Dale Earnhardt, Jr wins most popular driver award for 4th consecutive year
3 Comments Quote selected text Published December 1st, 2006 in NASCAR News
NASCAR fans across the nation logged on to www.mostpopulardriver.com and with the click of a mouse, voted Dale Earnhardt, Jr. the most popular driver in 2006. Earnhardt, Jr. was presented with the NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver award Thursday, Nov 30th at the NASCAR Myers Brothers Award Luncheon in New York City.
After receiving the award, this marks the fourth consecutive year the North Carolina native has won the prestigious award. After his selection in 2005, Earnhardt, Jr. joined drivers Bill Elliott and Richard Petty as the only drivers to win four-straight.
“I want to thank General Mills, Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for this award,” said Dale Earnhardt, Jr. “It’s a great honor, because it’s the only award in our sport voted on by the fans. I share this award with my fans, because it is as much theirs as it is mine. I’ve always been grateful for their loyalty and support. Words can’t say how much I appreciate it.”
Throughout the race season, race fans logged on to www.mostpopulardriver.com and voted for their favorite driver. A total of 2,835,277 votes were cast this year, with Earnhardt, Jr. receiving 1,172,195 votes. #24-Jeff Gordon finished second in the voting, followed by #9-Kasey Kahne, #20-Tony Stewart, #29-Kevin Harvick, #15-Michael Waltrip, #6-Mark Martin, #17-Matt Kenseth, #48-Jimmie Johnson and #19-Elliott Sadler [no totals were given for the other drivers].
More than 40 Nextel Cup Series drivers were eligible in 2006 for the esteemed NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). It has been awarded annually since 1956 and is one of the oldest awards in racing.
[Elevation/General Mills PR]
Being born and raised in Race City (North Carolina). It still makes me so happy when one of the good ol’ boys still makes the top slot. CONGRATS DALE!!! And from all of us to you and yours Happy Holidays can’t wait for season to start back up!!
Many people moan and groan about Junior being what he is because of his father. I’m sorry to say but those 1,172,195 votes were most likely by teenagers that didn’t know very much about Earnhardt Senior. So this award has been won four times by Dale Junior which means he has beat Richard Petty in this award. Hell Senior only won it twice so that show’s just how good Junior and just how much the fans like him. So CONGRATULATIONS to Dale Earnhardt Junior not only is he the Nascars Most Popular Driver he’s also Nascar’s Sexiest Driver (and you know you can’t complain about that)
DALE JR. IS A VERY GOOD DRIVER BECAUSE HE DON’T WIN THAT MUCH DOESN’T MEAN THAT HE ISN’T A GOOD DRIVER. I’M NOT ABLE TO GO TO RACES ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THE HEAT AND THE NOISE, BUT I WATCH IT ON T.V. EVER SUNDAY OR WHEN IT ON SATURDAY NIGHT. THANK YOU DALE JR. FOR A GREAT RACE THIS YEAR YOUR FATHER WOULD BE PROUD OF YOU