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via Getty

via Getty

Most drivers go their entire careers without winning NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award. Some may claim it once or twice if they’re lucky. But Chase Elliott? He’s turned it into a personal collection, winning the award seven years in a row from 2018 to 2024.

His dad, Bill Elliott, did one better, winning the title 16 times before he finally retired from competition in 2002 to allow someone else a turn. With 23 Most Popular Driver awards all under one family name, Elliott’s reign atop the fan-favorite category stands unmatched.

But beyond the numbers, his appeal comes from something deeper. When Dale Earnhardt Jr. stepped away from full-time competition in 2017, many wondered who would take over as NASCAR’s most beloved driver. Chase didn’t just fill the void; he made it his own.

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His clean-cut persona, underdog status, and bold but controlled driving style immediately captured fans. He doesn’t get into theatrics or social media drama or crave the limelight outside the track. Instead, he’s the guy who lets his racing do the talking a rare breed in modern sports. However, there’s one unexpected side effect of his overwhelming popularity: an actual storage crisis.

A Trophy Cabinet Crisis No One Saw Coming

It’s not every day that a trophy cabinet becomes a logistical nightmare. But for the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, Chase Elliott’s relentless grip on NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award has created a storage crisis so baffling that even NASCAR’s resident jokester (nascarcasm) couldn’t resist commenting.

The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame has not one but two display cases to hold all of the Most Popular Driver Awards won by Elliotts,” he quipped. “This is specifically why I focus on being as unpopular as possible at all times because it causes a storage issue.”

 

Two cases, just for one award category, that’s not exactly normal. Yet, it perfectly illustrates just how much Elliott has meant to NASCAR fans. The HMS star doesn’t need a social media campaign or even a Netflix docuseries appearance, he does his talking on the racetrack. And given that he’s only starting to hit prime years of racing, the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame might need to make more room for future accolades and silverware.

Popularity and fandom aren’t directly co-related with on-track success. Take Joey Logano for example, despite winning three Cup Series titles, he’s often on the receiving end of the stick by fans. Even seasoned driver Denny Hamlin hasn’t been able to make amends with the supporters due to his unfiltered personality. So, there has to be something special about Chase Elliott, right?

More Than Just Checkered Flags: Why Fans Can’t Get Enough of Chase Elliott

NASCAR has experienced its share of dominant drivers. Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, and Kevin Harvick all have amassed some hefty numbers. But none of them enjoyed the type of unflinching fan support Elliott does.

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His racing pedigree boasts dominant 19 career Cup Series victories, a 2020 title, and several road-course wins. But if awards alone earned a driver fame, NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver annals would appear quite different. To the fans, Elliott is more than just a successful driver; he’s one of them. He doesn’t act like a celebrity; he acts like one of them.

Chase Elliott’s connection with fans is rare in sports. Even during tough seasons like his winless run in 2023, his popularity never fades. If his fame were a music genre, he’d be like an indie artist who made it big but stayed true to his roots. The Foo Fighters’ equivalent in NASCAR is much admired, reliably good, and supported by a fan base that never falters.

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Even in 2024, when his Most Popular Driver Award margin was not as dominant as in years past, he still won the award. That speaks volumes for his position in the sport. So, sure, NASCAR insiders may make fun of Elliott’s overflowing trophy case, but one thing is certain: this guy isn’t just winning on the track. He’s winning everywhere.

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