MIAMI – The NASCAR community gathered in tribute as the late Kyle Busch was honored as the Cup Series’ most popular driver at the season-ending awards banquet held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday.
Samantha Busch, Kyle’s widow, accepted the posthumous trophy, marking the first time in his illustrious 25-year career that he received this accolade across all three national series in NASCAR. Kyle Busch, who passed away at the age of 41 in May due to complications from severe pneumonia and sepsis, left a profound impact on both fans and fellow drivers alike.
The shock of his death resonated throughout the NASCAR community, leading to numerous tributes honoring the two-time series champion, who secured his titles in 2015 and 2019. Prior to this recognition, Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports had claimed the most popular driver award for eight consecutive years. In an unexpected turn, Elliott requested the National Motorsports Press Association to exclude him from consideration for the 2026 award.
Kyle Busch’s victory in the fan vote this year marks a significant milestone; he became the first driver outside the Earnhardt or Elliott family to earn this title since Darrell Waltrip in 1990. During her acceptance speech, Samantha Busch expressed the overwhelming love and respect for her husband within the sport, stating, “There has been so much love for Kyle from this sport over the past several months, and I wish more than anything that he could be here to see it.”
She reflected on Kyle’s authentic nature, saying, “Kyle never changed who he was to make people like him. He was passionate, outspoken and fiercely competitive. He was Rowdy through and through.” Samantha emphasized the importance of the fans, acknowledging their role in her husband’s success: “There was no Rowdy without the fans. There will never be another Rowdy because there is truly no one else like Kyle.”
Historically, the most popular driver award has been dominated by legends such as Bill Elliott, who won every year from 1991 to 2000, and Dale Earnhardt, who received the award posthumously following his tragic death in 2001. Following Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr. enjoyed a remarkable 15-year run of victories in this category until his retirement from full-time racing in 2017, with Chase Elliott continuing the legacy from there.
Kyle Busch’s racing accomplishments are monumental, with a record of 234 victories across NASCAR’s top three national series—the most of any driver in history. His legacy as a fierce competitor and charismatic personality ensures his place as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
___
See AP’s full auto racing coverage here.
