The crowd at NASCAR’s season-ending ceremony in Miami did not cheer for a champion that night. They cheered for a man who had already passed away. Fans voted Kyle Busch the winner of the 2026 Most Popular Driver Award, a prize that, during his life, he had not been able to win. This win came after his death, making it a final tribute rather than a celebration of a current season. According to the National Motorsports Press Association, Busch garnered 261,612 votes, achieving a support level unmatched by any other driver. Kyle Larson finished second, and Carson Hocevar took third place.
A Trophy That Eluded Him For Years
Busch won Cup championships in 2015 and 2019. He earned 63 victories at NASCAR’s top level. He also set a NASCAR record of 234 victories across the three national series. However, the popularity trophy remained unattainable until 2026. His competitive side refused to let the loss go. He even called NASCAR after a past event to find out how close he was to winning. His wife spoke at length about how much this award would have meant to him, saying, “Winning the Most Popular Driver, he wanted it so bad. He would try to rally the fans, and there was one year I think either he didn’t see Chase [Elliott] out here, or maybe Chase didn’t come, and he was like, ‘I got it. I got it,’ and he was so excited. And then he didn’t. And so he called NASCAR, and he was like, ‘I want to see the numbers. How far off was I? Was I close?’ Kyle was very competitive, and he took this no differently.”
The win felt different from the records he achieved during his career because fans alone decided the outcome.
Busch never tried to please everyone. He raced hard, spoke honestly, and celebrated with energy. Sometimes he seemed to enjoy the boos as much as the cheers. In her acceptance speech, Samantha kept his true character intact while reflecting on that history. “Kyle never changed who he was to make people like him.” For years, his personality made him one of NASCAR’s most divisive stars. Spectators filled the stands merely to witness Rowdy’s next move. Even when they disliked him, they never ignored him.
Samantha further explained that, “There’s been so much love for Kyle from this sport over the past several months, and I wish more than anything that he could be here to see it. … What makes this award extra special to me is what it gives to Brexton and Lennix. They miss their dad in ways that I can’t even begin to explain, but through this, they get to see another side of the dad that they love so much.
Chase Elliott Helped Turn The Tide
The shift in public opinion did not happen by accident. Chase Elliott, having secured eight consecutive Most Popular Driver Awards between 2018 and 2025, removed himself from the 2026 ballot. He asked his fans to support Busch instead. Following years of winning the vote, Bill Elliott similarly withdrew in 2001 after Dale Earnhardt’s passing. Earnhardt claimed his sole and initial Most Popular Driver award during that specific year. Chase explained that Busch’s public image did not show the whole story. He saw how Busch connected with people who hated him on television.
Busch stood as only the second driver to secure the Cup award posthumously. Dale Earnhardt earned it in 2001 following his fatal Daytona 500 crash. From Darrell Waltrip’s 1990 victory onward, only drivers bearing the surnames Earnhardt or Elliott had claimed the award. Samantha concluded the acceptance by offering the simplest explanation for why the trophy fit. “There was no Rowdy without the fans.” The ceremony took place on Tuesday, marking the end of a long journey for a driver who finally got the love he deserved.
