Popularity vote moves into playoff mode
Monday, Sep. 14, 2009
Getty Images for NASCAR
HAMPTON, GA - SEPTEMBER 05: Dale Earnhardt Jr driver of the #88 National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet, stands by his car during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5, 2009 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
AP
Richard Petty shakes the hands of soldiers from the Virginia National Guard's 1710th Transportation Company before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chevy Rock & Roll 400 auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
AP
Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes his way through a greeting committee of National Guard soldiers prior to the.NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' Chevy Rock & Roll 400 auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Getty Images
HAMPTON, GA - SEPTEMBER 05: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, walks to his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5, 2009 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
Richard Petty signs autographs and greets fans before the start of the race at Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
NASCAR's Chase field is set for the 10-race run to the end of the season and so are the finalists in the most popular driver balloting.
The Sprint Cup playoff features the top-12 drivers, but there are 10 finalists now competing for NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award.
The National Motorsports Press Association administers the annual vote and presents the award, among others.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. collected the award for a sixth time last year. He has won it more than anyone except 16-time winner Bill Elliott and nine-time winner Richard Petty.
Still in the popularity contest over the final 10 weeks of voting are Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson.
NASCAR fans have been voting at www.chexmostpopulardriver.com/ since the season-opening Daytona 500 in February. The vote count will be reset to zero for the 10 drivers remaining.
Voting will end Nov. 23 at 11:59 PM Central Time, the day after the season finale at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway. The winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in Las Vegas in December.
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