Elliott Wins 14th Most Popular Driver Award

NEW YORK (Dec. 3, 1999) - For the ninth straight year and 14th time overall, Bill Elliott, owner and driver of the McDonald's Ford Taurus, was voted NASCAR's Most Popular Driver. The 1999 fan balloting was conducted by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA).

Except for 1989 and 1990, Elliott has won the award every year since 1984. The only driver close to Elliott with most popular wins is retired great, Richard Petty, with nine.

The announcement was made Friday (Dec. 3) during the NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast here at the Waldorf-Astoria.

"The fans have stuck with me through thick and thin, and I continue to thank them from the bottom of my heart," said Elliott. "When things aren't going right, it's the fans who give you that extra shot of adrenaline. They are the backbone of this sport and that's why I am deeply honored to have won this award. I owe our fans and fan club a great deal of thanks."

Elliott, a former NASCAR Winston Cup champion (1988), has 40 Winston Cup victories and career earnings of more than $20 million.