Elliott Withdraws From NASCAR Award Vote Honoring Busch

Chase Elliott has withdrawn from the 2026 NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award ballot, stepping aside after winning the honor for eight consecutive years to support a posthumous award for Kyle Busch, who died in May. Elliott said Busch deserved the recognition because of his passionate fan base. Voting runs through Nov. 9, and the winner will be announced Nov. 10; with Elliott out, a different driver will win for the first time since 2017. Elliott’s father, Bill, also withdrew from consideration in 2001 to support a posthumous award for Dale Earnhardt Sr., which Dale Earnhardt Jr. later won 15 consecutive times.