CHARLOTTE, N.C. - As if there was ever a doubt!
For the seventh year in a row, Chase Elliott took home the NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award for the Cup Series as presented by the National Motorsports Press Association. The honor, determined by a fan vote, was given out as part of the NASCAR Awards Banquet held Friday night at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Elliott became just the fifth driver to win the award at least five times at the Cup Series level, joining Bobby Allison (sixth), Richard Petty (eight), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15) and Bill Elliott (16). He also won the award twice as an Xfinity Series competitor (2014 and 2015).
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"I've always tried to take that opportunity to make sure I reflect in a proper manner and represent my family the way I think they would want to be represented throughout the years," Elliott said before the ceremony when asked about the meaning of the award. "It's definitely just a big honor to have ... just in general when we travel, you could be anywhere from Darlington, South Carolina to Los Angeles and when you see that type of support spread out across the entire country, it's kind of wild when you sit back and think about that. I never take that for granted."
Elliott just finished his ninth full time season in the Cup Series, all with Hendrick Motorsports, earning a spot in the Round of 8 and earning a win at Texas Motor Speedway in April.