The Joe Littlejohn Award is presented each year to a person or persons, or an organization, in recognition for or outstanding service to the NMPA. The recipient is determined by the president of the NMPA. It is named after the former track owner from Spartanburg, S.C. Littlejohn is credited with two career NASCAR starts, but raced extensively before the formation of NASCAR.
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Pocono Raceway |
| 2022 | Doug Rice |
| 2021 | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| 2020 | Ben White |
| 2019 | Anne Edwards |
| 2018 | Kenny Bruce |
| 2017 | Deb Williams |
| 2016 | Bob Pockrass, ESPN.com |
| 2015 | Sprint |
| 2014 | Kerry Tharp, NASCAR |
| 2013 | Grant Lynch, Talladega Superspeedway |
| 2012 | Jeff Dennison, Breaking Limits |
| 2011 | Lori Worley, Bristol Motor Speedway |
| 2010 | Dan Zacharias, PCG Campbell |
| 2009 | Chris Browning, Darlington Raceway |
| 2008 | Goody’s |
| 2007 | Kenny Bruce, NASCAR Scene |
| 2006 | Rea White, NASCAR Scene |
| 2005 | Jim Hunter, NASCAR |
| 2004 | Denny Darnell, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. |
| 2003 | Bill Joyner, ConocoPhillips |
| 2002 | Ed Shull, Gatorade |
| 2001 | Steve Waid, Stree & Smiths Sports Group |
| 2000 | Len Thatcher & Michael Payne, NASCAR Stats |
| 1999 | Dick Thompson, Martinsville Speedway |
| 1998 | Drs. Joe & Rose Mattioli, Pocono Raceway |
| 1997 | Steve & William McCall, Darlington Raceway |
| 1996 | Sharon Post |
| 1995 | Bill Kiser, Darlington Raceway |
| 1994 | Kevin Triplett, NASCAR |
| 1993 | Bridget Holloman, Darlington Raceway |
| 1992 | Jim Foster, International Speedway Corp. |
| 1991 | Judy Tucker |
| 1990 | Wayne Estes, Ford; Ray Cooper, Chevrolet |
| 1989 | Bob Latford, Budweiser Racing |
| 1988 | Harold Pearson, Richmond Times-Dispatch |
| 1987 | Bob Kelly, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. |
| 1986 | Bob Moore, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. |
| 1985 | Goody’s Manufacturing Co. |
| 1984 | Phil Nicholas, Gatorade |
| 1983 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| 1982 | Bob Moore, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.; Pat Howell |
| 1981 | B.J. Currie |
| 1980 | Ralph Salvino, STP; Ralph Seagraves, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.; Art Hammerstrom, Union Oil Co. |
| 1979 | Alexis Leras, NASCAR News Bureau; Purolator |
| 1978 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. |
| 1977 | Benny Phillips, High Point Enterprise |
| 1976 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. |
| 1975 | Jeff Byrd, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. |
| 1974 | Herman Hickman, North Carolina Speedway |
| 1973 | Coca-Cola |
| 1972 | Union Oil Co. |
| 1971 | Bill Kiser, Darlington Raceway |
| 1970 | Joe Littlejohn |
