Kyle Busch wins NASCAR Cup Most Popular Driver award posthumously

Kyle Busch has been named the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver, becoming only the second driver to win the award after his death, following Dale Earnhardt. Busch's wife, Samantha, attended the banquet and accepted the award on his behalf.

After Busch's death, Chase Elliott, who had won the award every year since 2018, withdrew his name from consideration and urged fans to vote for Busch. Carson Hocevar, who had seen rapid growth in his fanbase, did not withdraw but also encouraged his supporters to vote for Busch. Busch is the first driver not named Earnhardt or Elliott to win the award since Darrell Waltrip in 1990.

Busch won a record 234 races across the Cup, Xfinity and Truck series. He died at the age of 41 from pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, days after his final win in a Truck race.