(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Following in the footsteps of his Hall-of-Fame father, Chase Elliott has been voted the most popular driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Elliott’s award ends a streak of 15 straight MPD wins by Dale Earnhardt Jr who retired from full-time competition at the end of last season.
Elliott’s father, 1988 Cup Series champion, Bill Elliott, currently holds the record for the most MPD awards at 16 with his last coming in 2002 after which he withdrew his name from consideration.
With the exception of 1989 and 1990 (won by Darrell Waltrip), the award has been won by someone with the last name Elliott or Earnhardt.
2018 was Elliott’s breakout year. After more than two seasons of hearing the question “When is Elliott going to win?”, the 23-year old Georgia native found victory lane three times along with 11 top-fives, and 21 top-tens. Elliott finished sixth in the final season standings.
What the hell the media shoved him down our throats. What surprised me is that Kyle Busch came in second. He evidently has a lot of closet fans.
I love both Chase and Kyle Busch and I have never been in the closet about either of them. They have different personalities for sure, but share a passion for winning. I loved watching them win 11 times in 2018 with many more to come!