NMPA Most Popular Driver Award winners

NASCAR legend Kyle Busch was posthumously bestowed the National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award during the 2026 NASCAR Awards Ceremony in Miami. 

Take a look back at every winner in the history of the award, dating back to 1953.

Two times (1953-1954): Lee Petty

One time (1955): Tim Flock

One time (1956): Curtis Turner

One time (1957): Fireball Roberts

One time (1958): Glen Wood

One time (1959): Jack Smith

One time (1960): Rex White

One time (1961): Joe Weatherly

Eight times (1962, 1964, 1970, 1974-1978): Richard Petty

Two times (1963, 1965): Fred Lorenzen

One time (1966): Darel Dieringer

One time (1967): Cale Yarborough

One time (1969): Bobby Isaac

Six times (1971-1973, 1981-1983): Bobby Allison

Two times (1979-1980): David Pearson

16 times (1984-1988, 1991-2000, 2002): Bill Elliott

Two times (1989-1990): Darrell Waltrip

One time (2001): Dale Earnhardt

15 times (2003-2017): Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Eight times (2018-25): Chase Elliott

One time (2026): Kyle Busch