Sports · Motorsport · 9 hrs ago
Chase Elliott withdraws from NASCAR award vote to support Kyle Busch
Chase Elliott has withdrawn from NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver voting to support Kyle Busch, who died in May.
Busch was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and won 234 races across NASCAR’s three national divisions.
Elliott has won the award every year since 2018, and said Busch deserves the recognition for his career and loyal fans.
Elliott’s withdrawal leaves voters free to choose Busch for the award posthumously.
His father, Bill Elliott, also removed himself from consideration in 2001 to help Dale Earnhardt win after Earnhardt’s death.
Voting runs through November 9, and the winner is due to be announced November 10.
Chase Elliott has withdrawn from consideration for NASCAR’s 2026 Most Popular Driver Award.
Elliott said he wants to support the late Kyle Busch, whom he believes deserves the honor.
Busch died in May after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis.
Elliott has won the award every year since 2018.
Voting runs through Nov. 9, with the winner set to be announced Nov. 10.
- Who
- Chase Elliott withdrew; he is backing the late Kyle Busch.
- What
- Elliott removed his name from consideration for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award.
- When
- The 2026 voting opened on Friday, Oct. 23.
- Where
- The award is for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver; voting is open to the public.
- Why
- Elliott said Busch deserves the award and he did not want to get in the way of that.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis.
The National Motorsports Press Association announced that voting had opened.
Chase Elliott opted out of consideration and voiced support for Busch.
Voting is scheduled to close.
The award winner is scheduled to be revealed.
- Elliott’s award streak
- Won every year since 2018
- Busch’s death
- May 2026
- Voting closes
- Nov. 9, 2026
- Winner announcement
- Nov. 10, 2026
- Bill Elliott’s record
- 16 Most Popular Driver awards
3 sources
What people are saying
I just think it's one of those things that Kyle is a guy who really deserves an award like that.
He's a guy that's had a lot of fans throughout the course of his career
I obviously don't know what's going to happen this year, but I just want to throw my support to make sure that I didn't get in the way of that.