Chase Elliott has removed his name from the 2024 NASCAR Most Popular Driver ballot, ending his run of eight consecutive victories in the fan vote. The decision, announced Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, is a tribute to Kyle Busch, the two-time Cup champion who died May 21 at age 41 from complications of pneumonia. The Chase Elliott Most Popular Driver withdrawal reshapes an award Elliott had held every year since Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired.
A Family Precedent
Elliott’s choice mirrors a gesture his father made more than two decades ago. Bill Elliott withdrew from the same award in 2001 following the death of Dale Earnhardt in that year’s Daytona 500. Bill Elliott had won the honor 10 straight times and 16 times overall. Chase Elliott said he admired his father’s decision to step aside for a rival, and that example guided his own thinking this year.
Why Busch Deserved the Vote
Elliott was clear that Busch, not he, should receive the recognition. He said Busch deserved to win the vote and encouraged his own fans to support Busch and his family. Elliott, who grew up a Kyle Busch fan, praised Busch’s driving skill and dominance. He also noted that Busch embraced a villain role but drew strong fan reaction, and that Busch cared about the sport and its supporters.
Elliott did not assume he would have won had he stayed on the ballot.
Drivers Push Votes Toward Busch
Several Cup drivers used social media to direct fans toward Busch. Carson Hocevar told fans not to vote for him and said he would be disappointed if they did. Hocevar, seen as a possible challenger to Elliott, called Busch polarizing but widely followed, and said Busch was once the most popular driver and is more appreciated after his death. He added that a person close to Busch believed Busch wouldn’t want a default win, and that he would try for the award another year.
Kyle Larson said Busch had his vote, calling him among NASCAR’s most popular drivers and saying the award would honor him. Chase Briscoe said he voted for Busch, noting that Busch likely never expected to win the award and that it would be a nice thing for his family.
Voting Process and NASCAR’s Response
The Most Popular Driver award is decided by online voting administered by NASCAR and the National Motorsports Press Association. NASCAR said no formal requests to remove names from the ballot were received besides Elliott’s. Larson and Hocevar suggested that drivers were discouraged from withdrawing.
Elliott’s withdrawal ends an eight-year streak in the award, but it places the focus on Busch, a driver Elliott said deserved the honor.
[…] Chase Elliott Steps Aside from Most Popular Driver Award to Honor Kyle Busch […]