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Happy Talladega Weekend for those of us who celebrate. I am listening to the Sirius XM coverage of the Craftsman Truck Series and will watch the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series tomorrow. I have family coming into town on Sunday and Monday and, as much as I love my NASCAR, especially at ‘Dega, spending time with the family is the #1 priority. (I will PVR the Cup race, and most likely watch it Sunday or Monday night after everyone goes to bed.)
It was a fairly quiet week at the Milner household. My Mom and I headed to Stratford on Monday to get a Christmas tree and then visited Value Village and a few other places. We went to London to do some errands on Thursday. Nothing too exciting, just typical “getting groceries.” I mowed my front lawn this morning, probably for the last time in 2027, depending on the weather, I suppose.
Okay, so I’m probably the last person to give advice on voting but I want to assure you that you can disagree with me on this particular topic, or even have no opinion, and there won’t be any dire consequences. You won’t get cancelled or unfriended or get called bad words.
I know I’ve already talked a bit of NASCAR (therefore losing what few readers that follow the link from Facebook) but I want to encourage everyone to, in turn, encourage anyone they know who enjoys NASCAR to vote for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award in the Cup Series. Normally I wouldn’t try to influence anyone’s voting but this year is different.
Chase Elliott, my Dad’s favourite driver at the time he passed, is currently an eight-time winner of the Cup Series Most Popular Driver award. But he has announced that he is withdrawing his name from consideration for the 2026 contest and has asked his fans to vote for Kyle Busch, who passed away in May, instead. Carson Hocevar, a winner at Talladega in April and possible candidate to win Most Popular Driver, has also asked his fans to vote for Busch instead.
For those who don’t follow NASCAR, this is a turn of events historic in nature. If Busch wins Most Popular Driver, it will be the first time since 1990 and only the third time since 1983 that someone not named Elliott or Earnhardt will be named Most Popular Driver for the Cup Series.
There’s also a precedent for this. In 2001, following the death of Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Bill Elliott, Chase’s father and a record 16-time Most Popular Driver, announced he was taking his name off the ballot in favour of Earnhardt. Dale Earnhardt, Sr. won the 2001 Most Popular Driver award for the only time in his career, although his son Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the award for 15 consecutive occasions.
Click here to vote for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver in all three major series.
As always, I hope everyone has a safe, healthy and happy week ahead and we’ll meet back here next Friday for my next update.
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