Chase Elliott on withdrawing from NASCAR's Most Popular Driver: Kyle Busch 'has my vote' New York Times (Online) Jordan Bianchi TALLADEGA, Ala. — Chase Elliott withdrew his name from consideration for NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award because he wants his many fans to instead direct their support to the late Kyle Busch, the Hendrick Motorsports driver explained a day after the official ballot was released without his name on it . “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 ultimately show that love and show that energy to Kyle and his family,” Elliott said at Talladega Superspeedway, site of Sunday's Cup Series race. “And, ultimately, I believe that he is a deserving winner of it and he has my vote. And I encourage those of you out there that I know want to get involved and want to take part in that to show him that same love.” Busch, who won a record 234 races across NASCAR's three national series, died unexpectedly in May at 41 after a sudden illness that led to sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications. Elliott has been voted the Cup Series' Most Popular Driver every year since 2018 and was the presumptive favorite to again win award hosted by the National Motorsports Press Association. In citing his reasoning to forgo winning for a ninth consecutive year, he said he was impressed by his dad, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, making a similar decision in 2001 following the death of Dale Earnhardt in that year's season-opening Daytona 500. At the time, Bill Elliott had won the award 10 consecutive years. Earnhardt would go on to win the 2001 Most Popular Driver Award, with Elliott then winning again the following year. “I just always thought that was really cool, an admirable nod to you know frankly one of his biggest rivals,” Chase Elliott said. “And just something that I just always had a lot of respect for.” Voting for the Most Popular Driver Award opened Friday morning and is open until Nov. 9, the day after the Cup championship finale.