More than 230,000 votes have been cast in the 2003 National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver award and Dale Earnhardt Jr. holds an early lead. Earnhardt Jr., who was edged out by Bill Elliott [who removed his name from this years voting] in last year’s voting, holds an advantage over second-place Jeff Gordon and third-place Tony Stewart, the 2002 Winston Cup champion. Online voting began for the award in mid-February at www.mostpopulardriver.com and concludes on Nov. 17. Additional voting guidelines are available on the voting Web site. The rest of the top 10 in voting: Steve Park, Mark Martin, Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, Kyle Petty, Ricky Rudd and Dale Jarrett. The award is administered by the NMPA and sponsored by Grands! Biscuits. It’s the only fan-based award in major league motorsports. The award is given to the leading vote getter during the Winston Cup series award festivities in New York in December.( ThatsRacin.com )(4-4-2003)
