By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
Chase Elliott driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet has been named the winner of the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver presented by Hooters.
Elliott was announced the winner Thursday during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards program at the Music City Center in Nashville.
The award marks the second time the 24-year old has won this award having won it in 2018 as well.
Elliott a native of Dawsonville, Georgia received 39 percent of the votes cast by fans. His father, 1988 Cup Series Champion Bill Elliott has won the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award an incredible 16 times between 1984 and 2002.
One of NASCAR’s rising stars, Elliott found victory lane three times in 2019 at Talladega Superspeedway, Watkins Glen International and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval configuration. Overall, Elliott found himself finishing the season 10th in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points standings.
The remainder of the top-five in in this year’s voting were the driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and 2019 Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch, driver of the Leavine Family Racing’s Toyota Matt DiBenedetto, Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing and rounding out the top-five was Ryan Blaney, in the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske.
Elliott was excited to receive the award for the second year in a row.
“I’m honored to have two. Last year, I was honored to have one,” Elliott said. You try to learn things here and there. And as I have told several people, it is really more than a trophy or an award, it is about the people at the racetrack. Some of them are hear tonight and I really enjoy seeing them wear your hat or t-shirt.”
In addition to hosting the voting for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver Award, fan votes also determine the Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as well as the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series.
NASCAR Xfinity Series driver of the No. 7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, Justin Allgaier was awarded the Most Popular Driver in the Xfinity Series with Ross Chastain winning the honors in the Truck Series.
Both drivers were honored November 22nd during NASCAR Champions week in Charlotte, North Carolina.