Kyle Busch posthumously voted the most popular driver in the NASCAR Cup Series for 2026

In a touching tribute to the late Kyle Busch, NASCAR announced on Tuesday that the fallen driver would be posthumously named the most popular driver in the Cup Series for 2026. The honor was bestowed upon Busch at the season-ending awards banquet held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. Samantha Busch, Kyle’s widow, was present to accept the trophy on behalf of her husband.

This marked the first time Busch had been recognized with the award during his 25-year career that encompassed all three national series. Busch, who died at the age of 41 in May after pneumonia progressed into sepsis, stunned the NASCAR community with his sudden passing. His death prompted weekly tributes from the racing community, with Chase Elliott, who had won the previous eight most popular driver awards, requesting his exclusion from consideration for 2026.

Busch became the first driver not named Earnhardt or Elliott to win the fan vote since Dale Earnhardt in 1990. Samantha Busch expressed her gratitude, saying that her husband’s legacy would have been proud to see the impact he had on NASCAR and the fans who loved it. She commended her fellow drivers for their support in voting for Kyle and emphasized the importance of fan respect.

Samantha concluded her speech by acknowledging the fans, whom she believed were the backbone of her husband’s success, stating, "There will never be another Rowdy because there is truly no one else like Kyle." Throughout his career, Busch secured 234 wins across NASCAR’s top three national series, a record that remains unparalleled and earned him a spot in the first ballot Hall of Fame.