Chase Elliott, the man who’s basically owned the NASCAR Most Popular Driver award for years, just pulled himself out of the running for a ninth straight win. Yep, you read that right. He’s officially withdrawn his name from consideration.
The Tribute That Stops the Sport
This isn’t just some random decision, folks. Elliott did it as a direct tribute to two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch, who passed away suddenly on May 21 at just 41 years old from complications from pneumonia. This move, it’s deep. It mirrors what Elliott’s own father did back in 2001 when Dale Earnhardt died in the Daytona 500. His dad won that award for 10 consecutive years, 16 overall, and he stepped back. Chase saw that and took note.
“Looking back on that, I just always thought that was a really cool and admirable nod to, frankly, one of his biggest rivals, and just something that I just always had a lot of respect for,” Elliott said Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway. That’s serious respect, acknowledging the history and the impact. This isn’t about presuming a win, either. Elliott said he didn’t want to assume he’d take it home, even if he’s claimed it every year since Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired.
Why Kyle Busch Deserves This
Elliott didn’t mince words about why Busch, often seen as a villain on the track, deserves this honor. “He kind of embraced that villain role, and maybe people totally didn’t like him, but they sure did make a lot of noise for him. I think we can all agree on that,” Elliott explained. He’s right, Kyle Busch always got a reaction. But Elliott saw more than just the persona.
“I just felt like because of that, and because of a lot of things that I got the chance to see behind the scenes of things that he did for his fans and how much he cared about the sport and for his supporters, I felt like that he deserved to win that vote,” Elliott added. He said he was a Kyle Busch fan growing up, watching his dominance. “Anybody my age and probably a little younger that was coming along at that point in time and got to see his dominance … if somebody sits there and tells you that they didn’t want to be like that in some way, shape or form, they are lying to your face,” Elliott said. “The guy was killing it. He was unbeatable at some places. … As a racer and a guy coming along, it was really hard not to admire just his craft and how good he was behind the wheel and some of the things he changed the game with.” That’s high praise from one champion to another.
The Entire Garage Rallies
This isn’t just a Chase Elliott thing, either. The entire Cup Series garage is feeling this, and they’re showing up. Drivers are all over social media, pushing their fans to vote for Busch. We’re talking big names here. Carson Hocevar posted on his Instagram story, “Don’t vote for me. Vote for Kyle Busch.” Kyle Larson, another huge name, put it simply on social media, “He’s got my vote.” And Chase Briscoe chimed in too, “Made my vote” for Busch.
Larson told reporters Saturday that Busch has always been deserving. “He’s always been deserving of that award,” Larson said. “Kyle’s been one of the most popular throughout his whole time in NASCAR. This would just be another way to honor him.” NASCAR itself confirmed they haven’t gotten formal requests from *other* drivers to pull their names, but the message from the drivers is loud and clear: this award is for Kyle.
The Most Popular Driver award, determined by online voting administered by NASCAR and the National Motorsports Press Association, just got a whole lot more meaningful. This vote isn’t just about who’s popular anymore; it’s a testament to a racer’s legacy and the respect he commanded throughout the sport. You gotta cast your vote, and make sure Kyle Busch’s impact is recognized.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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