IRL: Luyendyk Wins Pep Boys IRL Most Popular Driver Award, Again
30 October 1998
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Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Luyendyk was selected as the 1998 IRL Most Popular Driver in voting by fans. MCI, On Track magazine and the IRL Crew, the league's official fan club, present the annual award. Luyendyk also won the inaugural award during the 1996-97 season.
Luyendyk will receive the 1998 IRL Most Popular Driver Award in a presentation by MCI and On Track magazine, in conjunction with the IRL Crew, at the Pep Boys Indy Racing League awards banquet Nov. 21 in Indianapolis.
"I'm really thrilled to be named the IRL's most popular driver for a second straight year," Luyendyk said. "I appreciate the support from the fans, who are the backbone of the series. Nearly 14,000 votes were cast by fans either at voting booths manned by the IRL Crew at Pep Boys IRL events, or on ballots in the MCI Online Web site and On Track magazine. Luyendyk earned 16.5 percent of the vote, outdistancing second-place Tony Stewart, who earned 14.6 percent of the vote. Billy Boat was third.
Forty-three drivers received votes during balloting, which closed Sept. 20.
"I want to thank the fans, MCI, OnTrack and the IRL Crew for this honor," Luyendyk said. "This award and my win in Vegas are a great way to end what was, at times, a tough season."
Luyendyk finished the season with a victory at the Las Vegas 500K on Oct. 11. It was his only victory of the season in the Sprint PCS-RadioShack-QUALCOMM G Force/Aurora/Firestone, vaulting him to eighth in the final season point standings.
Luyendyk is the only driver to win in each of the three seasons in league history. He won the 1996 Dura-Lube 200 in Phoenix, the 1997 Indianapolis 500 and 1997 True Value 500 at Fort Worth, Texas, and this year's season finale in Las Vegas. His four career victories are a league record.
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