Which drivers are the most popular in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series? The National Motorsports Press Association has released the top 10 drivers in voting, to this point, for the Sprint Most Popular Driver Award, according to NASCAR.com.
The voting will end at 11:59 p.m. ET on Nov. 20.
The list through eight weeks of voting closely resembles the list from this point last year. Kevin Harvick was on this list a year ago, but now it's Martin Truex Jr. among the top 10. And the retired Jeff Gordon, also among the top 10 last November, is not eligible, but his fans can take heart. Rookie Chase Elliott, the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott and Gordon’s replacement, did make the list.
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Perhaps that's because he has some heavy-duty backing?
Vote for #Braves fan & Georgia native @chaseelliott to be named @NASCAR's Most Popular Driver!
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) November 3, 2016
💻📱 https://t.co/uIYdTQbhv5 pic.twitter.com/sRbHENQzjm
The top 10 drivers at this point (in alphabetical order) are Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Elliott, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart and Truex.
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Earnhardt is sidelined for the remainder of this season while continuing to recover from concussion-like symptoms. Stewart has already announced that he is retiring at year’s end.
Bill Elliott won the award 16 times and Earnhardt has won 13 times. Other top award winners? Richard Petty, a nine-time Most Popular Driver, and Bobby Allison (six).
The winner will be announced on Friday, Dec. 2, during the NASCAR Champion’s Week events in Las Vegas.