From Autoweek · Deb Williams · · 1m 10s
Kyle Busch Wins NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award
Kyle Busch, who died in May, finally receives NASCAR's Most Popular Driver award posthumously after years of wanting it.
In brief
Kyle Busch, who died in May, finally receives NASCAR's Most Popular Driver award posthumously after years of wanting it. Kyle Busch won NASCAR's Most Popular Driver award posthumously after his death in May, fulfilling a long-held wish. Originally reported by Autoweek.
Kyle Busch wins posthumous award
Kyle Busch received the National Motorsports Press Association’s NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver award after his death.
“I want to cry thinking about it. He wanted that award so bad for so many years”
Kyle Busch’s wife shares emotional story
Samantha Busch said Kyle would try to rally fans but never got the award despite his efforts.
“He would try to rally the fans, and there was one year, i think, that either he didn’t see chase (elliott) out here or maybe chase didn’t come, and he was like, ‘i got it. i got it.’”
Kyle Busch dies in May
Kyle Busch died May 21 after pneumonia progressed into sepsis.
“Sadly, busch, like seven-time nascar cup champion dale earnhardt, won the award in the year the sport bid him farewell”
Chase Elliott supports Kyle Busch
Chase Elliott removed his name from the ballot to vote for Kyle Busch, mirroring his father’s 2001 decision.
“Earlier this year, chase elliot, who had won the award for eight consecutive years, requested that his name be removed from the ballot and asked fans to vote for busch”
Drivers rally fans for Kyle Busch
NASCAR drivers united to encourage fans to vote for Kyle Busch posthumously.
“i think a lot of people see the competitors, they don’t like each other, but at the end of the day, nascar is a big family”
Kyle Busch’s legacy with family
Kyle Busch’s son Brexton and his impact on the Comcast Bundle of Joy Fund were highlighted by his wife.
“he was such a big part of this sport, and it was just beautiful to hear in the last couple of months the impact that he had”
Posthumous co-champions named
Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle were named co-champions of the 2026 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award.
“in addition to the most popular driver award, busch and greg biffle were posthumously named the first-ever co-champions of the 2026 comcast community champion of the year award”
The key point
Kyle Busch won NASCAR's Most Popular Driver award posthumously after his death in May, fulfilling a long-held wish.
