The National Motorsports
Press Association is proud to announce, on behalf of all NASCAR fans who voted,
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been crowned the 2012 NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver.
The award, given annually since 1956, is Earnhardt Jr.'s 10th consecutive
honor and was presented to him today during the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers
Luncheon at The Encore at Wynn in Las Vegas, Nev. This now ties him with Bill
Elliott as the only other driver to be presented the award 10 consecutive
years. Elliott is still the all-time leader with 16 overall.
After fans voted from
February to September, the top 10 drivers that earned the most votes were reset
to zero. Drivers Kyle Busch, Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kevin
Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte and Tony
Stewart were all finalists who fans voted for during the final 10 weeks of the
NASCAR Sprint Cup season. After more than 934,000 votes were cast this season,
Earnhardt Jr. proved once again to be the fans' favorite.
Completing the voting,
in order, were Gordon, Kahne, Stewart, Johnson, Harvick, Kyle Busch, Edwards,
Kenseth and Labonte. Earnhardt Jr. has now won the award since 2003, and with
Elliott and Richard Petty, are the only drivers to receive it at least five consecutive
times.
"It was an honor to
hear that I won this year and am now tied with Bill (Elliott) for 10 in a
row," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I've enjoyed this award because it's a
testament to my fans. I appreciate their loyalty and dedication. It was great to
get back in Victory Lane this year for my team and for my fans. I'm looking
forward to a successful 2013, and am proud to accept this award on behalf of
all the fans that voted."
Once again the NMPA was
proud to support one of NASCAR's oldest and most prestigious awards during
Champion Week in Las Vegas.
"Each year, NASCAR
fans show their passion for their favorite driver in the NMPA NASCAR Most
Popular Driver voting," said Rea White, president of the NMPA. "This
award is not only for the driver, but also for the fans as something they can
claim as their own at the end of each season. We're proud we can continue this
tradition and once again the fans have spoken, selecting a great representative
in Dale Earnhardt Jr."
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