Here is a massive shift in the landscape of American stock car racing: Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, has officially opted out of consideration for the 2026 Most Popular Driver Award. The National Motorsports Press Association announced that voting has opened without the eight-time reigning winner on the ballot, as Elliott chose to step aside in honor of Kyle Busch, who died in May.
Elliott's absence breaks a massive streak that began back in 2018 when he took his first of many crowns, stepping immediately into the fan-favorite throne left vacant by Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had claimed the award for fifteen consecutive years. The Elliott household, of course, knows a thing or two about this particular trophy—Chase's father and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott holds the absolute record with sixteen victories of his own.
With Elliott out of the running, the door is wide open. Kyle Busch is on the ballot alongside thirty-four other Cup Series drivers who declared for points and met eligibility requirements for championship contention in 2026. Fans looking to make their voices heard can cast ballots across the Cup Series, the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, and the Craftsman Truck Series.
The voting structure gives supporters a chance to make an impact right up until the final stretch of the year. Fans are permitted to submit up to five votes per day per email either on NASCAR.com/mostpopulardriver or through the NASCAR Mobile App, with those five daily votes not restricted to a single driver. Additionally, Fan Rewards members secure twenty-five points on their very first vote from the Rewards dashboard.
Polls remain open from 9 a.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 23 until Noon ET on Monday, Nov. 9, which happens to be the day after the fierce Cup Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The ultimate winner will finally be revealed on Nov. 10 during the NASCAR Awards banquet in Miami following Championship Weekend, with updates for the top ten and top five drivers in each series dropping periodically before the big reveal.
Meanwhile, the support in the other national divisions tells its own story of dominance. Justin Allgaier enters the conversation having won in the O'Reilly Series three years in a row and six of the last seven times, while Rajah Caruth has captured Truck Series honors for the last two seasons running.
