Most Popular Driver

[Jonathan Patten]

I'm a Denny Hamlin and Brian Vickers fan; if I were to take an educated guess, I'd say that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is by the far the most popular driver, due to the popularity of Sr.

 

[JamesFranklin84]

I'm a Denny Hamlin and Brian Vickers fan; if I were to take an educated guess, I'd say that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is by the far the most popular driver, due to the popularity of Sr.

I don't know... I think Jeff Gordon's popularity has risen since he isn't winning as much just like Senior's did towards the end of his career. A lot of people didn't like him, remember? Same way with Darrell Waltrip. When guys are winning all the time, people don't like them... it's usually because they're also whiners.

I'd say it's pretty close between Gordon & Little E. Gordon has grown up a lot over the past few seasons as well. Well, I'd say basically ever since he became a father he's shown a lot more maturity. It showed during that Pizza Hut Fan Favorite thing, half the time it was Junior, the other half Gordon.

If I were to guess I'd throw Smoke in at #3. Probably JJ behind him. In any event those are the 4 guys that draw the most fans.

 

[RP Motorsports]

Most of them are Joonyer "fans". Most of his fans I meet have no clue where he is in the points, and still think he drives the 8 and Bud is still his sponsor. In other words, they have no clue that he sucks. Some of them have even argued with me that he's won multiple championships. They just don't KNOW, but they want to be trendy or whatever, so they pretend to know.

So basically you've never met any Earnhardt Jr. fans. Because I have to say, that is a little absurd. All it would take is tuning into one race for five minutes within the past 3 1/2 years to know that he isnt in the #8 Bud car anymore. If you have met anyone (which I dont think you have) claiming to be a Jr. fan and they think he's still in the 8 car, then obviously they dont watch nor follow Earnhardt Jr. and/or NASCAR. Nevermind "most" of them. Thats a little off the deep the end.

Sorry nothing personal, but spoken like a true hater.

I don't know... I think Jeff Gordon's popularity has risen since he isn't winning as much just like Senior's did towards the end of his career. A lot of people didn't like him, remember? Same way with Darrell Waltrip. When guys are winning all the time, people don't like them... it's usually because they're also whiners.

I'd say it's pretty close between Gordon & Little E. Gordon has grown up a lot over the past few seasons as well. Well, I'd say basically ever since he became a father he's shown a lot more maturity. It showed during that Pizza Hut Fan Favorite thing, half the time it was Junior, the other half Gordon.

If I were to guess I'd throw Smoke in at #3. Probably JJ behind him. In any event those are the 4 guys that draw the most fans.

I too definitely think Gordon's popularity has risen over the last few years. However, I dont know if its quite that close with Earnhardt Jr. or not. Obviously he's been voted 'Most Popular Driver' for the last eight years straight. Aside from that though, Earnhardt Jr. merchandise makes up 45% of all NASCAR merchandise sales. I think that speaks volumes. Thats almost half of all NASCAR merchandise sold. You can see it too when you go to the race track. It used to be the 'sea of red' and now its the 'sea of green'. I go to at least four race weekends a year and have been doing so since '88 and I can tell you that the vast majority of shirts/hats at the track are Earnhardt Jr.

As of right now, its definitely Earnhardt Jr., Gordon, then Smoke. After that I'm not sure. I would guess either Johnson, Kyle Busch, or Harvick. The Intimidator is still up there too obviously.

-Ryan