William Clyde Elliott Sr., popularly known as Bill Elliott, has been the most popular driver of his time. His popularity went beyond his retirement, as no other driver has been able to outperform him when it comes to NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver award. Elliott claimed as many as 16 Most Popular Driver awards.
Elliott Sr.’s first Popular Driver award came in 1984 when he dethroned the late NASCAR driver Bobby Allison. He was racing with Melling Racing then. Elliott continued winning the award for five consecutive years until 1988 when he claimed the Winston Cup Series Championship.
In 1989 and 1990, Darrell Waltrip-+++ outperformed Elliott Sr., but the latter was back to winning the award again in 1991. A year later, Elliott moved to Junior Johnson & Associates, but his Popular Driver award did not stop coming.
Elliott Sr. won the award for 10 consecutive years from 1991 to 2000, and in between he changed his team from Junior Johnson & Associates to Bill Elliott Racing. However, he missed the award again in 2001. NASCAR awarded the Most Popular Driver to the late Dale Earnhardt that year after his tragic death during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in 2001. Elliott claimed the victory again in 2002, his 16th award in 19 years.
One could argue that Elliott was tired of winning or was no longer interested in winning the award. Why? Because he decided to withdraw his name from the competition at the end of 2002. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award that year.
Bill Elliott’s son continuing his legacy
Bill Elliott’s son, Chase Elliott, continues his father’s legacy. The Hendrick Motorsports driver is currently the defending champion of the Most Popular Driver award and has already won it six times.
Elliott Jr. first claimed the award in 2018 after the retirement of Dale Earnhardt Jr. He hasn’t stopped since as he claimed six consecutive titles till 2023. Elliott is running for the NASCAR Most Popular Driver award in 2024 as well.
During his career, Elliott Sr. registered 828 Cup Series races in over 37 years, where he claimed 44 wins, 55 pole positions, and 320 Top 10s. His last victory arrived in the 2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 at Rockingham. His last Cup Series appearance was in the 2013 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. Nicknamed Awesome Bill from Dawsonville and Million Dollar Bill or Wild Bill, he is currently 69 years old and often makes track appearances to support his son.
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