We have a strong team at NASCAR, and Im excited to remain a part of it.. In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, NASCAR gathered a panel to select the "50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All Time." 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 . 9, which he made famous in the 1980s. Weatherly started stock car racing in 1952, winning 49 of the 83 races he entered, a staggering winning percentage. You can vote for the Most Popular Driver here. It is no secret what is the heart and soul of NASCAR. In the end, it was that illness that took Richmond away from racing. He finished first or second in the points 10 times in his career. Sponsored by Hamburger Helper in 2010, it was also sponsored by Wheaties in 2011. Smith will run the full Xfinity schedule for Kaulig. Joey Lagano, 1939 GMC Pickup. However, he has become ever popular alongside Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds when FOX does the first half of the season. That win would be Craven's last and would be the final one for Pontiac. Martin's final year of full-time driving looks to be in 2011, but it's safe to say this man is not going to lose any popularity among his peers when he walks away. In that capacity, Sawyer oversaw race event management, transportation and NASCAR official training and development. He. His popularity among the drivers in seeing how he backed up his word made him very popular. 18 car and got his first win. It will come, but the question is when. 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. 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. "Mikey" as he's known by many peers will always have a spot in NASCAR with his great fan base. It's hard to say, but Hamlin made the most of the opportunity. In 1998, his lone victory showcased Rudd's refusal to yield. Unfortunately, he also had to see his long-time friend, Dale Earnhardt, pass away in the final corner. 1957 - Fireball Roberts. 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. Any driver that earns the respect of the Intimidator is certainly popular among everyone in the garage. Sawyer joined NASCAR in February of 2015 as managing director of the Craftsman Truck Series. Yarborough would become a car owner in the 1990s and still remains a fixture in NASCAR. Petty was also credited with starting the longest-running team in the sport, Petty Enterprises. He debuted at Rockingham, and right away, it was seen that the talent was there. Although early in his career he didn't get the breaks he needed, it was Rick Hendrick that saw the potential. Tony Stewart 5. Now, his own "Junior Nation" follows him loyally but has been frustrated. 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. Sawyer joined NASCAR in February of 2015 as managing director of the Craftsman Truck Series. Later in 1988, Allison had a near fatal accident at Pocono that caused major head injuries, forcing him to retire. Adam had such a bright future, but his name continues to live on as part of the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Who can ever forget the "Golden Benny" which was given to one team or organization after their performance each week. RETWEET to congratulate @ChaseElliott on his second! 28, and everyone took a bow in honor of the fallen competitor. He won the season . Following his lengthy driving career, Elton held key leadership positions for several race teams and here at NASCAR for the last eight seasons. Denny Hamlin 8. No one could have expected him to be so popular so soon. Most of the garage area will agree that if he does go that route, he will be just as successful as he has been in NASCAR. After teaming up with Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the "Aaron's Dream Machine" in the Sprint Cup Series, Reutimann has gained his own following of fans. 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. Most recently, he held the role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection and officiating, a role he assumed in 2016. He was the first to eclipse the 210 mph mark on a superspeedway then won the first Winston Million. Forty Cup victories and a reputation as a racers racer gave him clear entry into the Hall of Fame. 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. Kyle was third in line in the family to drive and had a very successful career in NASCAR. It's not the money that Sprint, Nationwide or Camping World puts out to be the champion. In fact, it causes a lot of arguments. As soon as Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired. But, he will let you know when he is. He was second five times and was in the top five in eight other years. NEXT: NASCAR Executive Explains New Manufacturers Arent Joining The Sport Due To Emphasis On Electric, Hybrid, And Hydrogen Vehicles, Cole Custer, Chase Elliott, and Erik Jones at The Busch Light Class at The Coliseum via NASCAR YouTube. That nickname goes to Jeff Burton, who is one of the more outspoken drivers in the garage. Whether the car had a brightly painted rainbow or it had red-hot flames, Jeff Gordon has always been one of the more popular drivers among the fans. Who is the most well liked NASCAR driver? pic.twitter.com/Dh1CAvokeH. During this period, Ill be training and preparing for the opportunity to win.. Where's it going from here? Mark Martin 9. It has been a great experience over the years seeing him grow and become a very talented driver.. Now NASCAR has revealed the top 10 Cup Series drivers getting votes each day from the fans. In fact, he was one of the first to make the transition from behind the wheel to on the microphone. He was the one driver that could exemplify what NASCAR is all about. Between 2000 and 2002, Busch had an intense rivalry with Jimmy Spencer that saw the two have numerous run-ins on the track. Along the way, he has won the Daytona 500 three times, won 48 Cup races and built a Hall of Fame resume. But, it's also his rambunctious side that has become popular with many fans. He climbed out of the cab, stood on the bedand back-flipped to the asphalt. At that point, fans began to hate Busch as he would go on to win the following week at Bristol. X Most Recent @nascarcasm At-Track Driver Wins eNascar Fantasy Fastlane Garage 56 Lineup Gallery Memorable Moments Most Popular Driver NASCAR 75 NASCAR Competition NASCAR Roots Paint Scheme . Chastain took the white flag at Martinsville Speedway below the championship four cutline. Please feel free to share your thoughts about our greatest NASCAR drivers ranking, in our comments section. Eight drivers have been named to this year's NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. The following year, Busch found himself on the wrong end of the lawliterally. At the same time, early in his career, he was also well-hated. The list also includes Christopher Bell, reigning champion Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, and Ryan Blaney. However, thanks to one track and another family member, Allison's popularity in NASCAR was set in stone. He tried to follow up his victory in 2001 with another run but didn't make it. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2. 1. But, his career and life took a dramatic turn after his son, Adam, was killed at New Hampshire. When he came on as a broadcaster, it was one of the most natural transitions anyone had seen. But, one tragic afternoon took that all away. He died in a helicopter crash in 1993. These are the drivers who made and make NASCAR fans stand on their feet and cheer. 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. Everyone at the track, on TV and in the broadcast booth had to hold their breath to see if things would turn out alright. 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. 2 of 20. Harvick's third race at the wheel, fourth race of the year in the No. Junior Johnson Johnson was the opposite of a points racer. Parsons, or as many knew him BP, is still missed to this day. Although in his death, NASCAR did mandate the window net, despite it taking seven years to do so. The team announced Wednesday that Smith, 20, plans to run five Cup races with sponsorship from Quick Tie Products. "Gentleman" Ned Jarrett was as popular a driver as he was a broadcaster. We are thrilled that Scott Miller has chosen to remain a key part of the NASCAR competition team. After two days of debate, photos confirmed Petty's claim, and he will forever be known as the first winner of the Daytona 500. 8.2 Part-time drivers. 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. In those five seasons, he won 50 of his 243 starts (20.6%). NASCAR racing has been my life for decades. Tallying 44 wins and one championship over his career, he also scored victories at many of NASCAR's premier tracks. But, Craven's most talked about moment came two years later at Darlington. 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. His remark following a run-in with Kevin Harvick at Pocono was the most infamous quote of the season. The Labonte brothers are the only family to have the distinction of winning NASCAR championships at it's highest level. 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. Blaney has only released two videos so far, but there is an opportunity for more. The crash that sent his Chevrolet Silverado into the outside wall, tearing it apart and causing a fire to ignite is one of the scariest in recent memory. Since joining NASCAR in 2014, Jacuzzi has led the team tasked to design the aerodynamic elements of the race vehicles for all three national series including the Next Gen car as well as the Garage 56 car scheduled to run in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. And, much like his fellow driver Alan Kulwicki, he was taken away from the sport way too quickly. The older of the Labonte brothers, Terry has enjoyed a guaranteed Hall of Fame career in NASCAR. 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. Allison won four Southern 500s, three Daytona 500s and three Coca-Cola 600s. Prior to joining NASCAR, Sawyer served as director of team operations for IMSAs Action Express Racing. Bold prediction, or was he reaching for a miracle? I was really mind blown on a few occasions this year of that support to see it first hand.. Teams & Owners. Allison remains one of the most popular drivers from the early days and continues the legacy of one of the more famous names in NASCAR. It has been a great experience over the years seeing him grow and become a very talented driver.. He also works play-by-play for TNT and is not one for hiding his emotion. Roberts' career was most significantly defined on the original NASCAR speedway, Darlington. It's appropriate that this year Jarrett is being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as he rightfully earned the spot. 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. Other multiple award winners include Lee Petty with three and Fred Lorenzen and Curtis Turner with two. 10 car full-time for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. @RossChastains move put the entire sports world on notice pic.twitter.com/HeTYQWUFAM, Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) October 31, 2022. But as a broadcaster, he was able to reach an entire new audience, one that was more in tune with today's NASCAR. He wasn't popular because of his racing, nor his success. The fans have grown to appreciate this young talent, and have also been introduced to a new way of celebrating a win. Or, could it have something to do with his most famous sponsor, Hooters? He heads into his final year tied for ninth on NASCAR's all-time wins list with 60 career victories and 13 consecutive playoff appearances. It only took one season for Denny Hamlin to become one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR. When he made the first Chase in 2004, he finished third, then second the next season. The medal ceremony will take place on a podium in Victory Lane, which will be located beneath the Olympic cauldron at the Coliseum. His piece this year on ESPN's "30 for 30" series was one of the most watched programs by drivers, fans and media alike. No, the heart and soul of NASCAR is in the people that sit in those stands every weekend. 9 NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series drivers. But for Kevin Harvick, his popularity came at a sacrifice. 9 Budweiser Ford or now the Red Bull Toyota, Kahne's fan base is secure. His rivalry with Petty was the most popular one in the early days of NASCAR and has earned him much respect from his fellow drivers and fans. No other driver, or personality for that matter, will take as much time with his fans to sign an autograph, talk to people and give the time of day to drivers. Current NASCAR Cup Series drivers name their favorite driver Watch on As the sport has many drivers who have passionate fan bases. 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. For Burton, it's all about respect, and that gets him fans both in the garage and in the grandstands. 9 Dodge Charger, the No. But, what really set off his popularity in NASCAR was the moment that blasted NASCAR into the main stream. A young face, great driving ability and great determination sum up Kasey Kahne. 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. Chandler Smith will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a third Chevrolet entered by Kaulig Racing. That's five consecutive years Elliott has earned the honor. Missed one race due to the death of his father. Were extremely excited about continuing our sponsorship of Chandler, Quick Tie CEO Harvel Crumley said. 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. We can surely look up to the sky and see those huge sunglasses looking down, probably smiling and happy we are continuing to enjoy the sport he loved. The fans, young and old, have made NASCAR what it is today. Their accomplishments are the benchmark that much of our history is identified by. Before retiring in 2016, Carl Edwards was one of NASCAR's most popular and likable figures, with his signature backflip off the top of his car being arguably the best post-race celebration in history. 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. 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. NASCAR on TV; Drivers; He was diagnosed with AIDS, something that doctors couldn't cure and no medicine could take away. As a broadcaster, racer or delivery man, Jarrett is a popular figure in NASCAR. 5. That honor was achieved by younger brother Bobby in 2000. For Dave Marcis, his racing career spanned over 30 years and saw him win only five times. The 2021 NMPA Most Popular Driver will be announced during the NASCAR Cup Series Awards program on Thursday, Dec. 2. Dale Earnhardt Jr has been NASCAR's most popular driver for 14 straight years. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 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.. The list in no alphabetical order features some expected names. 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