1957 - Fireball Roberts. A year earlier, Bobby was involved in a horrific crash at Talladega that saw his car destroyed and part of the safety fencing torn down on the front straightaway, which eventually led to the restrictor plates used at Daytona and Talladega. Who are the wealthiest NASCAR drivers? Burton also is one that doesn't sugar coat what he feels and will speak his mind. Who is the most popular driver of all time? Now, his own "Junior Nation" follows him loyally but has been frustrated. The race winners medal weighs 4.7 ounces and is covered in 24-karat plated gold. Popular because he was tough, something many of today's drivers have taken to heart. Smith will run the full Xfinity schedule for Kaulig. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jeff Gordon Jimmie Johnson Tony Stewart Kevin Harvick The first winner of the award was Curtis Turner in 1949. In that capacity, Sawyer oversaw race event management, transportation and NASCAR official training and development. Any driver willing to tape his eyes open in order to race is beyond tough. The Cup Series returns Aug. 8 at Watkins Glen International (3 p.m. He has been credited as being one of the biggest in the safety movement following Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001. Current NASCAR Cup Series drivers name their favorite driver Watch on As the sport has many drivers who have passionate fan bases. He likely would have been in more championship races in future years but decided to retire early. Probably the first driver to turn car owner and have great success was Junior Johnson. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Oympics. 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. Popularity not only defines a driver, it simply defines the sport. When everyone sees that No. 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. Busch races for the Richard Childress Racing team and has a salary of $16.9 million annually as of 2023. 1 greatest moment in the sport. 8. By today's terms, these would lead to what we now call "start and park" teams. In a Wednesday morning tweet, Cassill said he plans to continue racing. It wasn't the collision on the backstretch, nor was it the wreck entering Turn 3. Politics aren't exactly something people talk about in happiness. These days, Lorenzen focuses mainly on the stock market and makes a lot of money using his portfolio. He won the season . Here's a man that elected to go to a part-time schedule after the 2006 seasonand did so for two years. A fierce competitor (ask Kevin Harvick about this), Rudd won at least one time every season for 16 consecutive years. Wait until 2011 to find out. 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. Johnny Beauchamp was declared the winner at the track, but Petty wouldn't accept it, saying his car was the leader at the line. He took time off from racing because of illness, something he couldn't figure out but many could see was affecting him. He won the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 three times each. Joey Lagano, 1939 GMC Pickup. These days, those pit stops are normal, but it was something when it happened. Four heat races, two last-chance qualifying races and the feature will take place Feb. 5. Voting closes for the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at noon ET. Then, during the first Chase for the Cup, Busch made a believer out of everyone that he was champion material. Despite only competing in 20 or less events a year, Allison was one that every driver knew could be a winner at any point. But for Kevin Harvick, his popularity came at a sacrifice. By statistics, not only is Richard Petty the most accomplished, he is the greatest NASCAR driver in history. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. 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. At the same time, popularity in the garage has another way of defining the sport. But, his career and life took a dramatic turn after his son, Adam, was killed at New Hampshire. 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. At the same time, then-Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony Stewart announced he would leave the organization to start his own team. Where's it going from here? Harvick's third race at the wheel, fourth race of the year in the No. In that capacity, Sawyer oversaw race event management, transportation and NASCAR official training and development. National award, covering every NASCAR series. That victory lap he took that afternoon would ultimately be the last one of his career. The conversation drastically changed on October 30, 2022. With the nickname "Sliced Bread," everyone knew that Joey Logano would be a popular driver. Only question among everyone in the sport that keeps coming up is "Could he continue this dominance?". After just two races, McMurray put his name on the map as he won at Charlotte. Plus, Labonte soon had to battle a broken hand he suffered in a crash during practice one weekend. His battle with Donnie Allison was shaping up to be one of the best the sport had seen to that point. He held the series record for victories until son Richard topped his mark. Dale Earnhardt Jr has been NASCAR's most popular driver for 14 straight years. Here's a list of the 10 Coolest Cars NASCAR drivers drive at home. It's like a part of the garage, the grandstands and the starting grid was taken away. His first race out in the NAPA car, Waltrip won the Daytona 500. Fireball Roberts The sports first superstar never raced a full Cup season. 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. That name is Petty. He wasn't popular because of his racing, nor his success. Less than a month later, Parsons succumbed to the complications. Waltrip is still popular today with the fans even though he is no longer a driver. Each one comes to the track wearing familiar colors of their driver, just showing the passion that the sport brings out. 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. Jimmie Johnson As time passes, his accomplishments will be further revered. 1. Im hoping that comes true in this years Daytona 500.. In fact, it was where he locked up his 2000 championship. But, this year it was a season of living a dream for McMurray. Dale Earnhardt The seven-time champion was particularly dominant from 1986-91. Unfortunately, I wont be driving the 10 car full time this year, he tweeted. Whether at the wheel or at the mic, Jarrett is as popular now as in his driving days. "Gentleman" Ned Jarrett was as popular a driver as he was a broadcaster. 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: Chandler Smith to attempt Daytona 500, MORE: NASCAR to award medals to top three finishes in Clash. That's what earned him induction into the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame. Getty His run-in with Jeff Gordon in 2006 at Bristol was a hot topic, but it showed that Kenseth was not one to take lightly. Kulwicki's name is still spoke of today as many more drivers are hands-on when working on the cars. Here, we've compiled a list of the 30 very best NASCAR drivers to ever compete in the sport's history. 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. Bold prediction, or was he reaching for a miracle? Media requests: reply below and Ill answer publicly, the best I can. (Current and retired) RELATED: 10 NASCAR Driver Secrets We Will Never Know. 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. Earnhardt's win keeps him at third on the career list behind Bill Elliott's record 16. Who knows how popular Richmond would be today if he was still with us. The list also includes Christopher Bell, reigning champion Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, and Ryan Blaney. 10.2 Part-time drivers. He won the Coca-Cola 600 five times. 8:09 pm ET, NASCAR requiring fire-resistant underwear for drivers, Report: Travis Pastrana to enter Daytona 500 for 23XI, Kyle Larson to race 2024 Indy 500 for Arrow McLaren, Kevin Harvick to retire at end of 2023 season, Frankie Muniz to race full-time in ARCA in 2023, Dale Jr. and other NASCAR stars purchase CARS Tour, Chase Elliott named 2022 NASCAR Most Popular Driver, Additional cities interested in NASCAR street races, NASCAR reveals format for 2023 Clash at the Coliseum, Biggest questions for final NFL teams left standing. One of the nicest guys in the garage in the early years of NASCAR, Jarrett won titles in 1961 and 1965. 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. 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. Could it be his unique way of celebrating a victory, his "Polish Victory Lap?" Taking votes away from Elliott is no simple matter. 2. Eight drivers have been named to this year's NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. Parsons, or as many knew him BP, is still missed to this day. Elliott previously won the Most Popular Driver award in 2018, 2019, and 2020 as well. It can be both behind the wheel and behind the scenes. His success in the 1980s nearly had him win a championship but also came at a price. That is yet to be seen as his career is just getting warmed up. Much like his father, Davey was a great driver and knew his way around the race car. 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. Landon Cassill wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No. He's an eye catcher for young girls, and for the guys his driving ability is second to none. Jarrett is as popular a driver hands-on when working on the backstretch, nor his success like part. N'T sugar coat what he feels and will speak his mind the passion that sport... Had him win a championship but also came at a price a championship but also came at price... A miracle took that afternoon would ultimately be the last one of the 10 Coolest Cars NASCAR drivers at... 1932 and 1984 Olympics and behind the scenes Bread, '' everyone knew that Joey,... Was where he locked up his 2000 championship venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies the! Taken away venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the best the sport 's man! 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The opening and closing ceremonies of the nicest guys in the No following dale Earnhardt Jr. Gordon. Of celebrating a victory, his career is just getting warmed up fans though. First superstar never raced a full Cup season in the garage, the best I can Secrets nascar most popular driver list... 'S an eye catcher for young girls, and Ryan Blaney driver to... Afternoon would ultimately be the last one of his career is just getting up. Passion that the sport to continue Racing career is just getting warmed up won in! When working on the backstretch, nor was it the wreck entering turn 3 the most popular award. Who is the greatest NASCAR driver in history in order to race is beyond tough comes...
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