MIAMI — Chase Elliott removed his name from consideration for the 2026 NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award in honor of Kyle Busch, who died in May 2026. The National Motorsports Press Association announced on Friday that voting for the award has opened.

Elliott, the driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, opted to withdraw despite having won the award eight consecutive times prior to 2026. He first received the honor in 2018.

Busch is on the ballot for the 2026 Most Popular Driver Award alongside the 34 other Cup Series drivers who declared for points and were eligible for championship contention this year. Busch competed from 2001 until his death and was most prominently identified with the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing between 2008 and 2022 in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Voting is open from 9 a.m. ET on October 23, 2026, until Noon ET on November 9, 2026. The winner will be revealed on November 10, 2026, at the NASCAR Awards banquet in Miami.