Analysis of last 15 years of most popular driver

[kkfan91]

Interesting to see the names
http://jeffgluck.com/nascar-driver-popularity-in-the-dale-jr-era/

 

[Taco]

IMO, 75% of his stuff belongs in the dumpster.

 

[gnomesayin]

This adds some new wrinkles to Harvick complaining a few months back about how the sport's most popular drivers aren't the best drivers. He's somewhat right, of course. As far as we know, Jimmie Johnson has never been more than the fifth most popular driver. Goofball backmarker Michael Waltrip was the third most popular driver in the field in 2007 and sixth most popular in 2009. Really!?! I almost feel Harvick's pain here. But I didn't realize at the time that he plainly is not popular himself.

 

[ToyYoda]

This adds some new wrinkles to Harvick complaining a few months back about how the sport's most popular drivers aren't the best drivers.

You have to go back to 1988 to find the last time a driver won MPD and the championship in the same year.

 

[Pat]

If the MPD award was tied to the Championship, why even have it?

 

[FLRacingFan]

Someone noted it in the comments, there's a good chance this just reflects how mobilized a particular driver's fan base is. Josh Wise obviously was not more popular than Danica, but Redditors stuffed the ballot box for him and he came out on top.

I would be more inclined to see merchandise sales figures, social media metrics, and so on to get a more accurate view of who really are the more popular drivers in the sport.

 

[aunty dive]

Someone noted it in the comments, there's a good chance this just reflects how mobilized a particular driver's fan base is. Josh Wise obviously was not more popular than Danica, but Redditors stuffed the ballot box for him and he came out on top.

I would be more inclined to see merchandise sales figures, social media metrics, and so on to get a more accurate view of who really are the more popular drivers in the sport.

Are you suggesting that grammas with checkered flag stick-on fingernails sitting in front of their computers all day registering countless votes for their favorite may not be the best way to choose the MPD?

 

[dpkimmel2001]

Someone noted it in the comments, there's a good chance this just reflects how mobilized a particular driver's fan base is. Josh Wise obviously was not more popular than Danica, but Redditors stuffed the ballot box for him and he came out on top.

I would be more inclined to see merchandise sales figures, social media metrics, and so on to get a more accurate view of who really are the more popular drivers in the sport.

No real numbers here but some dated, (2016), information on merchandise sales popularity.....

Top-20 driver merchandise sales rankings:

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports
2. Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports
3. Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing
4. Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports
5. Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing
6. Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing
7. Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing
8. Carl Edwards, Joe Gibbs Racing
9. Brad Keselowski, Team Penske
10. Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports
11. Joey Logano, Team Penske
12. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing
13. Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing
14. Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing
15. Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing
16. Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing
17. Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing
18. Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing
19. Ryan Blaney, Wood Brothers Racing
20. Jamie McMurray, Chip Ganassi Racing

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...sales-fanatics-trackside-superstore/87578428/

 

[hendrickfreak]

I bet next year Chase Elliott will be the most popular driver

 

[ToyYoda]

I bet next year Chase Elliott will be the most popular driver

And the next 20 after that.

 

[Zerkfitting]

I bet next year Chase Elliott will be the most popular driver

You are probably right but I think Larson and Blaney might might make it a contest.