Chase Elliott Knows How NASCAR Can Honor Kyle Busch's Legacy

The NASCAR community truly lost a larger than life figure this week in Kyle Busch. He was only 41 years old.

Busch was hospitalized earlier this week with a severe illness. The two-time Cup Series champion was reportedly found unresponsive while in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord, North Carolina. TMZ obtained the 911 audio from this incident, which revealed that Busch was dealing with shortness of breath.

The Busch family provided an update on Saturday. It was confirmed that Busch died from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis.

"The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications," the Busch family statement read. "The Family asks for continued understanding and privacy during this difficult time."

With the Coca-Cola 600 set to take place this Sunday night, Chase Elliott offered a suggestion for how NASCAR could honor Busch's legacy.

Elliott believes Busch should win the Most Popular Driver Award this year.

"I would be in extreme favor of Kyle winning the vote. I think that he's a guy that certainly poured a lot of his life into this sport. Although he might've been getting boos a lot of weeks, he also had a lot of fans, and a lot of really passionate fans," Elliott said. "I really haven't processed all of that, I guess, to get to that point. But I would certainly be in favor of him winning and whatever it took. Yeah, I think it would be really deserving for him to have that honor."

Back in 2001, the legendary Dale Earnhardt received the Most Popular Driver Award after his death. Chase's father, Bill Elliott, withdrew his name from the ballot that season to ensure Earnhardt's victory.

NASCAR fans love this suggestion from Chase Elliott.

"I think we all agree on this one," a fan replied. "Chase doing the right thing and asking his fans to vote Kyle Busch most popular driver this year just like Bill did in 2001.

"Please make this happen NASCAR," a second fan said.

"Great saying Chase Elliott," a third fan wrote. "The NASCAR fans that keep voting for Chase each year in the NMPA, you must do the right thing this year and vote for Kyle Busch. I understand why Chase keeps getting it because of his father, but please do the right thing and vote for Kyle Busch."

"Chase you are such a class act," another fan declared. "That would be so heartfelt and touching for Kyle to win it."

Hopefully, NASCAR drivers do whatever it takes to honor Busch the right way.

Our thoughts are with the Busch family at this time.

Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 11:45 AM.