NASCAR Fans Are Divided Over 2024 Team Owner of the Year Vote
As the 2024 NASCAR season nears its end, fans are left scratching their heads over who will be awarded the prestigious Team Owner of the Year title. With several teams in the running for the honor, a tight race has sparked confusion and debate among fans, who are questioning the transparency and significance of the voting process.
Currently, the top contenders for the award include Rick Hendrick’s Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI Racing, and JTG Daugherty Racing. According to recent vote tallies, Hendrick Motorsports leads the pack with 4067 million votes, closely followed by Joe Gibbs Racing with 4042 million votes, 23XI Racing at 4002 million votes, and JTG Daugherty Racing with 3057 million votes. However, with such small margins separating the top three teams, fans are left wondering how the final decision will play out—and why votes are being taken so early.
The voting process for Team Owner of the Year has traditionally been an important aspect of NASCAR’s end-of-season awards, but this year’s numbers are raising eyebrows. While the fan vote typically accounts for a portion of the overall decision, the fact that the final vote count has been so closely tracked throughout the year has led to confusion. Many fans believe that this early, ongoing tally does not adequately reflect the full performance of the teams over the course of the season, and are questioning whether it’s fair to crown a winner so soon.
“I can’t believe they’re letting these votes be counted like this,” said one fan on social media. “It’s too early. How can you give the award before the season is even over? A lot can change in the final races.”
Hendrick Motorsports, led by the legendary Rick Hendrick, has long been a dominant force in NASCAR, with drivers like Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and William Byron keeping the team at the top. However, the close competition from Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing has made the decision harder to call. Joe Gibbs Racing, under the guidance of Joe Gibbs, has consistently fielded championship-caliber cars, with drivers like Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin delivering strong performances. Meanwhile, 23XI Racing, co-owned by Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan, has been rapidly improving, with drivers like Bubba Wallace showing significant progress.
JTG Daugherty Racing, while not as high-profile as the other teams, has continued to exceed expectations this season, further adding to the complexity of the voting. Fans have praised the team’s ability to compete with limited resources, making them an underdog contender.
The controversy surrounding the early voting has led to calls for more transparency in the process. Fans are advocating for the final vote to be taken after the last race of the season to ensure the decision truly reflects the entire year of racing.
With the season winding down, all eyes will be on the final results and whether any of the top teams can clinch the Team Owner of the Year title. As the race for the award continues, NASCAR fans are eager to see which team will ultimately come out on top and whether the voting process will be reformed in the future.
