SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - It's never a bad thing to move to within one of "The King" on any NASCAR list.
And with his eighth Cup Series NMPA (National Motorsports Press Association) Most Popular Driver Award nod, Chase Elliott has done just that.
Elliott took home the honor for the eighth year in a row on Tuesday night at the NASCAR Awards Banquet, streamed live on the NASCAR Channel. The award is determined each year by fan vote and has been presented since Lee Petty won award in 1953.
Only his father, Bill Elliott (16), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15) and Richard Petty (nine) have earned the distinction more than Chase Elliott.
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“Thank you for the votes. Thank you for taking the time out of your day and supporting us in that way and supporting me in that way,” Elliott said via video message. “I tell a lot of people this that I talk to about it, it’s really about the people and the support that I get to see firsthand and I know not everybody has that vantage point or that perspective, but it truly is incredible and every year, it blows me away to travel to parts of the country that you would never think people are that passionate about what we’re doing.
“I want to make sure everyone understands that I’m forever grateful for that whether we win the award or we don’t win the award. I think I have some of the best fans in the world and I really appreciate you guys supporting me and pushing us and wanting the best for our team and being there on the good days and the bad.”
The award also marked the 18th straight for Hendrick Motorsports. Prior to Elliott's stranglehold on the honor, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won it 15 consecutive times, the last 10 of which came with the organization. Darrell Waltrip also brought the award home to team owner Rick Hendrick in 1989 and 1990.
Here's a look at all the past winners:
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NASCAR most popular driver award winners
- 1953 – Lee Petty
- 1954 – Lee Petty
- 1955 – Tim Flock
- 1956 – Curtis Turner
- 1957 – Fireball Roberts
- 1958 – Glen Wood
- 1959 – Jack Smith
- 1960 – Rex White
- 1961 – Joe Weatherly
- 1962 – Richard Petty
- 1963 – Fred Lorenzen
- 1964 – Richard Petty
- 1965 – Fred Lorenzen
- 1966 – Darel Dieringer
- 1967 – Cale Yarborough
- 1968 – Richard Petty
- 1969 – Bobby Isaac
- 1970 – Richard Petty
- 1971 – Bobby Allison
- 1972 – Bobby Allison
- 1973 – Bobby Allison
- 1974 – Richard Petty
- 1975 – Richard Petty
- 1976 – Richard Petty
- 1977 – Richard Petty
- 1978 – Richard Petty
- 1979 – David Pearson
- 1980 – David Pearson
- 1981 – Bobby Allison
- 1982 – Bobby Allison
- 1983 – Bobby Allison
- 1984 – Bill Elliott
- 1985 – Bill Elliott
- 1986 – Bill Elliott
- 1987 – Bill Elliott
- 1988 – Bill Elliott
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- 1989 - Darrell Waltrip*
- 1990 – Darrell Waltrip*
- 1991 – Bill Elliott
- 1992 – Bill Elliott
- 1993 – Bill Elliott
- 1994 – Bill Elliott
- 1995 – Bill Elliott
- 1996 – Bill Elliott
- 1997 – Bill Elliott
- 1998 – Bill Elliott
- 1999 – Bill Elliott
- 2000 – Bill Elliott
- 2001 – Dale Earnhardt
- 2002 – Bill Elliott
- 2003 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 2004 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 2005 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 2006 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 2007 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 2008 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
- 2009 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
- 2010 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
- 2011 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
- 2012 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
- 2013 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
- 2014 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
- 2015 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
- 2016 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
- 2017 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
- 2018 – Chase Elliott*
- 2019 – Chase Elliott*
- 2020 - Chase Elliott*
- 2021 - Chase Elliott*
- 2022 - Chase Elliott*
- 2023 - Chase Elliott*
- 2024 - Chase Elliott*
- 2025 - Chase Elliott*