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NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Voting Begins
Internet voting for the NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver began this past weekend at www.mostpopulardriver.com.
Under the Chex® banner for the second year, the Most Popular Driver Award has become the largest fan-based award in motorsports. Since General Mills started sponsoring the award in 2002 more than 13.4 million votes have been cast. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award the past three years.
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This year more than 40 Nextel Cup Series drivers are eligible for the esteemed NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). It has been awarded annually since 1956 and is one of the oldest awards in racing. What started as a simple poll of the drivers has grown to include NASCAR members and has now become a completely fan-driven award.
Today, fans determine who receives the most popular driver award by voting on the General Mills’ Web site, www.mostpopulardriver.com. Fans may vote on the site once each day through Monday, November 20, 2006 at 11:59 a.m. CST.
“Chex® cereal has been a family favorite for more than 60 years and we have been overwhelmed with the growth of the Most Popular Driver Award,” said Trevor Bynum, Chex Marketing Manager. “To see the number of fans that have logged onto the Web site and voted is truly amazing and General Mills is proud to have Chex® cereal and Chex® Party Mix associated with such a successful campaign. Every December we look forward to making the award presentation in New York City and we can’t wait to see who takes top honors following the 2006 NASCAR season.”
By winning his third consecutive award, Earnhardt Jr. became one of only four drivers to win the award at least three times, joining Bill Elliott, Richard Petty and Bobby Allison. Elliott’s 16 titles top all drivers, followed by Petty, who won nine times.
“It was such an honor to win the NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver award for the third year in a row,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. “I have to say that I have some of the greatest fans in the sport and their support means so much to me and my team. Our sport is growing so fast and we are reaching so many new fans and that is really exciting to me. Chex and the NMPA have done a great job of supporting this award, and it has been an honor to be a part of it.”
“This award is about the fans and it honors their relationship with the drivers,” said Kenny Bruce, NMPA President and veteran motorsports journalist. “Having a family-oriented product like Chex® be a part of the Most Popular Driver Award demonstrates their commitment to families and racing.”
NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Key Points
· Top winners of the award are Bill Elliott with 16 wins and Richard Petty with nine.
· Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s win in 2005 made him the seventh driver in NASCAR history to win the award in consecutive seasons. The other six drivers are Lee Petty, Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bill Elliott and Darrell Waltrip.
· Nearly 14 million votes have been cast since General Mills began sponsoring the award in 2002. Prior to General Mills’ sponsorship of the award, the most votes cast in a single season were 400,000.
· Dale Earnhardt Jr. received a record 1,403,544 votes in 2005. Jeff Gordon finished second with 594,434 votes.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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