Post by dalejrfan on Dec 5, 2005 23:23:38 GMT -5
Junior wins Most Popular Driver award again
NEW YORK -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won his third straight Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award.
The announcement was made Friday during the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. A record number of fans nationwide have again voted the North Carolinian as the most popular driver.
"It's a huge honor to win the Most Popular Driver award just one time, but to win it three times in a row is pretty overwhelming. I just want to thank the fans, and I want to thank Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for the award," Earnhardt said.
"This one probably means more to me than the others because of the kind of year we had. It's one thing to have fan support when you're riding high and winning races. It's another thing to have it during the rough times."
A record 4,157,443 votes were cast in 2005, a huge jump for an award which never had more than 400,000 votes in a year prior to General Mills sponsorship. Earnhardt Jr. has led the voting since the start of the 2003 season and easily captured enough votes in the record-setting 2005 year to again win the award. He finished with 1,403,544 votes, which is also an all-time record.
"The fans have pretty well made a statement in regards to their favorite driver in this era," said Kenny Bruce, president of the NMPA. "They have also made a statement as to the importance of this award. We appreciate every fan who voted, and we really appreciate Chex for its sponsorship."
"On behalf of Chex and General Mills, I want to congratulate Dale Earnhardt Jr. on winning this award for the third straight year," Chex Marketing Manager Trevor Bynum said. "We also want to thank the millions of fans who voted and made this award possible with their continued strong support."
Jeff Gordon finished second in the voting with 594,434 votes. Kasey Kahne was third with 343,154; 2005 champion Tony Stewart fourth with 246,026; and retiring Rusty Wallace fifth with 214,026. Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson.
The NASCAR Most Popular Driver award dates back to 1956, making it one of the oldest and most traditional awards in NASCAR racing. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and later grew to incorporate all NASCAR Nextel Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it is a prestigious award voted on by racing fans throughout the world.
Bill Elliott's 16 most popular wins tops all drivers. He is followed by Richard Petty, who has won nine times.
NEW YORK -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won his third straight Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award.
The announcement was made Friday during the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. A record number of fans nationwide have again voted the North Carolinian as the most popular driver.
"It's a huge honor to win the Most Popular Driver award just one time, but to win it three times in a row is pretty overwhelming. I just want to thank the fans, and I want to thank Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for the award," Earnhardt said.
"This one probably means more to me than the others because of the kind of year we had. It's one thing to have fan support when you're riding high and winning races. It's another thing to have it during the rough times."
A record 4,157,443 votes were cast in 2005, a huge jump for an award which never had more than 400,000 votes in a year prior to General Mills sponsorship. Earnhardt Jr. has led the voting since the start of the 2003 season and easily captured enough votes in the record-setting 2005 year to again win the award. He finished with 1,403,544 votes, which is also an all-time record.
"The fans have pretty well made a statement in regards to their favorite driver in this era," said Kenny Bruce, president of the NMPA. "They have also made a statement as to the importance of this award. We appreciate every fan who voted, and we really appreciate Chex for its sponsorship."
"On behalf of Chex and General Mills, I want to congratulate Dale Earnhardt Jr. on winning this award for the third straight year," Chex Marketing Manager Trevor Bynum said. "We also want to thank the millions of fans who voted and made this award possible with their continued strong support."
Jeff Gordon finished second in the voting with 594,434 votes. Kasey Kahne was third with 343,154; 2005 champion Tony Stewart fourth with 246,026; and retiring Rusty Wallace fifth with 214,026. Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson.
The NASCAR Most Popular Driver award dates back to 1956, making it one of the oldest and most traditional awards in NASCAR racing. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and later grew to incorporate all NASCAR Nextel Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it is a prestigious award voted on by racing fans throughout the world.
Bill Elliott's 16 most popular wins tops all drivers. He is followed by Richard Petty, who has won nine times.