Elliott Withdraws From NASCAR Award Vote Honoring Busch

Chase Elliott withdrew from the 2026 NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award ballot when voting opened Oct. 23, after eight straight wins from 2018 to 2025. The move backs a posthumous path for Kyle Busch, who died in May 2026 at 41 after severe bacterial pneumonia progressed into sepsis. Elliott said in May he had not fully processed the loss but favored Busch winning and whatever it took, calling the honor really deserving. He later stressed he was not guaranteed another win and was not removing himself on that basis, adding he wanted to throw support so he did not get in the way, and noting Busch's passionate fans alongside the boos. Voting runs through Nov. 9, with the winner announced Nov. 10 in Miami; fans may cast up to five votes a day per email via NASCAR.com or the app. Carson Hocevar posted an Instagram Story telling fans not to vote for him and to vote for Kyle Busch. Bill Janitz said he would love fans to rally behind Busch and that Busch talked about the award more than people would ever know. Bill Elliott withdrew in 2001 so Dale Earnhardt Sr. could win posthumously; Dale Earnhardt Jr. later won 15 straight times. Busch won 234 races across NASCAR's three national series and two Cup titles and never took Most Popular Driver in life.