In NASCAR, skill is often measured by race victories, with drivers showcasing their prowess by controlling heavy stock cars at speeds of 200 mph on challenging circuits. However, NASCAR also celebrates drivers’ popularity through the Most Popular Driver (MPD) Award, a tradition that has persisted since its inception in 1949. Remarkably, only 20 drivers have earned this recognition in its 70-year history, with Chase Elliott being one of them.
Despite a relatively quiet 2024 season, Elliott is once again a leading contender for the award. His year saw him break a 42-race winless streak in April at Texas Motor Speedway after a difficult 2023 season. The rest of the season was marked by steady performances with top-five and top-ten finishes, though he avoided the spotlight, rarely giving interviews. Despite his subdued presence, the Hendrick Motorsports driver is in contention for the MPD award, though not without controversy.
Chase Elliott’s legacy and controversy surrounding the MPD award.
The MPD Award, introduced with Curtis Turner as the first recipient in 1949, has often sparked debates about bias in voting. The award allows fans to choose their favorite driver, and their preferences can stem from a variety of reasons beyond on-track performance. For example, Fred Lorenzen’s good looks helped him win in 1963 and 1965, while Darrell Waltrip’s infamous on-track incident with Rusty Wallace in 1989 swayed votes in his favor. However, some winners have left an undeniable mark on the sport, including Chase Elliott’s father, Bill Elliott.
Bill Elliott, known as the “Awesome Man from Dawsonville,” won the award a record 16 times between 1984 and 2002. During his prime, he also achieved significant milestones, including winning the 1988 NASCAR championship and setting a qualifying record of 212.809 mph at Talladega in 1987. In comparison, Chase Elliott’s recent accomplishments appear modest. Over the past two years, Chase endured a turbulent 2023 season, missing five races due to a snowboarding injury, a NASCAR penalty, and off-season shoulder surgery. Despite these setbacks, he won the MPD award for the sixth consecutive time in 2023, even accepting the honor with his arm in a sling.
2024 MPD Voting: Concerns of Rigging and Bias
As voting opened for the 2024 MPD Award on October 28, Chase Elliott was listed among the favorites alongside Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and Martin Truex Jr. Fans are divided, with some backing Kyle Busch, despite his difficult season, in an attempt to unseat Elliott. However, the legitimacy of the voting process has been called into question. Fans reported anomalies, claiming they could vote multiple times for Elliott but faced restrictions when attempting to vote for other drivers. One fan expressed frustration, noting that while they could vote only once for their preferred driver, they seemingly had unlimited opportunities to vote for Elliott.
Such complaints were echoed across online platforms. Many fans labeled the award a “joke,” suggesting that NASCAR’s system favors Elliott. Some even speculated that NASCAR might be intentionally ensuring Elliott’s repeated victories. These allegations add to the controversy surrounding Elliott’s career, including incidents such as preferential treatment during a major wreck at Talladega earlier in the season. Fans now openly question whether voting for any driver other than Elliott is a futile effort.
Diminishing significance of the MPD award
For some, the MPD award has lost its appeal. Fans express indifference, with some casting a single vote just for the rewards offered or avoiding the process entirely. Critics argue that the award has devolved into a mere popularity contest, undermining its significance. As skepticism mounts, the future of the award’s credibility appears uncertain.
Chase Elliott’s potential seventh MPD win will be revealed at the NASCAR Awards Banquet on November 22, where the community will see whether the controversies surrounding the award persist. While Elliott continues to garner support, the debate over fairness in the voting system remains a contentious issue within the NASCAR fan base.