Kyle Busch is voted the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver after his death, and Samantha Busch accepts the award on his behalf at the NASCAR awards banquet in Miami. Multiple outlets report the win is posthumous and note that Busch joins only a small group of drivers who have received the honor after dying.
Several reports provide background on the award’s voting. Motorsport.com and The Athletic say Chase Elliott withdrew himself from the voting and encouraged fans to vote for Busch. Other outlets focus on Busch’s career and legacy, including comparisons to past posthumous winners such as Dale Earnhardt, while noting that this is Busch’s first time winning the award and that the announcement comes during NASCAR’s awards presentation.
Yahoo Sports adds detail on the human side of the moment, describing Samantha Busch’s emotional reaction at the event and her remarks about how Busch sought the award. Across coverage, outlets differ mainly in which context they highlight—award history, Elliott’s role, or Samantha’s remarks—while agreeing on the outcome and the posthumous acceptance.
