Busch, Allgaier, Riggs named NASCAR’s 2026 Most Popular Drivers

Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion whose fierce competitiveness and unmistakable personality made him one of the sport's most recognizable figures, was named the 2026 National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver on Tuesday during the NASCAR Awards ceremony in Miami. Busch, who died unexpectedly on May 21 at age 41, received the honor through fan voting, marking the first time the Cup award has been presented posthumously since Dale Earnhardt in 2001. RELATED: Every NMPA MPD Award winner Justin Allgaier earned the honor in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, while Layne Riggs was selected in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. For Busch, it marked his first Most Popular Driver Award, a fitting recognition of the passionate following known as "Rowdy Nation" that supported him throughout a remarkable career, and gained considerable steam in his twilight years. The honor carried additional significance following a gesture from Chase Elliott, who withdrew from consideration after winning the award eight consecutive times from 2018-25. Elliott followed the example of his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, who stepped aside from voting in 2001 following Earnhardt's death. Earnhardt subsequently received his first and only Most Popular Driver Award. Chase Elliott encouraged fans to recognize Busch, pointing to the dedication he had witnessed beyond the driver's occasionally polarizing public persona. "He has my vote, and I encourage those out there who want to get involved to show him that same love. It would be a really cool honor for him and his family," Elliott said in October. MORE: Elliott follows in his father’s footsteps, steps aside in MPD Busch's accomplishments included Cup championships in 2015 and 2019, 63 victories in NASCAR's premier division and a record 234 wins across the three national series. His relentless approach and larger-than-life personality made him one of NASCAR's defining competitors of the modern era. Allgaier, meanwhile, claimed his seventh Most Popular Driver Award in the O'Reilly Series and fourth consecutive honor, continuing an extraordinary run of fan support. The 40-year-old JR Motorsports veteran capped his six-win 2026 campaign by securing his second series championship in three seasons at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday. A longtime fixture in the division, Allgaier recently announced a multiyear extension to continue driving the No. 7 Chevrolet after initially considering retirement. Riggs earned his first Most Popular Driver Award following a career-best seven-win season in the Craftsman Truck Series. The 24-year-old Front Row Motorsports driver emerged as one of the division's most formidable competitors in 2026, earning the No. 1 Chase seed before finishing runner-up to Kaden Honeycutt in the championship standings. The three awards, determined entirely by fan voting, recognize different careers and accomplishments. For Busch, the distinction carries particular weight -- one final acknowledgment of the lasting connection he built with NASCAR fans.