On Friday, NASCAR officially closed the 2024 season with the annual awards banquet at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina. For the third consecutive year, the star-studded black-tie event honored drivers from the Craftsman Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series for their accomplishments during the 2024 season. Chase Elliot, Joey Logano, Rajah Karuth, Ty Majeski, and Justin Allgaier were among the top names honored at the banquet. Though several nominees were in each category, Elliot, Logano, Karuth, Majeski, and Allgaier once again proved why they’re among NASCAR’s best.
About the Award Categories
Award categories honored on Friday included the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, the Bill France Award of Excellence, the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award, the NPMA Myers Brothers Award, and the Comcast Community Champion of the Year. Each of the five awards has a unique purpose. The nominees are typically a mixture of drivers, contributors, and community members. One of the most impactful awards is the Comcast Community Champion of the Year, which honors a person working within NASCAR for making the world a better place through service and sacrifice.
The National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Most Popular Driver Award honors drivers from Craftsman, Xfinity, and the Cup Series. Additionally, the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award goes to the person who contributes to making a difference in the lives of children and their families. Contributions can be through giving or volunteering at children’s charities or organizations. Similarly, the Bill France Award of Excellence recognizes those who have made the most impact while working or driving for NASCAR. Lastly, the NMPA Myers Brothers Award honors groups or individuals whose contributions have impacted stock-car racing as a sport, but who walked away with these prestigious honors?
NMPA Most Popular Driver Award
Chase Elliot, driver of the No.9 for Hendrick Motorsports and son of veteran driver Bill Elliot, was awarded the NMPA Most Popular Driver for the seventh consecutive year. The only other driver who matches this number is the legendary Bobby Allison, who passed away on November 9 at 86. However, Elliot has a lot of work to do if he plans to match up with his father, who has received the honor 15 times.
Even so, Elliot graciously accepted his award but still struggles to understand the impact of his popularity on fans and NASCAR as a sport. He doesn’t see himself as an icon or use his time behind the wheel for popularity. For Elliot, the sport is a way to escape the stresses of the natural world, and he describes it as his haven. He understands the appeal of idolizing an athlete because he’s an avid football fan, and like everyone else, he has that one athlete he idolizes. Yet, he can’t accept placing himself in the same category even though he beat out nominees Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, and Kyle Busch.
“It’s always tough for me to accept and understand the impact that we have,” Elliott said. “I just don’t look at myself that way at all.”
“Some days, I have to remind myself that I look at it like this: I’m a huge sports fan. I love sports. And sports are a great escape for so many things that we deal with as human beings.”
NMPA Most Popular Xfinity Driver
Like Elliot, Xfinity driver Justin Allgaier was again crowned the most popular driver in Charlotte for the fifth consecutive year. Though he’s been on the track for 15 years, Allgaier celebrated the single best moment in his career history at Phoenix Raceway on November 9. With tears in his eyes and pride in his heart, the JR Motorsports driver crossed the finish line to clinch his first series title, so Friday was more or less a dual celebration.
In a heartwarming acceptance speech, the popular Xfinity driver tearfully thanked his family for their support and sacrifice. Allgaier closed his speech by toasting Xfinity’s outgoing director, Wayne Auton, who plans to step down in 2025. The driver only had a few minutes to finish the speech but thanked everyone attending the banquet. He mentioned how it was an honor to compete amongst each of his Xfinity brethren.
“To all of you in this room tonight: You are such an unbelievably talented group that pushes me to be better every single day,” said Allgaier. “It’s an honor to compete alongside of you week in and week out. This Xfinity Series is a special place, and that’s clear by what we get to do every single week at the race track.”
NMPA Most Popular Craftsman Truck Series Driver
The last of the NMPA’s most popular driver award honors went to Rajah Caruth. Caruth, driver of the No. 71 for Spire Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series, was surprised by his nomination. The young driver deserved the honor, especially after clinching his first Craftsman Championship title at Las Vegas Motorspeedway in March. The win earned him the honor of being the third African American, with Bubba Wallace and Wendell Scott, to win a national NASCAR race. It was only his second season as a Craftsman Driver, but what better way to be recognized?
NMPA Myers Brothers Award
Greg Biffle, who earned 19 wins, 13 poles, and 175 top-tens during his stint with NASCAR, running in the Nationwide, Craftsman, and Cup Series’, was honored with the Myers Brother Award. He was chosen for the award for his lasting impact on the sport and his selflessness in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Biffle spent time in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, aiding those devastated by the storm’s damage in late September. According to insiders, he boarded a helicopter to survey the damages and aided those stranded in the debris.
Biffle’s kind act led NASCAR’s “Operation Helidrop” efforts to supply survivors with food, water, and shelter. During a solo flyover of the region affected by Helene’s wrath, he stopped to help a man trapped under debris who, desperate for help, summoned him using a lone piece of mirror. Once the helicopter landed, the former NASCAR great safely rendered the help the man and those in the surrounding area required. Logano spoke fondly of Greg Biffle during a speech, noting that this standard of excellence and selflessness makes him proud to represent NASCAR as a sport.
Bill France Award of Excellence
Without excellent contributors, drivers wouldn’t have the tools to help make NASCAR into the $158 million entity it is today, and there’s no better example than David Wilson. Wilson, the principal of Toyota Racing Development (TRD), who has assisted the franchise for 35 years, received the highest honor when he accepted the Bill France Award of Excellence on Friday. It was an emotional moment for Wilson, who was announced by long-time NASCAR executive and friend Jim France.
Wilson has singlehandedly made the most impact on NASCAR, contributing to driver development and overseeing the beginning of TRD’s presence in the Series Championships with veteran Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, and 63-time cup winner Kyle Busch. Despite numerous successes under his leadership, NASCAR’s drivers and team owners will see a new face in 2025. After announcing his retirement in August, Wilson plans to pass his leadership torch to TRD General Manager Tyler Gibbs.
“I’m still soaking it in. I had no idea.” I’m beyond humbled and incredibly grateful,” Wilson said.
Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award
Unlike other Friday awards honoring drivers and franchise contributors, the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award stands out the most. Perhaps it’s because it’s the only honor awarded to a fan. An avid NASCAR fan and humanitarian, Judy Simmons was awarded for selfless volunteer work at the non-profit disaster relief organization “God’s Pit Crew.” A native of Axton, Virginia, Simmons works closely with the organization to ensure that families across the United States are aided during a significant weather event. She has worked with 1,500 disaster response team members for over six years, providing everyday essentials for families who have lost everything.
Nichole Krieger, who presented Simmons with the $100,000 award, mentioned no one is more deserving of the award. She added that she’s an incredible person who has profoundly impacted families recovering from crises with her valiant volunteers at “God’s Pit Crew.”
“Judy is an incredible person doing impactful work for families that have experienced hardship due to natural disasters, especially during the difficult times faced in Western North Carolina this year,” said Nichole Krieger. The NASCAR Foundation Vice President and Executive Director.
Final Thoughts
The NASCAR banquet in Charlotte was a night that honored service, sacrifice, and champions as it does every year. Yet, it seemed to have a different feel on Friday night and a turning point for NASCAR as a sport. There was an overwhelming sense of warmth in the room, and everyone was gracious and humbled by the support. Joey Logano and Ty Majeski presented speeches that moved audience members in recognition of their respective championship titles. In addition to the other awards received, it was a moment of celebration, and all the attendees were full of smiles.
