Earnhardt wins most popular driver award

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. has tied Bill Elliott's record of 10 consecutive wins as NASCAR's most popular driver.

Earnhardt won the award Thursday at the Myers Brothers Luncheon at The Encore at Wynn. The award is presented annually by the National Motorsports Press Association.

Fans vote from February through September on 10 most popular drivers. The field was then reset and fans voted again through the final 10 weeks of the season.

More than 934,000 votes were cast and Earnhardt beat Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart.

Elliott and Richard Petty are the only other drivers to win it more than five times. Elliott holds the overall record with 16 most popular awards.

Earnhardt missed two races during the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship this season with a concussion.