When Will NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award Be Announced? Is Chase Elliott Winning Again?

With the 2023 season coming to an end, fans have turned their attention toward the NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award. Voting began two weeks ago and will continue to accept responses until the 29th of November. Chase Elliott is hoping to continue his dominant run as the honor has been presented to him since 2018. He will be looking to add another award to the Elliott family’s collection despite missing out on the playoffs. However, the competition is tougher this year.

With many fan favorites hanging up their racing suits, things could swing either way. And after the injury to Elliott’s tibia which sidelined him for six races, his 2023 NASCAR Cup series was a season not many fans would like to remember. His position has been put into jeopardy with a lot of competition. But when exactly will we get to know if Elliott has managed to keep the streak going?

Chase Elliott is the favorite for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver award once again

The winner of the 2023 NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award will be announced on the 30th of November. During the awards ceremony, we will also get to know the MPD winner of the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series. Fans can cast their vote once a day for their favorite driver across the Cup, Truck and Xfinity Series on the NASCAR website or app.

Since the inception of the accolade, there have been 20 winners of the Most Popular Driver Award. Curtis Turner was the first recipient in 1949. Bill Elliott won the MPD award a whopping sixteen times and holds the record for the driver who has won it the most number of times. This was followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s fifteen consecutive award wins till Elliott’s son restarted the family legacy.

Chase Elliott reflected on his father’s influence on his popularity, as quoted by FoxSports, “Dad had a great connection with the fans. Beyond him, I look at him as an extension of his career and my uncle’s and my grandfather’s and the path and the work ethic that they had to be able to get to where they did”. However, there was drama added into the mix when NBC Sports analyst, Rick Allen, shared his fears that after Elliott’s dismal season, another world-class driver could beat him to the award.

Allen shared, “He’s been the most popular driver forever until, I think, Ryan Blaney won it this year”. On the other hand, when the drivers were asked who they thought would win the MPD Award in 2018, they all pointed to Chase Elliott. The story might be a little different this time around. Ryan Blaney’s season has given the fans the kind of excitement they had been missing out on for a while, which makes him a strong competitor.

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But that’s not all! Elliott’s own teammate from Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Larson, believes another rising star could dethrone the reigning popular driver this season.

Could Ross Chastain dethrone Chase Elliott?

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There’s no driver like Ross Chastain lighting up the oval these days, as his no-consequence mentality has helped boost his image with the fans immensely. Whether it’s being nicknamed ‘The Watermelon Man’ due to his victory celebration shenanigans, or it’s becoming the villain in everyone’s eyes. There are only a few racers with a character that can match Chastain’s.

In fact, he’s turning out to be a big enough threat to Elliott’s popularity award that even Kyle Larson commented on the waves Chastain is making. He said on his podcast High Limit Room earlier this year, “I think he’s [Ross Chastain] got the potential to be more popular than Chase Elliott…He’s moving the needle.” After a tantalizing season in 2022 with Trackhouse Racing, Chastain has quickly garnered attention through his bold moves, especially the one in Martinsville. Although he’s been touted by many to have mastered the media act, he had been missing on the wins to back it up. Until he rectified that as well at the season finale in Phoenix.

With only a few days before we get to know the results, make sure to cast your vote for your favorite drivers. Tune in on the 30th of November to find out if Chase Elliott reigns supreme or if another driver snatches away his glory!

READ MORE: NASCAR Insider Makes Jaw-Dropping Chase Elliott Claim With Wild Most Popular Driver Prediction