Most Popular Driver voting opened as Chase Elliott withdraws from NMPA award race
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 23, 2026
Voting opened
Voting for the National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award opened, and the process is straightforward for fans who want to take part. Ballots are available through NASCAR.com/mostpopulardriver and the NASCAR Mobile App. Voters may select one driver per ballot, and each email address can submit up to five votes per day. The award remains the only major NASCAR honor decided solely by fan vote, so the ballot is the entire mechanism behind the outcome. That gives the process a direct link to the sport’s fan base, with no panel and no jury shaping the result. Eligibility is limited to drivers who declared for Cup Series points and were eligible for championship contention. The winner will emerge from that fan-driven count, which keeps the honor distinct from every other major prize in the sport.
Elliott withdraws, streak ends
Chase Elliott withdrew from consideration after winning the previous seven years, ending his seven-year run. The absence of the recent winner shifts attention to the rest of the eligible Cup Series field. It also adds weight to the names that remain, because the next winner will claim an honor Elliott had won for seven straight years. Bill Elliott still holds the record with 16 Most Popular Driver Awards. With Chase Elliott out, the ballot opens a new chapter for the drivers who remain eligible.
Award history and records
The Most Popular Driver Award has deep roots in NASCAR history. Curtis Turner was the first recipient, and the honor has remained a fixture of the sport ever since. The winner will be announced during the NASCAR Awards Ceremonies in Miami, Florida, giving the result a stage that matches the award’s standing in the sport. That setting brings the vote to a formal close after fans have had their say through the ballot window. The award has long been built around direct fan participation, and its next winner will be chosen the same way. The process is simple, the history is long and the final decision belongs to the fans.
