NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award voting for 2026 is underway with Chase Elliott removing his name from consideration, while other drivers work to steer support toward the late Kyle Busch. Coverage across outlets links Elliott’s decision to respect and deference to Busch after his death in May.
ESPN and Yahoo Sports both describe Elliott’s withdrawal as an act of honoring Busch’s legacy, while also noting that Kyle Larson has joined efforts to encourage fans to vote accordingly. Motorsport.com and The Athletic add background on Busch’s achievements and Elliott’s history with the award, while emphasizing that the campaign is aimed at shifting fan voting rather than competing directly for the same honor.
Overall, outlets largely agree on the core facts: Elliott is not on the ballot, Busch is the focus of a fan-vote push, and Larson is reported to be involved. Differences are mostly in how much history and career context each outlet includes, rather than in the basic storyline.
