Familiar faces prevailed as the 2023 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Most Popular Driver Award presented by Hooters was earned by Chase Elliott in the NASCAR Cup Series, Justin Allgaier in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Hailie Deegan in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Thursday evening at the NASCAR Awards banquet in Nashville, Tennessee.
After winning the award for three consecutive years (2019-21), Allgaier, 37, found himself back in the Most Popular Driver award-winning column in the Xfinity circuit after Noah Gragson claimed the honor in 2022. With this achievement, a JR Motorsports pilot has won the award in the Xfinity Series for 12 consecutive years.
Deegan, 22, took home her third consecutive Most Popular Driver award in the Truck Series. Deegan became the first woman to win the award in the Truck Series following her victory in 2021 and remains the second woman to win the award all-time (Danica Patrick in the Xfinity Series in 2012).
— NASCAR.com —
The fans have spoken. pic.twitter.com/JwjFF8Zvz8
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) December 1, 2023
Make it three in a row!@HailieDeegan wins the 2023 NMPA Most Popular Driver Award in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series! pic.twitter.com/4m6QqMRmiQ
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) December 1, 2023