NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award
NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award is awarded to the most popular NASCAR driver in the Cup Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Craftsman Truck Series every year since 1956. It started as a poll of the drivers and then all NASCAR Cup Series competitors; today, it is voted for by fans across the United States.
The award is presented by the National Motorsports Press Association. Sponsored by Hamburger Helper in 2010, it was also sponsored by Wheaties in 2011. The ceremony presenting the award is called the NASCAR Awards Banquet, and it is held in Nashville, Tennessee in November of each year.
The winner of the most awards is Bill Elliott with 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Justin Allgaier has the most with 6 awards in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Johnny Benson Jr. & Hailie Deegan have the most awards at three in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the second-most awards and holds the longest streak, winning the award in 2003 and every year until his retirement in 2017.
Recipients
Cup Series
O'Reilly Auto Parts Series
| Year | Driver | Team | Notes |
| 1982 | Jack Ingram | Ingram Racing | Won the series championship |
| 1983 | Sam Ard | Thomas Brothers Racing | Won the series championship |
| 1984 | Sam Ard | Thomas Brothers Racing | Won the series championship |
| 1985 | Jimmy Hensley | Thomas Brothers Racing | |
| 1986 | Brett Bodine | Thomas Brothers Racing | |
| 1987 | Jimmy Hensley | Sam Ard Racing | |
| 1988 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | |
| 1989 | Rob Moroso | Moroso Racing | Won the series championship |
| 1990 | Bobby Labonte | Labonte Motorsports | |
| 1991 | Kenny Wallace | Rusty Wallace Racing | |
| 1992 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 1993 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | |
| 1994 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | |
| 1995 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | |
| 1996 | David Green | American Equipment Racing | |
| 1997 | Mike McLaughlin | Frank Cicci Racing | |
| 1998 | Buckshot Jones | Buckshot Racing | |
| 1999 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Won the series championship |
| 2000 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | |
| 2001 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2002 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2003 | Scott Riggs | ppc Racing | |
| 2004 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chance 2 Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 2005 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chance 2 Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 2006 | Kenny Wallace | ppc Racing | |
| 2007 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2008 | Brad Keselowski | JR Motorsports | |
| 2009 | Brad Keselowski | JR Motorsports | |
| 2010 | Brad Keselowski | Penske Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2011 | Elliott Sadler | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | |
| 2012 | Danica Patrick | JR Motorsports | The first female driver to win the Xfinity Series MPD. The first female driver to win the MPD award overall. |
| 2013 | Regan Smith | JR Motorsports | |
| 2014 | Chase Elliott | JR Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 2015 | Chase Elliott | JR Motorsports | |
| 2016 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | |
| 2017 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | |
| 2018 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | |
| 2019 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | |
| 2020 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | |
| 2021 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | |
| 2022 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | |
| 2023 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | |
| 2024 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Won the series championship |
| 2025 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports |
Craftsman Truck Series
| Year | Driver | Team | Notes |
| 1995 | Butch Miller | Liberty Racing | |
| 1996 | Jimmy Hensley | Grandaddy Racing | |
| 1997 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | |
| 1998 | Stacy Compton | Impact Motorsports | |
| 1999 | Dennis Setzer | K Automotive Racing | |
| 2000 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2001 | Joe Ruttman | Bobby Hamilton Racing | |
| 2002 | David Starr | Spears Motorsports | |
| 2003 | Brendan Gaughan | Orleans Racing | |
| 2004 | Steve Park | Orleans Racing | |
| 2005 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | |
| 2006 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bill Davis Racing | |
| 2007 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bill Davis Racing | |
| 2008 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bill Davis Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2009 | Ricky Carmichael | Kevin Harvick Incorporated, Turner Motorsports | |
| 2010 | Narain Karthikeyan | Wyler Racing | The first non-American driver to win the award |
| 2011 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Won the series championship |
| 2012 | Nelson Piquet Jr. | Turner Motorsports | First South American winner |
| 2013 | Ty Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | |
| 2014 | Ryan Blaney | Brad Keselowski Racing | |
| 2015 | John Hunter Nemechek | SWM-NEMCO Motorsports | |
| 2016 | Tyler Reddick | Brad Keselowski Racing | |
| 2017 | Chase Briscoe | Brad Keselowski Racing | |
| 2018 | Noah Gragson | Kyle Busch Motorsports | |
| 2019 | Ross Chastain | Niece Motorsports | |
| 2020 | Zane Smith | GMS Racing | |
| 2021 | Hailie Deegan | David Gilliland Racing | The first female driver to win the Truck Series MPD. The second female driver to win the MPD overall. |
| 2022 | Hailie Deegan | David Gilliland Racing | |
| 2023 | Hailie Deegan | ThorSport Racing | |
| 2024 | Rajah Caruth | Spire Motorsports | The first African American to win the MPD. |
| 2025 | Rajah Caruth | Spire Motorsports |