# NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award

NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award is awarded to the most popular NASCAR driver in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series every year since 1956. 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.
The award is presented by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). Sponsored by Hamburger Helper in 2010, it was also sponsored by Wheaties in 2011. The ceremony presenting the award is called the NASCAR Awards Banquet, and it is held in Nashville, Tennessee in November of each year.
The winner of the most awards is Bill Elliott with 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Justin Allgaier has the most with five awards in the Xfinity Series, and Johnny Benson Jr. & Hailie Deegan have the most awards at three in the Craftsman Truck Series.
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.

## Recipients
### Cup Series

| Year | Driver | Team | Notes |
| 1949 | Curtis Turner | Hubert Westmoreland, Curtis Turner, Frank Christian | Voted on by a panel |
| 1950 | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded |
| 1951 | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded |
| 1952 | Lee Petty | Petty Enterprises | National award, covering every NASCAR series. Lee Petty won the series championship in 1954. |
| 1953 | Lee Petty | Petty Enterprises | National award, covering every NASCAR series. Lee Petty won the series championship in 1954. |
| 1954 | Lee Petty | Petty Enterprises, Gary Drake | National award, covering every NASCAR series. Lee Petty won the series championship in 1954. |
| 1955 | Tim Flock | Carl Kiekhaefer, Hubert Westmoreland | National award, covering every NASCAR series. Lee Petty won the series championship in 1954. |
| 1956 | Curtis Turner | Charlie Schwam | |
| 1957 | Fireball Roberts | Pete DePaolo, Fireball Roberts, Dick Beaty, Buck Baker | |
| 1958 | Glen Wood | Wood Brothers Racing | |
| 1959 | Jack Smith | Jack Smith | |
| 1960 | Rex White | Beau Morgan, Rex White, Scotty Cain, L. D. Austin | Won the series championship |
| 1961 | Joe Weatherly | Doc White, Bud Moore Engineering, Elmo Henderson | |
| 1962 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
| 1963 | Fred Lorenzen | Holman-Moody, Wood Brothers Racing, Stewart McKinney | |
| 1964 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Won the series championship. Won that season's Daytona 500. |
| 1965 | Fred Lorenzen | Holman-Moody | Won that season's Daytona 500. |
| 1966 | Darel Dieringer | Toy Bolton, Bud Moore Engineering, Petty Enterprises, Reid Shaw, Betty Lilly, Junior Johnson & Associates | |
| 1967 | Cale Yarborough | Wood Brothers Racing, Neil Castles, Bud Moore Engineering | |
| 1968 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
| 1969 | Bobby Isaac | Nord Krauskopf | |
| 1970 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
| 1971 | Bobby Allison | Bobby Allison, Holman-Moody |
| 1972 | Bobby Allison | Richard Howard | |
| 1973 | Bobby Allison | Bobby Allison | |
| 1974 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Won the series championship. Won that season's Daytona 500. |
| 1975 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Won the season championship. |
| 1976 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
| 1977 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
| 1978 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
| 1979 | David Pearson | Wood Brothers Racing, Rod Osterlund | Part time driver |
| 1980 | Bobby Allison | Bud Moore Engineering | |
| 1981 | Bobby Allison | Ranier-Lundy | |
| 1982 | Bobby Allison | DiGard Motorsports | Won that season's Daytona 500. |
| 1983 | Bobby Allison | DiGard Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 1984 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | |
| 1985 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Won that season's Daytona 500 |
| 1986 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | |
| 1987 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Won that season's Daytona 500. |
| 1988 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Won the series championship |
| 1989 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Won that season's Daytona 500 |
| 1990 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Missed six races due to injuries. |
| 1991 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | |
| 1992 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | |
| 1993 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | |
| 1994 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | |
| 1995 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | |
| 1996 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Missed seven races due to injuries. |
| 1997 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | |
| 1998 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Missed one race due to the death of his father. |
| 1999 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | |
| 2000 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Missed two races due to injuries. |
| 2001 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Awarded posthumously. Perennial winner Bill Elliott withdrew his name from the 2001 ballot to encourage his supporters to posthumously vote for Earnhardt. |
| 2002 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Withdrew his own name from future ballots following this year |
| 2003 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | |
| 2004 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Won that season's Daytona 500. |
| 2005 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | |
| 2006 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | |
| 2007 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | |
| 2008 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| 2009 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| 2010 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| 2011 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| 2012 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Missed two races due to injury. |
| 2013 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| 2014 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Won that season's Daytona 500. |
| 2015 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| 2016 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Missed final 18 races due to injury. |
| 2017 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| 2018 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Won first three career races at Watkins Glen, Dover 2, and Kansas 2. |
| 2019 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| 2020 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 2021 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| 2022 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Won the regular season championship |
| 2023 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Missed seven races, six due to injury and one due to suspension for on-track conduct |
| 2024 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | |

### Xfinity Series

| Year | Driver | Team | Notes |
| 1982 | Jack Ingram | Ingram Racing | Won the series championship |
| 1983 | Sam Ard | Thomas Brothers Racing | Won the series championship |
| 1984 | Sam Ard | Thomas Brothers Racing | Won the series championship |
| 1985 | Jimmy Hensley | Thomas Brothers Racing | |
| 1986 | Brett Bodine | Thomas Brothers Racing | |
| 1987 | Jimmy Hensley | Sam Ard Racing | |
| 1988 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | |
| 1989 | Rob Moroso | Moroso Racing | Won the series championship |
| 1990 | Bobby Labonte | Labonte Motorsports | |
| 1991 | Kenny Wallace | Rusty Wallace Racing | |
| 1992 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 1993 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | |
| 1994 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | |
| 1995 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | |
| 1996 | David Green | American Equipment Racing | |
| 1997 | Mike McLaughlin | Frank Cicci Racing | |
| 1998 | Buckshot Jones | Buckshot Racing | |
| 1999 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Won the series championship |
| 2000 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | |
| 2001 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2002 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2003 | Scott Riggs | ppc Racing | |
| 2004 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chance 2 Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 2005 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chance 2 Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 2006 | Kenny Wallace | ppc Racing | |
| 2007 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2008 | Brad Keselowski | JR Motorsports | |
| 2009 | Brad Keselowski | JR Motorsports | |
| 2010 | Brad Keselowski | Penske Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2011 | Elliott Sadler | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | |
| 2012 | Danica Patrick | JR Motorsports | The first female driver to win the Xfinity Series MPD. The first female driver to win the MPD award overall. |
| 2013 | Regan Smith | JR Motorsports | |
| 2014 | Chase Elliott | JR Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 2015 | Chase Elliott | JR Motorsports | |
| 2016 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | |
| 2017 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | |
| 2018 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | |
| 2019 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | |
| 2020 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | |
| 2021 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | |
| 2022 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | |
| 2023 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | |
| 2024 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Won the series championship |

### Craftsman Truck Series

| Year | Driver | Team | Notes |
| 1995 | Butch Miller | Liberty Racing | |
| 1996 | Jimmy Hensley | Grandaddy Racing | |
| 1997 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | |
| 1998 | Stacy Compton | Impact Motorsports | |
| 1999 | Dennis Setzer | K Automotive Racing | |
| 2000 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2001 | Joe Ruttman | Bobby Hamilton Racing | |
| 2002 | David Starr | Spears Motorsports | |
| 2003 | Brendan Gaughan | Orleans Racing | |
| 2004 | Steve Park | Orleans Racing | |
| 2005 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | |
| 2006 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bill Davis Racing | |
| 2007 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bill Davis Racing | |
| 2008 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bill Davis Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2009 | Ricky Carmichael | Kevin Harvick Incorporated, Turner Motorsports | |
| 2010 | Narain Karthikeyan | Wyler Racing | The first non-American driver to win the award |
| 2011 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2012 | Nelson Piquet Jr. | Turner Motorsports | First South American winner |
| 2013 | Ty Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | |
| 2014 | Ryan Blaney | Brad Keselowski Racing | |
| 2015 | John Hunter Nemechek | SWM-NEMCO Motorsports | |
| 2016 | Tyler Reddick | Brad Keselowski Racing | |
| 2017 | Chase Briscoe | Brad Keselowski Racing | |
| 2018 | Noah Gragson | Kyle Busch Motorsports | |
| 2019 | Ross Chastain | Niece Motorsports | |
| 2020 | Zane Smith | GMS Racing | |
| 2021 | Hailie Deegan | David Gilliland Racing | The first female driver to win the Truck Series MPD. The second female driver to win the MPD overall. |
| 2022 | Hailie Deegan | David Gilliland Racing | |
| 2023 | Hailie Deegan | ThorSport Racing | |
| 2024 | Rajah Caruth | Spire Motorsports | The first African American to win the MPD. |

### Multiple winners

| Driver | Cup | Xfinity | Truck | Mexico | Total |
| Bill Elliott | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Richard Petty | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Chase Elliott* | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Bobby Allison | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Justin Allgaier* | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Elliott Sadler | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Lee Petty | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Brad Keselowski* | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Jimmy Hensley | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Ron Hornaday Jr. | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Johnny Benson Jr. | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Kenny Wallace | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Hailie Deegan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Fred Lorenzen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Sam Ard | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Joe Nemechek | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Curtis Turner | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Greg Biffle | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Noah Gragson* | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| * – still active as of 2025 ||||||