Since 1956, the National Motorsports Press Association has recognized the fan favorites in NASCAR.

Curtis Turner took the inaugural award and since then 16 other winners have been honored including Fireball Roberts, Bobby Allison, Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip.

Bill Elliott has won the award 16-times, more than any other driver.

For the past six years, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver and according to the newly released top-10 finalist list, he may get his 7th consecutive award this year.

The NMPA has announced the top-10 drivers in the Chex Most Popular Driver award for 2009. From here until the day after the Sprint Cup Series race in Homestead, the only drivers to be voted on are: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and 3-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.

Hardcore race fans are encouraged to log on to www.chexmostpopulardriver.com and vote once daily for their favorite NASCAR star. Voting will conclude November 23rd at 11:59pm CT.

This year’s winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon during Champions Week in Las Vegas in December.

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