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11/22/2011 |
RECORD
BALLOTING DECIDES MOST POPULAR DRIVER AWARDS
Winners Announced
For Prestigious Awards In NASCAR Regional Touring Series |
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There
was a record turnout this year as fans made their
selection for the Most Popular Driver Awards in each
of the six NASCAR regional touring series.
The Most Popular Driver Award winners for 2011 are:
· Chase Elliott, NASCAR K&N
Pro Series East
· Moses Smith, NASCAR K&N Pro
Series West
· Jason White, NASCAR Canadian
Tire Series
· Jorge Arteaga, NASCAR Mexico
Series presented by Toyota
· Justin Bonsignore, NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour
· Jason Myers, NASCAR Whelen
Southern Modified Tour
More than 136,000 votes were cast in the balloting,
which opened in mid-July and ended on Monday. It was
more than double the previous high of 50,743 in
2008, the first year the Most Popular Driver voting
was conducted online. This marked the first year in
which voters were able to see the totals after they
voted.
“The growing fan base of NASCAR’s regional touring
series is reflected in this year’s record voting for
the Most Popular Driver Awards,” said George
Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and
touring series. “It’s great to have the fans
directly involved in the selection process for this
prestigious award.”
Elliott, son of 16-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Most Popular Driver Bill Elliott, led the way with a
record vote total. The second-generation driver from
Dawsonville, Ga., is coming off his rookie season in
the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East – where he was the
first 15-year-old to compete in the series.
Smith of Tempe, Ariz., coming off a career-best
third-place finish in the championship standings,
won his fourth consecutive Most Popular Driver title
in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
Third in the balloting among the regional touring
series was the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour,
where Myers took the Most Popular Driver Award. The
Walnut Cove, N.C., driver is tied for the most
career starts in the tour.
For Bonsignore of Holtsville, N.Y., his selection as
this year’s Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour caps a season in which the 2010 Rookie
of the Year scored his first career win.
The Most Popular Driver title in the NASCAR Canadian
Tire Series went to White, a former professional
speed skier from Sun Peaks, B.C., who finished
eighth in the 2011 championship standings.
Arteaga took the Most Popular Driver Award in the
NASCAR Mexico Series. The 20,000 votes cast nearly
tripled its previous high turnout, and was second
highest among the regional touring series.
The Most Popular Driver Award winners will be
recognized at the NASCAR Night of Champions Touring
Awards Gala on Dec. 10 at the Charlotte (N.C.)
Convention Center's Crown Ballroom in the NASCAR
Hall of Fame. |
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Source: Jason Christley / NASCAR
Posted: November
22, 2011 |
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