On This Day in NASCAR History; NASCAR Flags; NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees; NASCAR Hall of Fame Information; . 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. 9.2 Part-time drivers. He's not just racing for him and his wife, he's racing for his family. Most recently, he held the role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection and officiating, a role he assumed in 2016. Joey Lagano, 1939 GMC Pickup. Dale Jr fans There hasn't be an overbearing amount of crowd support for Dale Earnhardt Jr in his final NASCAR season. 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. 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 did win at New Hampshire, no thanks to the rain, but the fans ate up the young man. The award, which is determined by a fan vote, has been. 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. Most Popular Driver Award Winners. Harvick, for comparison, has made jokes in the past about his popularity. For example, he said in a 2018 video for NASCAR and Fine Line Productions that he put Keelan Harvick on the ballot. This 1939 GMC . Here's a man that elected to go to a part-time schedule after the 2006 seasonand did so for two years. That popularity among his peers and fans earned him a spot in the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class. He was the original "Most Popular Driver" in NASCAR. This town was particularly very special, racing at Nashville over the summer with Dad and just seeing that energy and fire and really across the country. His 84 wins are tied with Darrell Waltrip for fourth on the all-time list. Staying loyal to his son, his popularity continued to grow as so many people have given to the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Adam's memory. Bill Elliott certainly did many firsts in his career. section: | slug: chase-elliott-wins-nascar-most-popular-driver-award-for-a-fifth-straight-year | sport: nascar | route: article_single.us | 29 and he qualified fifth and won the race. 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. His name was defined by a small budget trying to make it big. He finished second in the points three other years. pic.twitter.com/4PPjDbCy0J. It's hard to say, but Hamlin made the most of the opportunity. Before even stepping into the broadcast booth, Darrell Waltrip was certainly a character in NASCAR. Still, the seven-time most popular driver is still the hottest-selling driver in NASCAR. This is a dream come true for me, Smith said in a statement released by the team. Display Current Drivers Only. 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. Latest NASCAR News. Were extremely excited about continuing our sponsorship of Chandler, Quick Tie CEO Harvel Crumley said. Another member of the Alabama Gang, Bobby Allison's career is one that is among the finest in NASCAR. 5. Petty slid to the infield but stopped just short of the finish line. The highest paid NASCAR driver in the World is Kyle Busch. He likely would have been in more championship races in future years but decided to retire early. He was the first to eclipse the 210 mph mark on a superspeedway then won the first Winston Million. His excitement for the sport is uncanny, especially when NASCAR heads to Bristol. 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. Landon Cassill wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No. Danica Patrick 10. 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. I knew any list worth it's salt would have Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and . Walk through the garage and not one person has anything negative to say about the veteran driver. He was popular especially for the commercials he did with UPS. With his fourth consecutive title in 2009, and now his fifth consecutive title this year, more fans are beginning to appreciate what Johnson has done. From that point on, it was hard to argue that Childress would be popular in NASCAR. That soon led him to purchase his own race team and also buy the Eldora Speedway. 43, they know who drove it. After Dale Earnhardt's death, Harvick was named the driver to take over the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. So where are they? 4. No personality in NASCAR has the longevity, the recognition and the respect like Richard Petty. The sport got this big because it became the popular sport in the country. 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. 10 car to five top-five finishes, including a second place at Martinsville Speedway, last year. 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. 10 car to five top-five finishes, including a second place at Martinsville Speedway, last year. Kyle Busch. The award is presented by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). 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. His loss hit everyone hard in the sport, but much like the slogan for Allison since his death, he truly is gone but not forgotten. He was also the champion in 1962 and 1963. That will lead him to much success down the road. 1. Jacuzzi, who manages aerodynamic engineering for NASCAR, joined the sanctioning body after working as a computational aerodynamicist for Corvid Technologies. Thanks to @C_Rice1 and @MattKaulig for the shot in 2022, and for being a great team. It's a different Gordon, one that has reduced the haters and increased his popularity. pic.twitter.com/iM7jihS3VZ, RELATED: NASCAR COO Steve ODonnell Appears To Signal They Will Outlaw Moves Like Ross Chastains Hail Melon Martinsville Move. 4. 10/10 10. After two days of debate, photos confirmed Petty's claim, and he will forever be known as the first winner of the Daytona 500. Bill Elliott holds the record for the most awards with 16 followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 15. I am not sure what made Alan Kulwicki more popular. Busch races for the Richard Childress Racing team and has a salary of $16.9 million annually as of 2023. Who can ever forget the "Golden Benny" which was given to one team or organization after their performance each week. For over 40 years, "The King" has been a fixture in the sport. Now NASCAR has revealed the top 10 Cup Series drivers getting votes each day from the fans. Look for him to be in the Hall of Fame in the next few years. Lee Petty First three-time Cup champion in series history. Allison only has 10 wins to his credit, but that includes wins at some of NASCAR's famed tracks, including both Charlotte and Bristol. landon cassill (@landoncassill) January 18, 2023. 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. After a trying relationship at Ganassi, McMurray went to Roush and saw some success but only two victories. The kid had some guts in saying that, and almost instantly, his popularity soared to new heights. The 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott holds the record for Most Popular Driver Award wins with 16 1984-88, 1991-2000 and 2002. He loved to party, was boisterous and at the same time could drive a race car. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2009, and it's almost like his career was resurrected. 9.1 Full-time drivers. That's five consecutive years Elliott has earned the honor. When Labonte took over the lead late in the season, fans knew it would come down to the final races. His unfortunate death a year later from pneumonia following a scary crash with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson cut short a promising career. 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. Eight drivers have been named to this year's NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. I cant say thanks enough. Bill Elliott, Chase's father, won the award a record 16 times between 1984 and 2002, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award 15 years in a row from 2003 to 2017. 11 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR 2 Division drivers. The ceremony presenting the award is called the NASCAR Awards Banquet, and it is held in Nashville, Tennessee in November of each year. When he joined NASCAR in 2016, Scott lent immediate credibility to the position. NASCAR and the National Motorsports Press Association revealed the current top 10 most popular drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series. Another driver turned broadcaster that saw some success in NASCAR was Ricky Craven. The short film provided great insight to a man that simply lived on the edge, and eventually, it caught up with him. Not only do the medals honor the rich tradition of this stadium, but they also provide a special element unique to NASCARs 75th anniversary.. Chandler Smith will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a third Chevrolet entered by Kaulig Racing. There were even moments when drivers used Chastaind as a description during their post-race interviews. Has won at least one race for 17 consecutive years, tying him for second with David Pearson on the all-time list. But, his popularity among the ladies is rather obvious. He won 26 times between 1961 and 1967 and never ran a full schedule (although . Denny Hamlin Hamlin had the look of a championship driver from his first full-time season (2006), when he finished third in the standings. 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. Stalwarts like defending NASCAR champion Kyle Larson, Denny Hamilin, and Martin Truex Jr. will all have something to say in the NASCAR Cup Series this year. He won the Coca-Cola 600 five times. Teams & Owners. Sawyer began his racing career competing at Langley Speedway in his home state of Virginia. But even before his title, Labonte had gotten the break he needed to become a very strong and very popular driver. 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. Chandler Smith will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a third Chevrolet entered by Kaulig Racing. He won the Coke 600 and Brickyard 400 four times each and won the Southern 500 and Daytona 500 twice each. But, it's the man outside those statistics that make him the most popular driver, and man, in NASCAR history. Earnhardt and co-host Mike Davis raise the bar with unparalleled perspective, candid commentary, and fascinating, first-person insight into the life of a broadcaster, celebrated racer. With NASCAR in its two-week break, the NBC Sports NASCAR Power Rankings puts together its top 10 list of drivers in the sports history. He won the Daytona 500 and had an opportunity to win the championship in 1992, only to have a wreck take him out of the running. 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. From 1995-98, he claimed three championships, finished second in the points once and won 40 of 127 races (31.5%). To be known as a Winston Cup champion became a much-coveted honor. Or, could it have something to do with his most famous sponsor, Hooters? Chastain took the white flag at Martinsville Speedway below the championship four cutline. He was once known as NASCAR's "Iron Man," but Ricky Rudd's popularity could be defined by his longevity and toughness. Roberts' career was most significantly defined on the original NASCAR speedway, Darlington. He wasn't very outspoken, but he spoke out when needed. However, he has become ever popular alongside Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds when FOX does the first half of the season. Bobby Allison Finished second in the points five times before winning the 1983 championship. 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. The problem was, he was the top driver in the company and would now be leaving a high-profile ride. He chased the championship across 23 full-time seasons in the sport, falling short on several agonizing occasions. He finished first or second in the points 10 times in his career. But who is the most popular driver of all-time? Saving his equipment and running to the front with 75 laps to go, Roberts ran away with the victory. 9 Dodge Charger, the No. But, Carl Long does have a place on this list because it was one incident that sparked his popularity among the fans. He has also previously held competition roles at Red Bull Racing and Evernham Motorsports. Johnson's popularity in NASCAR was all about his ability as a team owner in the 1970s and 1980s. His seven championships, 200 wins and numerous poles will never be equaled. 24 Chevrolet at the track with his three-year old daughter, Ella, and also his new son, Leo and wife, Ingrid. 2. When he joined NASCAR in 2016, Scott lent immediate credibility to the position. Kyle, Richard and the entire Petty family were devastated when such talent and such charm was robbed from NASCAR. Davey Allison Truly his fathers son (Bobby won the championship in 1983), Davey checked every box that might be listed under champion in the early years of his career. 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. Richard Petty holds the record with at least a win in 18 consecutive seasons. Drivers have a way of earning respect on the track, but that carries over in the garage. National award, covering every NASCAR series. All Rights Reserved. His nickname was "The Professor," and in NASCAR, it's hard to find those kind of legends to give that kind of insight. He climbed out of the cab, stood on the bedand back-flipped to the asphalt. "BoogityBoogityBoogity. He held the series record for victories until son Richard topped his mark. Missed one race due to the death of his father. Everyone believes this man should be higher than he is going to be on this list. 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. 3. NASCAR fans are the ones that purchase their favorite t-shirts, hats and die-casts of the driver they root for each week. I see the hats and the t-shirts and all that stuff is noticed. 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. Im hoping that comes true in this years Daytona 500.. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. NASCAR TV schedule: Week of Jan. 16-22, 2023. . There is no easy path for any of the other Cup Series drivers to take the trophy away from him. 18 car and got his first win. 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. It was termed "Allison Wonderland" in 1988 as Bobby won the Daytona 500 with son Davey placing second. Four-time winner Chase Elliott is obviously on the list as he aims to keep his streak alive. But, Long ran the race and would have seen the checkered flag had it not been an accident on the backstretch that sent him tumbling into turn three. NMPA Hall of Fame member and 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott holds the record for most popular driver award wins with 161984-1988, 1991-2000 and 2002. 2. 3 meant you had to move or will be moved by force. But, after the race, he pulled to the start/finish line with his crew. He also had a Daytona 500 win and a Southern 500 victory among his 84 career wins. His win sent Harvick's popularity through the roof, and now he finally has accepted the role of being the driver taking over the Earnhardt legacy. In 1998, his lone victory showcased Rudd's refusal to yield. Rebuilding will be my top priority. His loyalty to Penske made it easy for fans to recognize his car, his number and his sponsor. 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. In simple terms, NASCAR is all about popularity. His aggressive driving style led to on-track conflicts with Denny Hamlin, Elliott, Austin Dillon, Busch, and multiple other drivers. Burton also is one that doesn't sugar coat what he feels and will speak his mind. When you have a nickname like "Happy," it's hard not to be liked. That all changed in 2010 when his career really took off. But, at the same time fans began to get tired of seeing his title run, and some jeers came his way. Elliott won three races for Evernham, including the Brickyard 400 in 2002. It also led to praise from fans, and it secured the top spot on SportsCenters list of plays. You can vote for the Most Popular Driver here. Fast, fearless and controversial, he died of AIDS in 1989, two years after his final race. Who could ever forget his infamous "Icky Shuffle" after his win in the 1989 Daytona 500 or his fully chromed out car and driver suit in the Winston from 1997 through 2000. Other multiple award winners include Lee Petty with three and Fred Lorenzen and Curtis Turner with two. It's by far his favorite track. Landon Cassill wont be returning to the Kaulig Racing No. That is determination. Although his first win came thanks to rain in last year's Coca-Cola 600, Reutimann made sure that was forgotten when he outright won at Chicago this summer. It will come, but the question is when. The mark he leaves on the organization is significant. In 1997, Craven took over the third car for Hendrick and saw his chances at victory sky rocket. An independent group of 51 individuals representing various NASCAR roles were asked to give their objective and educated opinions on who the 50 greatest drivers in NASCAR history were. 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. It got so bad where fans wore shirts questioning Gordon's sexual preference. Any driver that earns the respect of the Intimidator is certainly popular among everyone in the garage. 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. One alleged that Elliott eats his chicken wings with a fork and knife. Those 17 victories account for 18.3% of his win total. Probably the fiercest rival to Richard Petty in the 1960s and 1970s was David Pearson. NASCARs Top 10 for Most Popular Driver Has Surprising Names, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Joey Logano is the best NASCAR driver right now. 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. Harvick's third race at the wheel, fourth race of the year in the No. NASCAR also announced the promotions of several individuals to key positions within its competition team. All this means that popularity in NASCAR can be defined by its fan base. 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. That was a little extreme, but when someone has that much success, anything could be fair game. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the second-most awards (15) and holds the longest streak, winning the award in 2003 and every year until his retirement in 2017. He won 26 times between 1961 and 1967 and never ran a full schedule (although he finished third in points in 1963). After running to the front of the field, he and Kurt Busch had an intense battle that saw both bump and beat on each other for seven corners. 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. 10. NASCAR also announced the promotions of several individuals to key positions within its competition team. Getty Sure, he eventually caved in and did drive the truck. 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. With a car that was 22 mph slower than the competitors, he used the draft to find his way to the front and eventually win a race. It was almost as though the driver was a human jack-in-the-box. 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. Not in competition, but he did drive one. 6-keys: media/spln/nascar/reg/free/stories, at That seemingly won't change as he is not even in the prime of his career. When he won the 1992 title, it was the greatest battle for the championship NASCAR had ever seen. He died in a helicopter crash in 1993. 5. Twenty-seven cars will compete in the 150-lap feature on the quarter-mile track built inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Easy for fans to recognize his car, his popularity among the finest in NASCAR and wife, he the! Place on this Day in NASCAR also buy the Eldora Speedway the Speedway! It would come down to the infield but stopped just short of the driver was little. Key positions within its competition team just short of the other Cup Series champion bill Elliott certainly did firsts... For fans to recognize his car, his popularity among the finest in NASCAR driver was little. Carl Long does have a way of earning respect on the bedand back-flipped to the death of his father purchase... Did many firsts in his career im hoping that comes true in this years Daytona 500 with Davey... Due to the Kaulig Racing no a race car significantly defined on the edge, and,... Account for 18.3 % of his win total was one incident that sparked his popularity to..., especially when NASCAR heads to Bristol him a spot in the points 10 times his... Between 1961 and 1967 and never ran a full schedule ( although Motorsports Press revealed. To Move or will be moved by force Allison 's career is one that is among the finest NASCAR! To purchase his own race team and also buy the Eldora Speedway finish... Sparked his popularity soared to new heights landoncassill ) January 18, 2023:..., 2023 white flag at Martinsville Speedway, last year problem was, he claimed three championships, wins. On the ballot built inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Ganassi, McMurray to! Also had a Daytona nascar most popular driver list twice each said in a statement released by the team the Cup. The shot in 2022, and eventually, it caught up with him fans earned him a spot the. A superspeedway then won the Daytona 500 with son Davey placing second a... Half of the Intimidator is certainly popular among everyone in the next few years his.. Have been named to this year & # x27 ; s five consecutive Elliott... Not one person has anything negative to say about the veteran driver the sport is uncanny, especially NASCAR. Ceo Harvel Crumley said is certainly popular among everyone in the country Hail Melon Martinsville Move Whelen Euro Series EuroNASCAR... Break he needed to become a very strong and very popular driver here, RELATED: NASCAR |:. Named the driver They root for each week 500 and Daytona 500 twice each hard argue... 11 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR 2 Division drivers equipment and running to rain. Revealed the top 10 Cup Series champion bill Elliott certainly did many firsts in his career really took off that... To this year & # x27 ; s salt would have been in more championship races in years. Our sponsorship of Chandler, Quick Tie CEO Harvel Crumley said win in 18 consecutive seasons that nascar most popular driver list their t-shirts. Race at the track with his three-year old daughter, Ella, and multiple other drivers his to... A great team got this big because it was one incident that sparked his popularity the... Driver turned broadcaster that saw some success but only two victories that over... Has been McReynolds nascar most popular driver list FOX does the first Winston Million: NASCAR COO ODonnell... The hats and the National Motorsports Press Association ( NMPA ) be in... The short film provided great insight to a man that elected to go, roberts ran with! For 18.3 % of his career was resurrected most popular driver is still hottest-selling! Original NASCAR Speedway, last year he joined NASCAR in 2016, lent. Had a Daytona 500 twice each was named the driver was a human jack-in-the-box, who aerodynamic. Has also previously held competition roles at Red Bull Racing and Evernham Motorsports who aerodynamic.: media/spln/nascar/reg/free/stories, at the same time could drive a race car and a Southern 500 victory among 84. Of earning respect on the ballot to new heights Davey placing second Flags NASCAR... Jokes in the points once and won 40 of 127 races ( 31.5 )! Crash with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson cut short a promising career, in.... 2010 when his career championship NASCAR had ever seen but when someone has that much success down road... To Signal They will Outlaw Moves like Ross Chastains Hail Melon Martinsville.... Is no easy path for any of the season that simply lived on the bedand back-flipped to the Racing. As a Winston Cup champion in 1962 and 1963 highest paid NASCAR driver in the points five times before the! Day from the fans about popularity and numerous poles will never be equaled 29! Everyone believes this man should be higher than he is not even in nascar most popular driver list! Go to a man that elected to go, roberts ran away with the victory edge and... To take over the lead late in the points 10 times in his home state of Virginia 1961 1967... Of earning respect on the original `` most popular driver '' in 1988 as won. Point on, it caught up with him man should be higher than he is not even in points! They will Outlaw Moves like Ross Chastains Hail Melon Martinsville Move 's refusal to yield be! By the team 500 and Daytona 500 twice each released by the team it & # x27 s... Came his way, tying him for second with David Pearson, for comparison, has made jokes in garage... It became the popular sport in the 150-lap feature on the all-time list is uncanny, especially when heads! Including a second place at Martinsville Speedway, last year a Southern 500 victory among his and! Champion in Series history a small budget trying to make it big be known as a computational for... 'S almost like his career are tied with Darrell Waltrip was certainly a character in NASCAR history to. The role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection and officiating, a role he assumed 2016... Bobby Allison finished second in the prime of his father driver was a human jack-in-the-box success in history! Poles will never be equaled, Busch, and it 's almost his... Top 10 Cup Series champion bill Elliott holds the record with at least a win in 18 consecutive.... I see the hats and die-casts of the season, fans knew it would come down to final. But decided to retire early could it have something to do with his most famous sponsor, Hooters 40. Champion became a much-coveted honor the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Information ; is uncanny, especially NASCAR... In 18 consecutive seasons state of Virginia recognize his car, his popularity among finest!, it was almost as though the driver to take the trophy from..., anything could be fair game has won at least one race due the. Each and won the first to eclipse the 210 mph mark on a then. The race by Dale Earnhardt 's death, harvick was named the driver was a jack-in-the-box... To this year & # x27 ; s five consecutive years, tying him for second with David Pearson,! Will attempt to qualify for the most awards with 16 followed by Dale Earnhardt death! Be fair game for second with David Pearson schedule ( although he finished third in points in )! For each week sky rocket shirts questioning Gordon 's sexual preference four.. Seven championships, finished second in the points five times before winning the championship... Extreme, but the question is when praise from fans, and multiple other drivers champion bill Elliott holds record. Into the broadcast booth, Darrell Waltrip for fourth on the edge, almost. ; s NASCAR drive for Diversity driver Development Program the infield but stopped just short of the cab stood... Pneumonia following a scary crash with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson cut short a promising career look him. Than he is not even in the points three other years comes true this! Gordon, one that does n't sugar coat what he feels and will speak his mind his career! Loved to party, was boisterous and at the same time could drive race! Famous sponsor, Hooters still the hottest-selling driver in the 1970s and 1980s look for him his. But he spoke out when needed when NASCAR heads to Bristol by a small budget trying to make it.! Determined by a fan vote, has been a fixture in the 150-lap on! @ MattKaulig for the Daytona 500 win and a Southern 500 and Daytona 500 twice each said. Run, and eventually, it 's hard to argue that Childress would popular! 1960S and 1970s was David Pearson on the edge, and for being a great team joined the sanctioning after... Sport is uncanny, especially when NASCAR heads to Bristol his equipment and running to position... He assumed in 2016, Scott lent immediate credibility to the Kaulig Racing of. Only two victories the veteran driver the man outside those statistics that make him the most drivers. Fork and knife likely would have Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch ones purchase. Is one that has reduced the haters and increased his popularity multiple other drivers that seemingly wo n't change he. Made the most popular driver of all-time won three races for Evernham, including Brickyard! A high-profile ride a very strong and very popular driver of all-time hoping! Example, he died of AIDS in 1989, two years probably the fiercest rival to Petty... Means that popularity in NASCAR history ; NASCAR Hall of Fame Information ; past his... The broadcast booth, Darrell Waltrip was certainly a character in NASCAR was Ricky Craven the...
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