The National Motorsports Press Association, or NMPA, has presented the NASCAR Most Popular Driver award for approximately 50 years. In recent years, the award has been dominated by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., one of only a couple drivers whose popularity transcends the sport into mainstream America.
More than four million people participated in contest voting during the last two years, and estimates call for that number to be topped in 2006. UPS employees, customers and fans of Dale Jarrett, driver of the #88 UPS Ford Fusion, can play a role in determining where Jarrett winds up in the race for Most Popular Driver.
The popularity of the contest, however, increased only recently when General Mills' Chex cereal brand became the corporate sponsor of the award and made it possible for fans to vote online rather than by entry form. Since the award secured corporate sponsorship in 2002, more than 13.4 million votes have been cast.
Kenny Bruce, writer for NASCAR Scene and current president of the NMPA explains that it is the only NASCAR award in which fans are completely in the driver's seat.
"This award is about the fans and it honors their relationships with the drivers," Bruce explained.
Bill Elliott, a former champion and somewhat-retired veteran of the sport, holds the record for the most wins having won the award 16 times. Second to Elliott is the King, Richard Petty with nine Most Popular Driver awards. Earnhardt, Jr. has won the award for the last three years. The evolution of the voting process has served as a catalyst in the increase of the number of votes cast.
As one of the oldest awards in racing, the Most Popular Driver title started as a simple poll of the drivers. Now, as a completely fan-driven award, fans have the ability to vote from the comforts of home, work or wherever they can obtain internet access. Also contributing to the rise in popularity of the award is the ability to vote multiple times.
The voting process for this year's NASCAR NMPA Chex® Cereal Most Popular Driver of the Year Award simply requires fans to visit www.mostpopulardriver.com. Fans are asked for a few individual facts before being directed to a page with the names of all eligible drivers, a process that requires about five minutes. After casting a vote the first time, the process becomes even easier. The second time a fan logs onto the site, it will simply ask whether the individual would like to cast a vote for the same driver or for another.
Jarrett, driver of the #88 UPS Ford Fusion, has been a familiar face among the top-10 most popular drivers the last several seasons. He explains that since the fans are a large part of what drives the sport of NASCAR racing, it is only fitting that they have an award totally in their control.
"You know, that's a huge honor," Jarrett said of the Most Popular Driver. "It's a pretty big thing to be recognized as the sport's Most Popular Driver. I think it's probably next to impossible for anyone to unseat Dale Earnhardt Jr. from that throne but that is only appropriate since he is the face of our sport and is extremely popular among the fans."
