South Florida chic, vibrant color and celebratory vibes set the stage for Tuesday night’s NASCAR Awards Ceremony at the elegant Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in iconic Miami Beach.
Top drivers, manufacturers, executives, and race teams from all three of NASCAR’s national series were honored in the chic downtown theater – the first time the NASCAR Cup Series awards ceremony has ever taken place in the Sunshine State.
The evening started with reminders about the true strengths of this sport. The racing in 2026 has been compelling, the storylines plentiful, but NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell reminded it all really comes back to one thing: the people. And there was plenty of praise and gratitude to offer so many.
“Tonight isn’t just about what happened on the racetrack,” O’Donnell said. “It’s about the people who make this sport so special. The men and women in our race shops. The crews at the track. The countless people behind the scenes. And the families who make sacrifices throughout the year so we can all do what we love.
“Tonight is about all of you. This year also reminded us just how much we mean to one another.”
The three national series champions – NASCAR Cup Series’ Kyle Larson, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Justin Allgaier and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Kaden Honeycutt – were formally recognized. All thanked their teams and spoke of what their titles will mean in perpetuity and absolutely cognizant of how tough the competition was to achieve the “champion” status.
Beyond the championships celebrated throughout the night – other significant awards went to people who have impacted the sport off the track.
NASCAR executive Ben Kennedy spoke about the amazing and continued impact on children around this country that his grandmother Betty Jane France’s NASCAR Foundation has maintained. It’s celebrating its 20th year and has raised and bestowed more than $50 million.
Matt Lederer, Comcast Vice President of Brand Partnerships and Engagements, took the stage to announce the winners of the Comcast Community Champion of the Year and with all the great nominees, it ultimately was shared by two. The late Kyle Busch and the late Greg Biffle were honored for their impactful work in the community.
The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Busch, who died of a sudden illness in May, and his wife Samantha were honored for their work with the Bundle of Joy Fund, created to help families with costly fertility treatments. Their work has resulted in more than $2.5 million in grants going to nearly 200 families that welcomed 114 babies.
A former NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and Craftsman Truck Series champion, Biffle and his family perished in a plane accident last December. The Biffle Family Legacy Fund has continued to donate resources and time to communities all around the North Carolina area. After Hurricane Helene, he flew his own helicopter up into the mountains every day for weeks to bring supplies and help to people whose lives and livelihoods were destroyed by the storm.
“Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle showed us that being a champion is also defined by how you show up for others,” Lederer said.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the evening came when Samantha Busch accepted the National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver Award on behalf of her husband Kyle. The capacity crowd in the theater stood up to show respect and appreciation for the Busch family.
“There has been so much love for Kyle from this sport over the past several months, and I wish more than anything that he could be here to see it,” an emotional Samantha Busch said, tears in her eyes.
“He gave so much of his life to racing, and I know it would mean the world to him to see the impact he had on NASCAR and the people who love it.
“Whether you cheered for him or booed him, he gave you something to make noise about. And he loved that. To Kyle, that passion was what made this sport so special.
“Seeing that same passion bring everyone together to honor him has been incredible. I especially want to thank [former Most Popular Driver winner] Chase Elliott and the drivers who encouraged their fans to vote for him. That respect from the guys he raced against means so much.
“And to the fans,” she concluded, “I wish you knew just how much you meant to him. He loved packed grandstands, meeting families, and seeing kids light up when he signed an autograph. He knew you spent your hard-earned money and time watching him race, and he never took that for granted. He loved racing, and he loved that you did too.”
The evening finished by recognizing the 16 NASCAR Cup Series drivers who qualified for this year’s new-championship Chase format. Ultimately, Larson claimed his third title and became the first driver since NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson to win consecutive championships. He is only the 11th driver in the sport’s history to win three titles or more.
The 34-year-old Californian was appropriately seated front row and center with his wife Katelyn, son Owen, 11, daughter Audrey, 8 and son Cooper, 3.
After taking the stage to loud applause, Larson offered an immediate reflection on his work.
“Before I get going, I have to acknowledge my toughest critic, my daughter Audrey,” Larson said smiling down at his children. “A while back you told me I sucked at NASCAR and I want you to know I took that personally. So, I went out and won the championship.
“I’m still waiting on that apology by the way.”
Larson thanked his NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Rick Hendrick, the team’s executive – another NASCAR Hall of Famer, four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, his crew chief Cliff Daniels, team executive Chad Knaus and the team members who supported, propelled and believed through a 51-race winless streak snapped early in the Chase.
He answered with another two wins, claimed his first ever speedway victory at Talladega, Ala. and amassed enough of a points cushion heading into Homestead-Miami that he officially clinched the title with a fourth-place finish in the opening stage.
“Rick [Hendrick] has always said this business is about people, and he doesn’t just say it, he lives it,” Larson said. “He makes every person in that building feel like they matter. And he’s always preached that nobody can tear us down from the outside. The only way that happens is from inside our own walls. When things got hard, nobody turned on each other. We pulled closer.”
He bookended his speech with words to his children.
“Owen, Audrey, and Cooper, this year you got to see how hard racing really is,” Larson said of overcoming a slow start to ultimately hoist the big trophy.
“There were plenty of weekends where nothing your dad did seemed to work, and I know Audrey had a few things to say about that. But I hope you also saw how rewarding it can be when you put in the time and dedicate yourself to your craft. Whatever you decide to chase, chase it like that. And always listen to your driver coach [wife Katelyn]. Trust me, she’s always right.”
— NASCAR Wire Service —