“Really Deserves an Award Like That!” Chase Elliott Pull out From Most Popular Driver Ballot in Favor of Kyle Busch

Owing to the fact that Chase Elliott inherited one of the biggest and most passionate fanbases from his father Bill Elliott, he has been the winner of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver since Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s retirement. He was the front-runner to win the award this year as well, but one move from the HMS driver in honor of late Kyle Busch has changed everything.

The 2020 Cup champion with Hendrick Motorsports, withdrew himself from the ballot, with the goal of helping Busch win the award for the first time ever. The two times champion passed away in May after getting over severe sepsis. The No:9 Chevy driver is following his father Bill Elliott’s path, as the Hall of Famer withdrew himself from the 2001 ballot to honor late Dale Earnhardt Sr.

The National Motorsports Press Association announced Friday that 2026 Most Popular Driver Award voting has opened — without the eight-time reigning NASCAR Cup Series winner on the ballot. Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, opted to remove his name from consideration in honor of Kyle Busch, who died in May.

NMPA and NASCAR announced via a statement.

Talking about the decision, Chase Elliott asserted that he didn’t step back because he was guaranteed to win, but he did to make sure the late RCR driver is honored. The champion driver deserved to the win the award more than anyone and if not for the villain role he was forced to take over, he would have won the award long-ago. The champion didn’t want himself to in the way of Kyle Busch getting honored.

I’m not guaranteed the win, so let’s make that clear, number one. That’s not me saying me, ‘oh, it’s mine’ and remove myself for that reason. I just think it’s one of those things that Kyle is a guy who really deserves an award like that. He’s a guy that’s had a lot of fans throughout the course of his career. I know the boos, and it was fun, but a lot of supporters, a lot of really passionate fans. Just feel like he deserves to win the award, truthfully…I just want to throw my support to make sure that I didn’t get in the way of that.

Chase Elliott said back in May about a possible withdrawal.

Chase Elliott goes in-depth about pulling his name from NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award in light of the passing of Kyle Busch and pledging his support for Rowdy winning the award in 2026: “I’m not guaranteed the win, so let’s make that clear, number one. That’s not me saying me, ‘oh, it’s mine’ and remove myself for that reason. I just think it’s one of those things that Kyle is a guy who really deserves an award like that. He’s a guy that’s had a lot of fans throughout the course of his career. I know the boos, and it was fun, but a lot of supporters, a lot of really passionate fans. “Just feel like he deserves to win the award, truthfully. I obviously don’t know what’s going to happen this year, but I just want to throw my support to make sure that I didn’t get in the way of that.” Link via @Frontstretch: https://t.co/FSJgFIBzn8

— Jamie Oakes (@JamieOakes_) May 31, 2026

Kyle Busch always wanted to win the award

One thing Kyle Busch always missed in his career is the opportunity to experience the true love from the NASCAR fans like Elliotts or the Earnhardt’s. Though he was able to attract more fans to his following his RCR move, there was still significant hate towards him from some in the community.

Bill Janitz, who has been Busch’s PR personal for over 15 years talked about how much the champion dreamed of getting recognized by the community one day. Talking to Kaitlyn Vincie on the People Who Race segment, he revealed this factor to the public, including the champion wanting to win the MPDA.

One of the conversations that’s happened since he passed has been about Most Popular Drive. Chase Elliott was so gracious in talking about that and saying he’d love to see Kyle win it. It’s kind of crazy because, as much as Kyle wore that black hat, he didn’t really love it…I think he believed that, with everything he had accomplished and how successful he’d been, people would eventually get behind him.

Bill Janitz said.

If the veteran was still alive and racing, he might have won the award till retirement. It would be interesting to see how Elliott stepping out of the race is going help Busch and how the community is going show respect to one of it’s best racer ever.

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