Elliott Steps Aside from Most Popular Driver Award, Citing Legacy and Rivalry

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Chase Elliott, a perennial frontrunner for the NASCAR Cup Series’ Most Popular Driver award, has voluntarily withdrawn his name from consideration this season, a decision he attributes to a profound sense of respect for a rival and a desire to honor a significant moment in NASCAR history. The move is directly inspired by his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, who similarly removed himself from the award ballot in 2001.

Bill Elliott, a dominant force in the sport, had claimed the Most Popular Driver award an unprecedented 15 times in the 17 seasons preceding 2001. His decision to withdraw his name came in the wake of the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. during the Daytona 500 that year. Earnhardt, a towering figure in NASCAR whose on-track persona often placed him at odds with the more universally admired Bill Elliott, had surprisingly never won the award during his illustrious career, an era dominated by Elliott and Darrell Waltrip.

Bill Elliott’s gesture in 2001 was widely interpreted as a tribute to Earnhardt, his fiercest competitor, acknowledging the immense impact Earnhardt had on the sport and its fanbase, even among those who did not personally favor him. The act ultimately paved the way for Earnhardt to receive the award posthumously, a testament to his enduring legacy and widespread recognition within the racing community.

Now, his son, Chase Elliott, hopes to replicate this gesture for Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who recently passed away. Chase Elliott, who has won the Most Popular Driver award every year since 2018, explained his decision at Talladega Superspeedway, emphasizing the historical precedent set by his father.

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"Ultimately, I was a young child, but looking back on that, I just always thought that was a really cool and admirable nod to, frankly, one of his biggest rivals, right?" Elliott stated on Saturday. "And just something that I just always had a lot of respect for. Now, I was too little to know how he went about that and kind of what the things were that he did to go about doing that."

Elliott continued, detailing how the passing of Kyle Busch prompted him to reflect on the significance of the award and the relationships within the sport. "As the time got closer, I had been asked about it a few times throughout the course of the year since we lost Kyle. I certainly thought about that some, and then also kind of thought about what Kyle meant to my career and just the relationship that we had."

While Kyle Busch, unlike Dale Earnhardt Sr., never actively courted the Most Popular Driver title and often embraced a more controversial "villain" persona that resonated with a segment of the fanbase, Elliott believes this adversarial aspect also contributes to a form of popularity.

"And maybe people totally didn’t like him, but they sure did make a lot of noise for him, and I think we can all agree to that," Elliott remarked. "I just felt like because of that, and because of a lot of the things that I’ve got the chance to see behind the scenes of things that he did for his fans and how much he cared about the sport and for his supporters; I felt like he deserved to win that vote."

Elliott was quick to clarify that his withdrawal does not diminish Busch’s potential to win the award based on fan support, but rather serves as an encouragement for his own extensive fanbase to direct their votes towards Busch.

"Now, that being said, just because I was in there, that’s not me saying that he wasn’t going to win by any stretch. But I do think it’s an opportunity for me to encourage the great supporters that I have and the people that have supported my family over the years to show that love and show that energy to Kyle and his family. Ultimately, I believe that he is a deserving winner of it, and he has my vote."

This sentiment has been echoed by other drivers, including rising talent Carson Hocevar. While still eligible and a potential future contender for the award, Hocevar has also decided to remove himself from the ballot and is actively encouraging his fans to vote for Busch.

"I’m gonna have way more years and everything. I think keeping up with tradition… obviously, Dale won it the year he passed, and I think Kyle was the most popular driver here at one point, right?" Hocevar commented, referencing the historical precedent. "The whole garage and everybody… every article… It’s crazy. A driver that was probably super hated or not appreciated enough. He’s super appreciated now after his passing, and I think it just feels right."

Hocevar detailed his personal decision-making process, which involved consultation with individuals close to Busch’s public relations. "I texted somebody and I was like, ‘Hey, just go ahead and take my name off.’ They used to be PR and really close to Kyle, and they’re like, ‘He wouldn’t want to win it by default.’ And so I was like, okay, I’ll just keep my name off then if that’s what you feel like. I’ll just urge my fans to go vote for him. I’d be very disappointed if they voted for me. We can try and win another year."

The Most Popular Driver award, voted on by fans, has been a significant component of NASCAR’s fan engagement for decades. It has often reflected not just on-track performance but also the personality, accessibility, and connection a driver has with the broader audience. The decisions by both Chase Elliott and Carson Hocevar highlight a growing trend of drivers recognizing the symbolic power of the award and its potential to honor legacies and foster a sense of community within the sport, even in the absence of direct competition.

Kyle Busch’s career in NASCAR spanned from 2005 to 2023 in the Cup Series, amassing 60 wins. He was a prominent figure known for his aggressive driving style and candid personality, which often polarized opinions but consistently generated significant attention and fan engagement. His contributions to the sport extended beyond his driving, encompassing his team ownership and his role as a mentor to younger drivers. The outpouring of support and recognition following his passing underscores the profound impact he had on the NASCAR landscape, a sentiment now being channeled through this unique voting initiative.

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