Chase Elliott Named NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Again

Chase Elliott has once again captured the hearts of NASCAR fans, being named the sport's most popular driver for a seventh consecutive year at the season's closing awards ceremony. Elliott, representing Hendrick Motorsports, topped the fan-voted award with 266,363 votes, outpacing his closest contenders, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney. This accolade, rooted in strong family legacy, adds to the Elliott family's 34-year streak of either an Elliott or an Earnhardt winning the title, with Chase following in the footsteps of his father, Bill Elliott, a 16-time recipient.

Elliott expressed gratitude for his enduring fan support at a ceremony in Charlotte Friday night, stating, "I don't think it ever gets old." Both Blaney and Tyler Reddick noted Elliott's robust fan base, humorously acknowledging that surpassing him in popularity would be a formidable challenge. Blaney quipped about the mystery of who might claim the award post-Elliott's retirement, while Reddick suggested any chance of a change might rest with Blaney or Larson. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)