The NMPA Most Popular Driver Award is one of the longest-running awards presented annually by the National Motorsports Press Association. It is the only major NASCAR award to be determined solely by fan vote.
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Chase Elliott |
| 2024 | Chase Elliott |
| 2023 | Chase Elliott |
| 2022 | Chase Elliott |
| 2021 | Chase Elliott |
| 2020 | Chase Elliott |
| 2019 | Chase Elliott |
| 2018 | Chase Elliott |
| 2017 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2016 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2015 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2014 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2013 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2012 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2011 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2010 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2009 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2008 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2007 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2006 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2005 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2004 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2003 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 2002 | Bill Elliott |
| 2001 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 2000 | Bill Elliott |
| 1999 | Bill Elliott |
| 1998 | Bill Elliott |
| 1997 | Bill Elliott |
| 1996 | Bill Elliott |
| 1995 | Bill Elliott |
| 1994 | Bill Elliott |
| 1993 | Bill Elliott |
| 1992 | Bill Elliott |
| 1991 | Bill Elliott |
| 1990 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1989 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1988 | Bill Elliott |
| 1987 | Bill Elliott |
| 1986 | Bill Elliott |
| 1985 | Bill Elliott |
| 1984 | Bill Elliott |
| 1983 | Bobby Allison |
| 1982 | Bobby Allison |
| 1981 | Bobby Allison |
| 1980 | David Pearson |
| 1979 | David Pearson |
| 1978 | Richard Petty |
| 1977 | Richard Petty |
| 1976 | Richard Petty |
| 1975 | Richard Petty |
| 1974 | Richard Petty |
| 1973 | Bobby Allison |
| 1972 | Bobby Allison |
| 1971 | Bobby Allison |
| 1970 | Richard Petty |
| 1969 | Bobby Isaac |
| 1967 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1966 | Darel Dieringer |
| 1965 | Fred Lorenzen |
| 1964 | Richard Petty |
| 1963 | Fred Lorenzen |
| 1962 | Richard Petty |
| 1961 | Joe Weatherly |
| 1960 | Rex White |
| 1959 | Jack Smith |
| 1958 | Glen Wood |
| 1957 | Fireball Roberts |
| 1956 | Curtis Turner |
| 1955 | Tim Flock |
| 1954 | Lee Petty |
| 1953 | Lee Petty |
