Kyle Busch posthumously wins NASCAR Cup Most Popular Driver Award

Kyle Busch was named the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver, making him the first driver to win the award posthumously. Chase Elliott had previously won the award every year from 2018 to 2025, but withdrew his name from consideration and encouraged fans to vote for Kyle this season. At the NASCAR Award's banquet in Miami, Samantha Busch, Kyle's wife, spoke about Kyle's desire to win the award, revealing that he had rallied fans in hopes of winning it and even asked NASCAR to see how close he had been.

On the night of the award ceremony, Samantha took the stage to accept the award for her late husband. Her full acceptance speech began with a congratulatory message to Kyle and his wife Katelyn on their championship. She expressed her gratitude for the love shown to Kyle throughout his racing career and wished he could have been present to see the impact he had on NASCAR and its fans.

Samantha emphasized Kyle's competitive nature and his fierce passion for racing, highlighting how he made the sport special for both fans and opponents alike.

She thanked Chase Elliott and all the drivers who encouraged their fans to vote for Kyle, acknowledging the respect shown to Kyle by those he raced against. Samantha also expressed her gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support, mentioning how Kyle cherished their presence at packed grandstands and interactions with families.

She spoke about the significance of the award for her two children, Brexton and Lennix, who missed their father dearly but could now find solace in seeing the impact he had on others through this recognition.

Samantha concluded her speech by noting that there was no Rowdy without the fans and that there would never be another Rowdy like Kyle. She ended her speech by expressing her gratitude for the honor bestowed upon Kyle and for continuing to show him love during this difficult time.