Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his record-extending 15th consecutive - and final - NMPA Most Popular Driver Award on Thursday night.
Earnhardt was presented the award by Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards show at Wynn Las Vegas.
“Thanks for all you’ve done for the sport,’' Jarrett told Earnhardt.
“I’ve got to thank the fans,’' Earnhardt said. “Without them none of the opportunities I had in racing would have happened. It always comes back to the fans.’'
WATCH: NBCSN airs Cup Series Awards Show at 9 p.m. ET. (Watch Cup Awards Show online here)
Earnhardt, who announced in April this would be his final full-time season Cup season, will miss breaking Bill Elliott’s record of 16 career Most Popular Driver Awards.
Even so, Earnhardt dedicated his final Cup season to the fans with an appreciation tour.
Completing the top 10 in this year’s voting were (listed alphabetically): Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Larson, Danica Patrick and Martin Truex Jr.
In his speech, Busch joked to Earnhardt: “To Dale, thanks for the friendship that we’ve grown over the years, and of course for you converting Junior Nation into Rowdy fans. It’s all going to be very different getting all those cheers next year at driver intros.’'
Also, NASCAR Chairman Brian France presented Earnhardt with the Bill France Award of Excellence, an award that is not always given.
“It’s a real honor, I always tell people all the time that all I wanted to do in racing was to pay my bills and race for a long time,’' Earnhardt said of receiving the Bill France Award.
NMPA Most Popular Driver Award winners
Year Winner
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