NASCAR Fans Choice Awards – Who Were the Fan Favorites for the 2023 Silly Season?

After a year of racing and a week of voting, the verdicts of NASCAR fans are finally out. The results of the 2023 Fan Choice Awards were unveiled on Tuesday and had quite a few surprises. Voting was held between the 14th and 20th of November across 10 different categories, the results for five of them have been announced for now and the rest will follow in quick succession.

The racing season we witnessed this year was right alongside the best of NASCAR’s 75-year-old history. None of the sport’s usual characters including the high-speed chases and on-track brawls were missed. Like the season, the results also carry little scope for disagreement.

NASCAR fans put Kyle Larson and the Chicago Street Course in the spotlight

One phenomenon that cannot be disregarded in the 2023 season was Kyle Larson. The Hendrick Motorsports star powered through all 36 races to reach the Championship 4 and was a big favorite for the title. With four victory lane visits, 18 top-10s, and 15 top-5s, he put together remarkable performances all year. Clearly shining out from the list of his marvels, for fans, was the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro.

The #5 driver led 145 of the 200 lap event and reached the chequered flag leaving no chance for anybody else. As a reward for his domination of that May day, fans have now showered him with love by picking his performance as the “Most Dominant” of the year.

In the larger scheme of things, the Chicago Street Course was voted as the “Best Race” of the year. 2023 saw the track’s maiden race, and it was hailed throughout the motorsport world as a big step in the direction of taking NASCAR to a larger audience. It was the first street race in the sport’s history and took place in the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park. Taking a staggering $50 million to be executed, it provided both fans and drivers a completely new experience.

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Kevin Harvick beats 23XI Racing, and Chris Buescher provides consolation for RFK Racing

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The paint schemes of 23XI Racing this year were the talk of the town almost every weekend. With many liveries that went from tributes to his Jordan line of shoes to the schemes of the team’s partner McDonald’s, the cars of Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick were astonishingly eye-catching.

But in a turnaround of degrees, it was Kevin Harvick’s #29 Throwback scheme that he displayed at the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro that grabbed the fan’s vote for the “Best Paint Scheme”. The scheme was an ode to his rookie year, and 2023 being his final year in the top tier of NASCAR, the choice of fans could not be more apt.

Ever since Brad Keselowski climbed the tower to be a co-owner of the Roush Fenway Racing, he has been hard at work to take the team back to the top. Though he himself did not shine his best in 2023, his team’s star Chris Buescher championed their efforts valiantly, at least for the most part. Reaching as far as the Round of 8, Buescher couldn’t find his way beyond that. Regardless, fans have voted him to be the “Most Improved” driver. Considering that he climbed from 21st in 2022 to 7th in 2023, he most certainly deserves this award.

Kevin Harvick’s featuring on the fan favorites list wasn’t done with his car’s scheme. The iconic driver retired from racing after a long and strong career in the top tier of NASCAR. Winning the 2014 championship remaining the jewel on his crown, he received tributes and accolades at every track that he visited this year. In a fitting final hat tip to his contributions to the sport, fans voted him “Person of the Year”.

Rounding off NASCAR’s initial round of revelations was the “Crew Chief of the Year” award. In the verdict that has drawn quite some disagreement, Ryan Blaney’s chief Jonathan Hassler was picked over the likes of Rudy Fugle. Though he did win the championship, there has been some contention over the team’s performance all year.

With five awards being unveiled for now, the remaining are expected to be announced on Wednesday. The upcoming awards include Best Rivalry, Best Celebration, and more.

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