Kyle Busch posthumously wins Most Popular Driver award

NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch died on May 21. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kyle Busch posthumously wins NASCAR's Most Popular Driver award

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Nov 10, 2026 8:13 PM ET

Kyle Busch was always a polarizing figure to NASCAR fans during his career, but he posthumously earned the Most Popular Driver award on Tuesday.

Busch, who died at age 41 on May 21, won 63 Cup Series races and two championships during his career and is the winningest driver in NASCAR history across the sport's top-three divisions.

Busch never won a Most Popular Driver award prior to this season, but perennial fan favorite Chase Elliott took his name off the ballot in October and encouraged his legions of fans to vote for Busch, who will soon be a NASCAR Hall of Famer.

"What makes this award extra special to me is what it gives to Brexton and Lennix," said Busch's wife, Samantha, who accepted the award on behalf of her late husband, according to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic. "They miss their dad in ways that I can't even begin to explain. And through this, they get to see another side of the dad that they love so much: How he made people feel, how much he meant to others, and just how special he really was. And as their mom, that means everything to me."

For Kyle, and all of Rowdy Nation. https://t.co/XYK7vrCUDP
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 11, 2026

Busch's sudden death led to an outpouring of support from fans, even those whose favorite drivers he sparred with over the years. Busch may not have ever been NASCAR's most popular driver during his life, but even those who booed him mercilessly were a part of Rowdy Nation this year.

It's only fitting that Busch, like Dale Earnhardt in 2001, posthumously received the award.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from Arkansas, the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorbacks basketball. He's a member of the National Motorsports Press Association and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Samuel attends the University of Arkansas.

More must-reads: