Kyle Busch’s posthumous selection as NASCAR’s 2026 Most Popular Driver was one of the most emotional honors of the season. Now, the final voting results offer a closer look at just how the competition stacked up.
The National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA), which administers the fan-voted award, revealed that newly crowned NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson finished second behind Busch, while Carson Hocevar claimed third.
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It’s an interesting top three, particularly with Larson coming off his third Cup Series championship and Hocevar continuing to build a following among NASCAR fans.
But neither could overcome the extraordinary support behind Busch, whose death earlier this year prompted an outpouring of tributes throughout the racing community.
Kyle Larson, Carson Hocevar Finish Behind Kyle Busch
Larson’s runner-up finish comes after another championship-winning season with Hendrick Motorsports. He captured his third Cup Series title at Homestead-Miami Speedway, further cementing his place among the sport’s most accomplished active drivers.
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Hocevar’s third-place finish is noteworthy for a different reason.
The Spire Motorsports driver has become one of NASCAR’s most talked-about young competitors, attracting attention for his aggressive driving style and willingness to speak his mind.
That reputation hasn’t always made him popular with fellow competitors, but the voting results suggest he’s developed a substantial following among fans.
The NMPA did not disclose vote totals in the results shared, so the margins separating Busch, Larson and Hocevar remain unclear.
NASCAR Reveals Most Popular Driver Runners-Up in Other Series
The NMPA also identified the leading contenders in NASCAR’s two other national series.
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Justin Allgaier won the Most Popular Driver award in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with Rajah Caruth and Jesse Love finishing as the runners-up.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Layne Riggs earned the honor ahead of Brenden Queen and Kaden Honeycutt.
The results offer an interesting snapshot of the drivers who connected with fans across NASCAR’s national divisions in 2026.
Still, the Cup Series award carried particular significance this year.
Chase Elliott, who had won the honor eight consecutive times, stepped aside from consideration and encouraged fans to support Busch instead.
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The response helped deliver a final tribute to the two-time Cup Series champion, whose impact on NASCAR extended well beyond his 63 career victories.
And with Larson and Hocevar rounding out the top three, the final results show which drivers were closest behind him in a year when the award meant considerably more than another popularity contest.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
