Who are NASCAR’s most popular drivers? Champions crowned at awards banquet in Charlotte

Chase Elliott remains the Most Popular Driver in NASCAR.

It was a bounce-back season for Elliott, who won the Cup Series seventh straight honor. The Hendrick Motorsports star reached the Round of 8 after missing the playoffs a year ago.

Elliott, the 28-year-old who won at Texas this season, becomes just the fourth driver to be voted most popular at least seven times in auto racing’s highest circuit. His total now matches the number won by Hall of Famer Bobby Allison — who died at 86 on Nov. 9 — still trailing his father Bill Elliott’s 16 awards, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15) and Richard Petty (eight).

“It’s always tough for me to accept and understand the impact that we have,” Elliott said. “I just don’t look at myself that way at all. Some days I have to remind myself that I look at it like this: I’m a huge sports fan. I love sports. And sports are a great escape for so many things that we deal with as human beings. Because it’s this level ground of safe space that you can go and watch your favorite ballgame, or race, or whatever.

“I’m extremely guilty of that — I love ‘Monday Night Football.’ If I get home in time for ‘Sunday Night Football’ after a race, those are the moments that I really enjoy. It’s just hard for me to recognize that I am that for someone.”

Elliott won the award over retiring driver Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson following the fan vote.

‘DRIVING IN CIRCLES ISN’T JUST DRIVING IN CIRCLES’

When Joey Logano and his family drove into Phoenix Raceway, they talked about the end of the week.

Before becoming a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, he and his three kids decided that they’d all go up and take the checkered flag together. Not only that, but Logano even suggested his entire family climb into the race car and drive to Victory Lane.

The 34-year-old Team Penske star — who also won the series title in 2018 and 2022 — thanked crew chief Paul Wolfe, his teammates, family and everyone in the sport who came before him. He also described how the NASCAR community rallies together, especially amid Hurricane Helene recovery.

Toward the end of his speech, Logano estimated that at least one person at every table inside the Charlotte Convention Center had done something to make an impact for the victims in western North Carolina. Those efforts — particularly of Greg Biffle, who was honored Friday for his contributions — are what make him most proud to represent this sport.

“When I think about what we do on the race track sometimes, it’s kind of pointless, right?” Logano said. “We drive around in circles just to end up in the same place at the end of the day. Think about that, that’s kind of goofy. But if you take the opportunity that God has given us to talk to people. To inspire others to live a life of generosity.

“That’s when driving in circles isn’t just driving in circles anymore.”

New champion Justin Allgaier is Xfinity’s most popular driver again

Anyone who knows Justin Allgaier, the first-time NASCAR champion, knows he can talk “forever,” but was told he only had four minutes.

Allgaier, the 38-year-old Xfinity Series driver for JR Motorsports, started racing quarter midgets when he was 5 and growing up in central Illinois. He’s been competing nationally since before 2008, and his elusive title comes in his ninth season racing for the team owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Allgaier was also voted the series’ most popular driver, his fifth straight year receiving the honor. He capped his remarks Friday night by leading a toast to Wayne Auton, the outgoing director of the Xfinity Series.

“To all of you in this room tonight: You are such an unbelievably talented group that pushes me to be better every single day,” said Allgaier. “It’s an honor to compete alongside of you week in and week out. This Xfinity Series is really a special place, and that’s clear by what we get to do every single week at the race track.

“We’re all as fast as Xfinity internet everywhere we go.”

TY MAJESKI TO KEEP ‘WRITING MY STORY’ AFTER FIRST TRUCK SERIES TITLE

The first-time champion’s crew chief never allowed his driver to forget about mistakes.

Ty Majeski recalled finishing in 15th place after running out of gas on the final lap at Kansas. While crew chief Joe Shear Jr. had screamed at his driver over the radio — “what about saving fuel do you not understand?” — toward the end of what had become a fuel mileage race, Majeski was confident that he knew what he was doing.

Majeski, the 30-year-old driver for Ohio-based Truck Series team ThorSport Racing, began his national career driving a Ford for Roush Fenway Racing in 2017, before piloting a Chevy for Niece Motorsports and being a part of ThorSport’s transition from Toyota to Ford.

He’s driven with all three manufacturers — and now has his first career series title.

“2024 has really been a dream come true for me,” Majeski said, “and I can’t wait to continue writing my story. See you all in 2025.”

Rajah Caruth voted Truck Series’ most popular driver

The 22-year-old driver from Washington, D.C., has been voted one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers.

Rajah Caruth, whose iRacing experience sparked his career, became the third Black driver to win a national series race when he took the checkered flag at Las Vegas in March. He ultimately finished seventh in the Truck Series in just his second season as a full-time driver.