Post by dalejrfan on Mar 23, 2006 17:55:24 GMT -5
Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes early lead in NASCAR's popularity vote
Voting for the NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver began last week, with more than 19,000 ballots cast.Dale Earnhardt Jr. has drawn the most votes each of the past three years, garnering a record 1,403,544 last year. Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon was a distant second with 594,434.
But Earnhardt still has a long way to go to catch Richard Petty and Bill Elliott, who won the honor nine and 16 times, respectively.
Still, the 30-year-old son of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt is one of only six drivers who have won the award in consecutive seasons. The others are Petty, Elliott, Lee Petty, David Pearson and Darrell Waltrip.
Since General Mills started sponsoring the award in 2002, in conjunction with the National Motorsports Press Association, more than 13.4 million votes have been cast.
This year, more than 40 Nextel Cup drivers are eligible for the voting at www.mostpopulardriver.com. Fans may vote on the site once each day through Nov. 20.
Voting for the NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver began last week, with more than 19,000 ballots cast.Dale Earnhardt Jr. has drawn the most votes each of the past three years, garnering a record 1,403,544 last year. Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon was a distant second with 594,434.
But Earnhardt still has a long way to go to catch Richard Petty and Bill Elliott, who won the honor nine and 16 times, respectively.
Still, the 30-year-old son of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt is one of only six drivers who have won the award in consecutive seasons. The others are Petty, Elliott, Lee Petty, David Pearson and Darrell Waltrip.
Since General Mills started sponsoring the award in 2002, in conjunction with the National Motorsports Press Association, more than 13.4 million votes have been cast.
This year, more than 40 Nextel Cup drivers are eligible for the voting at www.mostpopulardriver.com. Fans may vote on the site once each day through Nov. 20.