Third Time In A Row

-- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won his third straight Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award.

The announcement was made Friday during the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. A record number of fans nationwide have again voted the North Carolinian as the most popular driver.

"It's a huge honor to win the Most Popular Driver award just one time, but to win it three times in a row is pretty overwhelming. I just want to thank the fans, and I want to thank Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for the award," Earnhardt said.

Of the 4,157,443 votes cast, 1,403,544 votes were for Junior. The popular driver pulled in 1/3 of all votes!