The 2025 National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Awards continued its incredible streak, being clinched by Chase Elliott for the 8th consecutive season. This remarkable run further solidified the Hendrick Motorsports driver as the undeniable fan favorite of the current generation. Elliott’s victory was overwhelming, with reports indicating he received a dominant 56% of the total votes cast, easily outdistancing fellow contenders including Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, and Denny Hamlin.

Upon receiving the honor, Elliott was quick to express his profound gratitude, though he focused on the personal connection rather than the sheer volume of votes. Elliott recorded a video message and issued a statement thanking his supporters, stating, “Thank you for taking the time out of your day… and support us in that way and support me in that way, but man it’s so much more than the votes… It truly is incredible and every year, it blows me away to travel to parts of the country that you would never think that people are that passionate about what we’re doing.”

However, some fans could not help but notice his physical absence from the annual NASACR Awards banquet in Scottsdale, Arizona, where the champion, Kyle Larson, and other finalists were honored. Elliott, who failed to advance beyond the Round of 8, was not seen at the formal ceremony. He accepted the award via a pre-recorded video message, a choice that immediately drew sharp criticism from portions of the media and the fanbase. This non-attendance led to speculation that Elliott either prioritized his offseason or viewed the fan-voted honor as secondary to the championship accolades celebrated at the event.

This decision starkly contrasts with the tradition established by previous winners who viewed the award as an integral, non-negotiable part of the season’s conclusion. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won the award 15 consecutive times, was a perennial fixture at the banquet, where he often delivered lengthy, heartfelt speeches that focused entirely on his gratitude to the fans. Similarly, Bill Elliott fully embraced the role, and in the eras where the award was often presented at the Myers Brothers Luncheon, he was always present to accept the trophy, treating it with the utmost respect.

For many long-time observers, a driver in the top 10 in points and winner of the fan vote skipping the ceremony suggests a devaluation of an award that once held major prominence in the sport’s media narrative. But a vocal group of fans insists the award should correlate more closely with the previous season’s on-track excellence and engagement, criticizing the perennial win as an indicator of an insular fan culture.

Fans accuse Chase Elliott of disrespecting the honor

One fan sarcastically commented, “Accepting his award on the toilet.” This sentiment expresses the profound frustration and perceived disrespect felt by critics who viewed his non-attendance as a slight against the fan-voted honor. While another added to the sentiment, saying, “LOL! you could have finished the deuce before sending this.”

Some fans stated, “Hopefully one day our fan base will regain its sanity. Let this year be the last.” Critics often cite the highly committed, multi-voting system utilized by Chase Elliott’s base, dubbed the ‘Dawsonville mafia,’ as an instance of effective ballot-stuffing that distorts the outcome, especially when Elliott received the majority of the votes despite finishing only 8th in the Cup Series standings.

One fan reminisced, “Wish you would have been at the awards ceremony to receive it in-person. I guess this speaks to how far our sport has fallen. Top 8 in pts, teammate of the champion, & winner of the MPDA doesnt show up to the championship banq. Even the drivers no longer take our sport seriously.” Prior to the Playoff era and the Championship 4 mandate, the year-end celebration specifically required the top 10 drivers in the final standings to attend the formal ceremony, which was often held in high-profile locations like New York City or Las Vegas. This ensured that a significant portion of the elite field, including the MPD, was physically present.

While another fan opined, “I didn’t vote for you. You got the personality of a wet plastic sack. You must be crazy good at hypnosis because the folks voting for you are under a spell for sure.” As an introverted and reserved figure who often offers a corporate answer to the media, his traits often contrast sharply with the boisterous personalities of previous fan favorites like Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Tony Stewart. This reserved nature has led a vocal contingent of critics to label him as “boring” or lacking passion, particularly during periods when his on-track performance is inconsistent.

But all-in-all, Chase Elliott begins his 9th year with the honor, the only certainty is that the MPD Award will remain the ultimate flashpoint for fans debating loyalty, performance, and the changing face of NASCAR’s culture.