Could it be his unique way of celebrating a victory, his "Polish Victory Lap?" He was once known as NASCAR's "Iron Man," but Ricky Rudd's popularity could be defined by his longevity and toughness. Hes a Cup Series champion, he has a sizable fanbase, and hes the son of Bill Elliott. 10 car to five top-five finishes, including a second place at Martinsville Speedway, last year. Were extremely excited about continuing our sponsorship of Chandler, Quick Tie CEO Harvel Crumley said. NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers is an alphabetical list of NASCAR drivers. From that point on, it was hard to argue that Childress would be popular in NASCAR. Hes got a way better chance of winning this than I do. He also told Rutledge Wood ahead of the 2020 season that he can be kind of a jerk sometimes.. It is a shame that he was taken so suddenly. His last victory came in 1995 at Dover where he famously collapsed after getting out of the car since he was so hot and tired. 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 only reason Adam is low on this list is because his popularity was cut off before it could ever start. I cant thank the fans across the country enough., Hear from your 2021 NMPA Most Popular Driver, @chaseelliott. 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. 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. 1955 - Tim Flock. Here are some of the most famous NASCAR drivers who are considered the all-time best in the sport. 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. After an altercation with police in Phoenix, Busch was released from Roush and soon began his career with Roger Penske. 1. That soon led him to purchase his own race team and also buy the Eldora Speedway. 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. One timetwo timethree timefour timeFIVE-TIME CHAMPION. But, Gordon has changed the last few years in his career. Both Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick made the top 10. Who is the most popular driver of all time? Along the way, he has won the Daytona 500 three times, won 48 Cup races and built a Hall of Fame resume. No, the heart and soul of NASCAR is in the people that sit in those stands every weekend. He loved to party, was boisterous and at the same time could drive a race car. The highest paid NASCAR driver in the World is Kyle Busch. NASCAR fans are the ones that purchase their favorite t-shirts, hats and die-casts of the driver they root for each week. The medal ceremony will take place on a podium in Victory Lane, which will be located beneath the Olympic cauldron at the Coliseum. The Labonte brothers are the only family to have the distinction of winning NASCAR championships at it's highest level. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jeff Gordon Jimmie Johnson Tony Stewart Kevin Harvick 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. Chandler Smith will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a third Chevrolet entered by Kaulig Racing. Probably the fiercest rival to Richard Petty in the 1960s and 1970s was David Pearson. He won the first Chase by eight points, giving Jack Roush his second of two titles. 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. But who is the most popular driver of all-time? After just two races, McMurray put his name on the map as he won at Charlotte. His trademark bow to the fans has become a staple at the end of a race just like a burnout. Not in competition, but he did drive one. 9. However, as the years progressed, Waltrip continued to win, as his four Cup victories came on restrictor plate tracks. It's like a part of the garage, the grandstands and the starting grid was taken away. Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. It will come, but the question is when. 10 car to five top-five finishes, including a second place at Martinsville Speedway, last year. At the same time, popularity in the garage has another way of defining the sport. Don't forget to vote!: https://t.co/jUZfQDZWSa pic.twitter.com/D1v14X8TYG. He debuted on the NASCAR national series scene in 1983, racing in what is now the Xfinity Series. Earnhardt is still here, although not physically. His remark following a run-in with Kevin Harvick at Pocono was the most infamous quote of the season. Whether he was driving the No. 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. He finished second in the points three other years. RELATED: Cup Series standings | List of 2021 Cup Series drivers. These names all make sense for a variety of reasons, including their. 8. 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. In a Wednesday morning tweet, Cassill said he plans to continue racing. When everyone sees that No. Look for this young man to continue to grow in support for years to come. The award, which is determined by a fan vote, has been. Popular because he was tough, something many of today's drivers have taken to heart. 9 Dodge Charger, the No. 9.2 Part-time drivers. Would love your thoughts, please comment. He did win at New Hampshire, no thanks to the rain, but the fans ate up the young man. 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. Elliott won three races for Evernham, including the Brickyard 400 in 2002. Regardless of where Chastain finishes in the final voting, there is no denying that his 2022 season featured a significant number of changes in terms of public opinion. Drivers have a way of earning respect on the track, but that carries over in the garage. 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. Denny Hamlin 8. Where's it going from here? I am not sure what made Alan Kulwicki more popular. Voting for Most Popular Driver opened on November 8. After two days of debate, photos confirmed Petty's claim, and he will forever be known as the first winner of the Daytona 500. He chased the championship across 23 full-time seasons in the sport, falling short on several agonizing occasions. Do you REALLY know @chaseelliott? But, he would not get his first career victory until 2001. 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. Fred Lorenzen Fearless Freddy, smart, fast and handsome, was a runaway star in Cup racing in the 1960s. 1958 - Glen Wood. He was the first NASCAR champion to win back-to-back-to-back championships from 1976-1978. He may not have reached a level like his famous father, but Kyle certainly held his own. 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. However, thanks to one track and another family member, Allison's popularity in NASCAR was set in stone. The list in alphabetical order includes Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Martin Truex Jr. NASCAR Twitter In fact, the two drivers had careers that nearly were parallel in statistics. Probably the first driver to turn car owner and have great success was Junior Johnson. Taking votes away from Elliott is no simple matter. 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. His 50 career wins are not his biggest credit but more of what he discovered in NASCAR that still continues today. View Fullscreen. LAS VEGAS - Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR's most popular driver for the seventh consecutive year. 6. NASCAR on TV; Drivers; 4. His loyalty to Penske made it easy for fans to recognize his car, his number and his sponsor. As will young NASCAR stars Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Blaney, who look to claim glory as they climb the NASCAR rankings. 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. The medals will be presented after the Feb. 5 Busch Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. But even before his title, Labonte had gotten the break he needed to become a very strong and very popular driver. Only question among everyone in the sport that keeps coming up is "Could he continue this dominance?". In the race for the championship, however, he has finished second, third three times, fourth twice and fifth twice. He was the first to eclipse the 210 mph mark on a superspeedway then won the first Winston Million. 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. Unfortunately, the career of Weatherly was cut short in 1964 after a very scary and tragic accident. But, his popularity among the ladies is rather obvious. Waltrip is still popular today with the fans even though he is no longer a driver. That smile, the joy and the happiness grew on the fans and will only continue as the years progress. 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. Cassill, 33, drove the No. This video game move sparked criticism from Chastains fellow drivers. NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM will provide coverage of this year's program. 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. Four heat races, two last-chance qualifying races and the feature will take place Feb. 5. 10 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR PRO Division drivers. He scored his best points finish second in 1991. 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.. GettyJoey Logano (left) & Ryan Blaney (right) race at Phoenix Raceway. 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