Kyle Busch never thought he’d win NASCAR’s fan award. Chase Elliott wants to change that

Kyle Busch never thought he'd win NASCAR's fan award. Chase Elliott wants to change that.

Key points

• Back in 2001, Elliott's father – Hall of Famer Bill Elliott – removed himself from the Most Popular Driver ballot and threw his backing behind Dale Earnhardt Sr.
• Busch is additionally the only driver to win at least one Cup Series race in 19 consecutive seasons, doing so from 2005 through 2023.
• Back in 2019, Busch informed Barstool Sports that he was "pretty sure I'm never going to win" the Most Popular Driver award.
• Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who has never won the award, is on the ballot from the National Motorsports Press Association.
• Chase Elliott will not win the NASCAR Most Popular Driver award for the ninth consecutive season.

Kyle Busch never thought he'd win NASCAR's fan award. Chase Elliott wants to change that. Mitchell Northam USA TODAY. Kurt Busch explains Kyle Busch's 'Shrub' nickname.

Kurt Busch explains how Kyle earned his famous "Shrub" nickname and recalls recognizing his younger brother's racing talent at an early age.

As he stated months ago, Elliott has removed himself from the ballot this season in hopes of paving the way for Kyle Busch to win the award posthumously. Busch died suddenly on May 21 at the age of 41 due to complications from sepsis caused by presumed bacterial pneumonia.

Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who has never won the award, is on the ballot from the National Motorsports Press Association. Voting for fans opened Monday.

"I just think it's one of those things that I think Kyle is a guy that really deserves something of an award like that, " Elliott remarked to journalists in May, just days after Busch's death. "I think he's a guy that has had a lot of fans over the course of his career."

Back in 2001, Elliott's father – Hall of Famer Bill Elliott – removed himself from the Most Popular Driver ballot and threw his backing behind Dale Earnhardt Sr. Winning the award for the first time after his shocking death on the final lap of the Daytona 500. Bill Elliott had won the award 1991-2000 and again in 2002.

In practice, a hard-charging driver with a get-out-my-way attitude, incredible talent and superb racecraft, Busch was polarizing, fearless, exceptional and unapologetic on the racetrack. Throughout NASCAR's top three national touring circuits, he amassed 234 career victories, the most all-time. He had 63 wins in the top-level Cup Series, 102 victories in the second-tier O'Reilly Auto Parts circuit, and captured 69 checkered flags in the Truck Series – where he additionally owned a team, Kyle Busch Motorsports. He is the winningest driver in the O'Reilly and Truck Series, and ranks 10th in Cup Series victories.

Busch is additionally the only driver to win at least one Cup Series race in 19 consecutive seasons, doing so from 2005 through 2023. Additionally, Busch is the only driver to win each of the three races – the trucks, the O'Reilly Series and the Cup Series – in the same weekend. He did it twice, in 2010 and 2017, both at Bristol.

While plenty of fans loved to root against Busch. This person willingly embraced his role as NASCAR's villain, he additionally had a legion of his own fans whom he called "Rowdy Nation." They adored his dominance behind the wheel and unabashed style of racing.

Still, despite being one of NASCAR's signature personalities and most talented wheelmen throughout his career, he never won the sport's Most Popular Driver award. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Won it 15 years in a row from 2003 to 2017, and Elliott has won it in each of the past eight seasons.

Back in 2019, Busch informed Barstool Sports that he was "pretty sure I'm never going to win" the Most Popular Driver award. This year, NASCAR fans have the chance to change that. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around kyle Busch never thought he'd win NASCAR's fan award. Chase Elliott wants point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.