DARLINGTON, S.C. (Sept. 3, 2016) – Voting for the National Motorsports Press Association Sprint Most Popular Driver Award will officially open Sunday, Sept. 4.
The award, sponsored by Sprint and administered by the NMPA, is the only major NASCAR award determined solely by fan vote. It has been presented annually since 1953.
The 2016 voting period will open at 12 a.m. ET Sunday and close at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 20. To vote for this year’s award, fans can visit www.mostpopulardriver.com through either desktop or the NASCAR MOBILE app.
Voting is limited to one vote per person per email address per day. Fans are encouraged to share their votes through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
Eligible drivers for this year’s award are those who have declared for the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 1988 series champion Bill Elliott holds the record for most MPD awards with 16; Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won the award for the past 13 seasons. Nineteen drivers have earned MPD honors on one or more occasion since its inception.
“The launch of the NMPA Sprint Most Popular Driver Award is one of the most anticipated events of the season for many fans,” Kenny Bruce, president of the NMPA, said. “NASCAR fans are the most passionate you’ll find in any sport and the NMPA considers it an honor to allow them to determine the sport’s most popular driver
“We are pleased to present this year’s program once again with series sponsor Sprint, whose help and guidance have been invaluable in bringing the Most Popular Driver program to fans.”
Sprint has been the presenting sponsor of the MPD Award since 2014.
The winner of this year’s award will be announced during the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards program on Friday, Dec. 2 in Las Vegas. NBCSN will air the post-season program beginning at 9 p.m. ET. MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR will carry the awards show live.
A $10,000 donation will be made to the NMPA Sprint Most Popular Driver’s charity of choice on behalf of the NMPA.
NMPA MOST POPULAR DRIVER AWARD
Year – Recipient
2015 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2014 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2013 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2012 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2011 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2010 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2009 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2008 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2007 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2006 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2005 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2004 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2003 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2002 – Bill Elliott
2001 – Dale Earnhardt
2000 – Bill Elliott
1999 – Bill Elliott
1998 – Bill Elliott
1997 – Bill Elliott
1996 – Bill Elliott
1995 – Bill Elliott
1994 – Bill Elliott
1993 – Bill Elliott
1992 – Bill Elliott
1991 – Bill Elliott
1990 – Darrell Waltrip
1989 – Darrell Waltrip
1988 – Bill Elliott
1987 – Bill Elliott
1986 – Bill Elliott
1985 – Bill Elliott
1984 – Bill Elliott
1983 – Bobby Allison
1982 – Bobby Allison
1981 – Bobby Allison
1980 – David Pearson
1979 – David Pearson
1978 – Richard Petty
1977 – Richard Petty
1976 – Richard Petty
1975 – Richard Petty
1974 – Richard Petty
1973 – Bobby Allison
1972 – Bobby Allison
1971 – Bobby Allison
1970 – Richard Petty
1969 – Bobby Isaac
1968 – Richard Petty
1967 – Cale Yarborough
1966 – Darel Dieringer
1965 – Fred Lorenzen
1964 – Richard Petty
1963 – Fred Lorenzen
1962 – Richard Petty
1961 – Joe Weatherly
1960 – Rex White
1959 – Jack Smith
1958 – Glen Wood
1957 – Fireball Roberts
1956 – Curtis Turner
1955 – Tim Flock
1954 – Lee Petty
1953 – Lee Petty
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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