Earnhardt Jr. named most popular driver for ninth time

Autoracing Betting Lines

12/01/2011 - Las Vegas, NV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s popularity in NASCAR is showing no signs of letting up.

For the ninth consecutive year, Earnhardt Jr. received the National Motorsports Press Association Wheaties Fuel Most Popular Driver Award. He was presented the trophy at the NMPA's Myers Brothers Award luncheon on Thursday in Las Vegas.

"As for the most popular driver award, I'm glad they didn't take the votes solely on the last race [Homestead], because it would have gone to Tony Stewart," Earnhardt Jr said during his acceptance speech.

Stewart will be honored for his third Sprint Cup Series championship during Friday night's NASCAR Awards Ceremony at Wynn Las Vegas. He won the season- finale at Homestead to claim the title.

Fans cast more than 1.5 million total votes throughout the 2011 season. Earnhardt Jr. beat out nine other finalists (in alphabetical order): Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte and Stewart.

Earnhardt Jr. made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship for the first time in three years. But he has not won a Cup race since June 2008 at Michigan (129 races ago). He won the pole position for this year's Daytona 500.

"I'm pretty sure my fans wear this award as a badge of honor, and they should, because the award is their's," Earnhardt Jr. added. "Their efforts allow me to be here today to accept it, so I want to not only thank them but congratulate them on winning the ninth consecutive most popular driver award."

Bill Elliott and Richard Petty are the only drivers who have won the award more times than Earnhardt Jr. Elliott took the honors a record 16 times, including 10 straight from 1991-2000. Petty received nine awards.

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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook credit cards needs.