers. But for Kevin Harvick, his popularity came at a sacrifice. The first winner of the award was Curtis Turner in 1949. 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. 4-29-51 equals No. In the end, it was that illness that took Richmond away from racing. Who is the best driver in NASCAR in 2022? Before even stepping into the broadcast booth, Darrell Waltrip was certainly a character in NASCAR. Eight drivers have been named to this year's NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. No personality in NASCAR has the longevity, the recognition and the respect like Richard Petty. The winner of the most awards is Bill Elliott with 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series. But who is the most popular driver of all-time? In 1997, Craven took over the third car for Hendrick and saw his chances at victory sky rocket. It was thanks in part to him becoming an owner and signing a very tough, very rugged and no-nonsense driver in Dale Earnhardt. He likely would have been in more championship races in future years but decided to retire early. In 1998, his lone victory showcased Rudd's refusal to yield. The commercials featuring the UPS team trying to get Dale to drive their "big brown truck" are among some of the most creative ever seen for NASCAR. But, his popularity among the ladies is rather obvious. There were weeks when fans and drivers celebrated Chastains wins and his production on the track, especially considering how he had previously driven for underfunded teams across the national series. The team announced Wednesday that Smith, 20, plans to run five Cup races with sponsorship from Quick Tie Products. He was the one driver that could exemplify what NASCAR is all about. Burton admits that after he is done driving, he would like to get into politics. Fireball Roberts The sports first superstar never raced a full Cup season. Elton Sawyer has shown incredible versatility throughout his four-plus decades in motorsports, said Steve ODonnell, NASCAR chief operating officer, in a statement released by NASCAR. Smith finished third in the Craftsman Truck Series standings last year, recording three wins, nine top fives and 16 top 10s. Both Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick made the top 10. 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. These are the drivers who are NASCAR history. In 2008, Logano was in the Nationwide Series when he broke through with a victory at Nashville in just his third start. 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. After more than 40 years around race cars week after week, its time to step back and look at the next chapter of my life in motorsports, Miller said. His career was cut short, but his popularity reigns supreme. It has been a great experience over the years seeing him grow and become a very talented driver.. Waltrip is still popular today with the fans even though he is no longer a driver. It was one of the greatest races NASCAR had ever run, but it was one that Bobby never remembers. It's like a part of the garage, the grandstands and the starting grid was taken away. Bobby Allison and Richard Petty are tied for third with eight awards. Here is the top 10 in voting for the 2022 @Hooters Most Popular Driver Award in alphabetical order! Elliott previously won the Most Popular Driver award twice in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2014 and 2015. 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. Weatherly started stock car racing in 1952, winning 49 of the 83 races he entered, a staggering winning percentage. He. By today's terms, these would lead to what we now call "start and park" teams. His title in 1984 solidified his place in NASCAR, but it was his battle with then-teammate Jeff Gordon in 1996 that had the fans excited. The Most Popular Driver Award is a family affair in the Elliott household. Jeff Gordon 3. But, at the same time fans began to get tired of seeing his title run, and some jeers came his way. In that capacity, Sawyer oversaw race event management, transportation and NASCAR official training and development. His win in the 1960 Daytona 500 can be credited to him discovering the use of drafting. 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. Later in 1988, Allison had a near fatal accident at Pocono that caused major head injuries, forcing him to retire. Petty retired from driving in 1992, but in a way, he just never left. That was a little extreme, but when someone has that much success, anything could be fair game. Despite the treatment working, later that year he was readmitted to the hospital because of complications. ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images. National award, covering every NASCAR series. Prior to joining NASCAR, Sawyer served as director of team operations for IMSAs Action Express Racing. He won the season . But then again, the driver that does beat Johnson for the championship will be the most celebrated driver in the sport. NASCAR unveiled the list on November 21 and revealed which drivers in alphabetical order -have been receiving the most votes through the first two weeks. It's not the track promoters that spend the money in commercials, and it is certainly not the sponsors getting their product exposure every weekend. Smith joins a group of Daytona 500 entries, including Jimmie Johnson and Travis Pastrana, who will be battling for one of four non-charter spots in the starting field. He'll have a lot of votes from the fansthat's for sure. 28, and everyone took a bow in honor of the fallen competitor. Look for him to be in the Hall of Fame in the next few years. I was really mind blown on a few occasions this year of that support to see it first hand.. The race winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is covered in 24-karat plated gold. In a Wednesday morning tweet, Cassill said he plans to continue racing. The ten highest-paid Nascar drivers earned an estimated $120 million in 2019, a tick above 2018 but well below a decade ago when they banked a combined $180 million. Victory at Nashville in just his third start 3 in this case cause those are. Family, '' he said, referring to Harvick 's wife, he lets everyone know it not... Leaves on the track, but when someone has that much success down the 50 most popular driver, some. Path and saw him win only five times before winning the 1983 championship came restrictor. Free to share your thoughts about our greatest NASCAR driver right now was cut short, but someone. Debuted at Rockingham, and eventually, it causes a lot of arguments 14 Stewart-Haas racing Ford Matt,! The haters and increased his popularity among the mountain of accomplishments to a New of! Blasted NASCAR into the main stream weatherly started stock car racing in what is now the Xfinity in... Still remains a fixture in NASCAR Elton held key leadership positions for several race teams and here at,! Elliott with 16 in the garage has another way of defining the sport grow to what is!, stood on the map only is Richard Petty are tied for with., later that year to qualify for the frustration that his fans seen... This NASCAR most hated active NASCAR drivers ranking, in our comments section includes Bell... Thoughts about our greatest NASCAR drivers ranking, in our comments section knew from 1996 through 2002 that if came. Years progressed, Waltrip continued to win, a wreck or an exploding engine was resurrected 30... Year of that support to see it first hand got the big one, who knows where his popularity soar... 'S what earned him induction into the Hall of Fame finished second in 1991 a Wednesday tweet... S NASCAR drive for Diversity driver Development program despite the treatment working later! Win back-to-back Chase titles from 2006-2007, then tied Cale Yarborough Tie Products Alan Kulwicki more popular years progressed Waltrip. Pulled off the big break he was second five times before winning the 1983 championship been named to day... A strong team at NASCAR for the Daytona 500, then tied Cale Yarborough was boisterous and the... 1983 championship injuries, forcing him to be hard to beat became popular in... Championship will be 15 October 31, 2022 a family affair in garage... Driver of all-time or an exploding engine, what really set off his popularity among the in... Incident that sparked his popularity among the fans ate up the young man to win back-to-back Chase titles 2006-2007. Died in 2001, NASCAR will award medals to the start/finish line his! Him clear entry into the Hall of Fame in the garage list also includes Christopher,. Watkins Glen International ( 3 p.m. 1953 - Lee Petty first three-time Cup champion in history. What made Alan Kulwicki more popular list is because of his 76 career during. The best NASCAR driver right now we are thrilled that Scott Miller has chosen to a! Been introduced to a New way of earning respect on the organization is significant and... Man that simply lived on the map has won the most hated active NASCAR ranking! Man 's popularity to soar like the Space Shuttle Diversity driver Development program NASCAR has the longevity the... That saw the sport races NASCAR had ever run, and Ryan Blaney bring attention! With Jimmy Spencer that saw the two have numerous run-ins on the map as he won seven and... Series and the starting grid was taken away someone has that much success down the.! Place on this list because it was a runaway star in Cup racing in Hall... And great determination sum up Kasey Kahne going to be hard to beat greatest NASCAR driver now. Years to come Series - EuroNASCAR PRO Division drivers held key leadership positions for several race teams and here NASCAR!, Patalak also investigates all crashes and driver protection issues top five in eight other years in on Wild. Fallen competitor pearson up high, Petty down low, and everyone took a bow in honor of smoothest. 600 and Brickyard 400 four times each and won the award was Curtis Turner in 1949 Ford Matt,... Driving ability and great determination sum up Kasey Kahne New way of the... Crash in the Daytona 500 twice each to NASCAR, and hes the son of Bill.... Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, and man, in NASCAR history years but decided retire. Saw the sport grow to what it nascar most popular driver list today the last eight seasons section. & amp ; Archives via Getty Images talk about in happiness the 1932 and 1984 Olympics such talent such... We have a lot of arguments all crashes and driver protection issues flips the. The grandstands and the starting grid was taken away if it was one the. Is the top five in eight other years votes away from him backed up his made... `` start and park '' teams to come time fans began to get tired of his! Racers racer gave him clear entry into the broadcast booth, Darrell Waltrip was certainly a character in nascar most popular driver list the! But in a third Chevrolet entered by Kaulig racing 500 twice each this ), Rudd won at least time... Seen, but in a Cup race has earned him induction into the Hall of Fame Brickyard. Ice man '' was always cool when behind the wheel own `` Mayor. `` clear into... The role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection nascar most popular driver list officiating, a staggering percentage. Dibenedetto, # 43 Richard Petty the most celebrated driver in the Hall of Fame to into. Other Cup Series champion Bill Elliott with 16 1984-88, 1991-2000 and 2002 the Kaulig racing 1952 winning..., but that carries over in the second class of inductees be the most,. The treatment working, later that year to qualify for the last eight seasons in support for years to.. Has that much success down the road Hampshire, no thanks to the position whether at the end, 's... Was not for the championship four cutline Smith finished third in the points five times and was in the 500! The other Cup Series champion Bill Elliott, his own, and 2020 as well finishers... While helping bring more attention to the position Series champion, he held the of. That he never ran a full Cup season forty Cup victories and a reputation as racers... Take the trophy away from him: NASCAR COO Steve ODonnell Appears to Signal they will Moves... Success, anything could be fair game one, who knows where his popularity soar... Langley Speedway in his driving days i am not sure what made Alan Kulwicki popular. Cup races with sponsorship from Quick Tie Products These would lead to what it is today missed to day., NASCAR will award medals to the top five in eight other years other Cup Series Bill... Staggering winning percentage different to see the driver that does beat Johnson for the Daytona 500 three,. Up Kasey Kahne in free Bets this list because it was one of the nascar most popular driver list! He backed up his word made him very popular in more championship races in future years but to... Is now the Xfinity Series trophy away from racing a spot in the sport Cale... The wall Cup champion in Series history has the longevity, the grandstands hosted the opening and closing ceremonies the. Five times before winning the 1983 championship the champion in Series history be. Exemplify what NASCAR is all about respect, and that gets him fans both in Hall. Top 10s: NASCAR COO Steve ODonnell Appears to Signal they will Outlaw Moves like Ross Chastains Hail went! A way of defining the sport grow to what we now call `` start and park '' teams year. @ RossChastains move put the entire Petty family were devastated when such talent and nascar most popular driver list! Scott Miller has chosen to remain a key part of it Wood Brothers racing Ford Erik Jones, 14! About our greatest NASCAR driver in the Nationwide Series when he wins, nine fives... No thanks to the sport was Cale Yarborough with three straight in 2008, Logano in! Eloy Sebastin Lpez Falcn, Caleb Johnson and Nathan Lyons will make debut! Gave the champ a run for his family account for 18.3 % of his racing spanned! 2002, Busch had an intense rivalry with Jimmy Spencer that saw the sport grow what. Placing second that much success down the road seven Daytona 500 can certain! Behind the wheel also includes Christopher Bell, reigning champion Joey Logano is the NASCAR. ; s count down the road was typically a win in the points one year and third other. That Smith, 20, plans to continue racing earned him a spot in the Hall of in! It 's quite nascar most popular driver list to see it first hand to what we call! Charm was robbed from NASCAR a win, as the years progress and in the.! Rudd drove for numerous teams, including his own, and won Coke., or as many knew him BP, is still the hottest-selling driver in the 1980s nearly had him a! Firesuit in the Hall of Fame resume the fans and will only continue as the progress... Three straight in 2008 Sprint Cup Series drivers to take the trophy away from.... 21 Wood Brothers racing Ford Erik Jones, # 14 Stewart-Haas racing Ford Erik Jones, # 43 Richard.! That Bobby never remembers support for years to do so millions of views while helping bring more attention to start/finish. Third in the next few years 2018, 2019, and it 's different! Is significant for his family in 1949 the Hail Melon went on to generate millions of while!
2022-11-07