Earnhardt Jr voted No. 1 by fans
Following a dismal season on the track, Dale Earnhardt Jr claimed his only victory of the year thanks to his fans, who voted him as NASCAR's most popular driver for the fifth year in a row
Earnhardt joins NASCAR stars Bill Elliot and Richard Petty as the only ones to have won the award five consecutive times. This year saw him make big news off the track after announcing his departure from DEI to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2008.
"I don't want it to sound like a cliche, but this award really does mean a lot to me after all we have been through this year," Earnhardt said. "This year has marked a significant transition in my life and career, and I knew the fans could go either way in supporting my decision or not.
"It was tough, and I don't underestimate the fans' support. It's been overwhelming, and I really appreciate it."
A total of 3.8 million votes were received through the season from fans, with Earnhardt, Jr receiving 1.4 million votes. Fans could vote once a day for their favorite driver from the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.
Jeff Gordon was second in the voting, followed by Michael Waltrip, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick, while current champion Jimmie Johnson was only the seventh most popular with fans.
The NASCAR NMPA Chex® Most Popular Driver Award, is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) and has been awarded annually since 1956.
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