NASCAR Community Firmly Believes Chase Elliott’s Most Popular Driver Award Is Assured Despite Miserable Season & Strong Contenders

Chase Elliott finally gets to breathe a sigh of relief now that the 2023 season is over. After missing out on making it to the playoffs, his hopes of a second driver’s championship were lost. Then, getting a shot to create an impact in the owner’s standings, he failed in that mission too. Driving hundreds of laps without any of them leading him to the victory lane, he brought his Camaro back to the garage with a final P16 finish at Phoenix.

Now that the season is officially over and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney has been crowned the 2023 NASCAR champion, Rick Hendrick‘s #9 star can finally start focusing on the 2024 season. But before then, he might still be getting one recognition after all.

Chase Elliott stands favorite to win the “Most Popular Driver” award despite upsetting season

The Most Popular Driver award carries quite a bit of history behind it. In NASCAR’s maiden season back in 1949, Red Byron became the champion. But it was Curtis Turner who ended up bagging the Most Popular Driver award. In the days when Dale Earnhardt Sr set the tracks ablaze with his speed, it was Bill Elliott who ended up being the most popular driver a staggering 16 times. In more recent times, Dale Earnhardt Jr, as we all know and cherish, won the award 15 times though he never got to be a NASCAR champion.

These showcases have led the highest jury of all, fans, to favor Chase Elliott to win the award in 2023. Multiple threads broke out on Reddit regarding the soon-approaching votes to choose the winner. But a unified voice shouts the name of the 2020 NASCAR champion. Taking the example of the Pied Piper of Daytona himself, one user wrote, “Dale Jr. won by a long shot when he finished 25th in points when his teammates were 1-2-3 in the points. I think he’s fine.”

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Another fan backed his certainty with examples of the proven support systems that Elliott has. They wrote, “Yes. He drives for NASCAR’s most popular team. He has the same last name as a former fan-favourite driver that drove in the old days. He drives a chevy.”

Chase Elliott also has history on his side. From 2018 to 2022, the driver has won the award 5 consecutive times. Though he is still a lot behind his own father in numbers, bagging it once again in 2023 will surely be another feather in his cap. The idea of the #9 star being the obvious recipient of the award sounded almost unanimous. A couple of more comments followed, “He will win it as long as he drives. It’s not even a question”, and “Chase will win and it won’t even be close”.

Watch Story: Chase Elliott’s Season: A ‘What If’ Scenario

While the confidence behind Chase Elliott is an interesting affair, he might not be as clear a favorite for the award. Considering the season that he has had and the explosive year that drivers like Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain have had, he might be facing quite a bit of a challenge in this fight as well.

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Since Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired from the wheel, Chase Elliott winning the Most Popular Driver award has been a given. But it could turn out differently this year. A lot of reasons back that thought, Elliott’s controversial season, for one. Causing major disappointment to fans over his snowboarding injury, he did not create much impact on his return either. He could also not find his way outside the shadows of his teammates, Kyle Larson and William Byron.

Chase Elliott’s own mistakes make one case against him. Moreover, the seasons that the likes of Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, and Ross Chastain have had, warrant their names for the award. Hamlin may be one of the most hated drivers in recent times. But fans making stark U-Turns isn’t new to the sport. Darrell Waltrip’s yesteryear story of “disdain turned love” is the best example of that. Along those lines, fans had also recently formed a band against the ex-Texas Speedway president Eddie Gossage for his mockery of Denny Hamlin.

Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain has had an equally happening season this year. Though he did not make the Championship 4 as he did last time, his on-track battles and his off-track fight with Noah Gragson, which ended up with the latter being suspended, have all put him in the spotlight throughout the year.

One other prime contender for the award this year would be the freshly retired icon, Kevin Harvick. After spending two decades at the top, the #4 driver chose to call it quits. Since he announced his retirement at the onset of the year, NASCAR’s eyes have been on him at every track.

At the end of the day, if there was ever a time for a driver to grab the award, it would be now. Let us know who you think deserves to be the 2023 Most Popular Driver, in the comments below!

Read More: Ryan Blaney Could Overtake Chase Elliott as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver as Insider Concludes the Star Power Conversation