The 2026 NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award voting is officially open, but one familiar name will be missing from the ballot. Chase Elliott, the eight-time defending winner, has chosen not to compete for the award this year in honor of Kyle Busch, who died in May.
The National Motorsports Press Association announced Friday that fans can begin voting for their favorite drivers. Elliott, who drives the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, decided to remove himself from consideration as a way to honor Busch.
Elliott’s decision is a major change for an award he has won every year since 2018. It also gives fans a chance to support other drivers as the 2026 NASCAR season comes to an end.
Chase Elliott’s History With the Award
Elliott first won the Most Popular Driver Award in 2018, one year after Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired from full-time racing. Earnhardt Jr. had won the award for 15 straight years before stepping away from competition.
Since then, Elliott has continued to earn strong support from NASCAR fans, winning the award eight consecutive times.
The award also has a special connection to Elliott’s family. His father, Bill Elliott, is a NASCAR Hall of Famer who won the Most Popular Driver Award a record 16 times.
By choosing not to appear on this year’s ballot, Chase Elliott is giving other drivers an opportunity to receive the honor while remembering Kyle Busch.
Kyle Busch Is Eligible for the Award
Although Elliott will not be on the ballot, Busch is among the drivers eligible to win the 2026 Most Popular Driver Award.
Busch is listed alongside the other 34 Cup Series drivers who declared for points and were eligible to compete for the championship this season.
The award is decided by fan voting, allowing NASCAR supporters to recognize the driver they most enjoy watching and supporting.
With Elliott out of the running, fans will have a different group of drivers to choose from as they cast their votes this year.
How to Vote for the 2026 Most Popular Driver
NASCAR fans can vote online at NASCAR.com/mostpopulardriver or through the NASCAR Mobile App.
Here are the main voting rules:
- Fans can vote for one driver with each ballot submission.
- Voting is limited to five submissions per day for each email address.
- All five daily votes can go to different drivers or the same driver.
- NASCAR Fan Rewards members can earn 25 points for their first vote through the Rewards dashboard.
The voting period began at 9 a.m. ET on Friday, October 23, and will close at noon ET on Monday, November 9.
That means fans will have until the day after the Cup Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to submit their votes.
When Will NASCAR Announce the Winner?
The 2026 Most Popular Driver Award winner will be announced on November 10 during the NASCAR Awards banquet in Miami, following Championship Weekend.
Before the winner is revealed, NASCAR will also share updates on the top 10 and top five drivers in each series.
These updates will give fans a better idea of which drivers are receiving the most support as voting moves toward its final days.
A Different Year for the Most Popular Driver Award
Chase Elliott’s decision makes the 2026 Most Popular Driver Award race different from the past eight years. Instead of trying to extend his winning streak, Elliott is stepping aside to honor Kyle Busch.
With voting now open, NASCAR fans can show their support for the drivers who made an impact on them throughout the season.
The winner will join a long list of drivers who have received one of NASCAR’s most recognized fan-voted honors. This year, however, the award will also carry a special meaning as fans remember Busch and Elliott’s decision to honor him.
