Kurt Busch and Randy LaJoie join ballot for the first time, Humpy Wheeler up for Landmark nod
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 21, 2025) — NASCAR today announced the 15
nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 and the five
nominees for the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.
Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion, joins the Modern Era
ballot for the first time, alongside Randy LaJoie, a two-time champion
in what is now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Additionally, Jake
Elder, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series championship crew chief, returns
to the Pioneer ballot.
Ten nominees appear on the Modern Era ballot, five on the Pioneer ballot
– designed to honor those whose careers began more than 60 years ago.
Two Modern Era candidates and one Pioneer candidate will be elected as
the Class of 2026.
The Landmark Award honors those who made significant contributions to
the growth and esteem of NASCAR. Former President and General Manager of
Charlotte Motor Speedway, Humpy Wheeler, joins the Landmark Award ballot
for the first time.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting panel will meet in person to discuss and
vote for the Class of 2026 and Landmark Award on Tuesday, May 20. Once
again, the fans have a voice in the selection process via the NASCAR.com
Fan Vote (www.nascar.com/halloffame [2]). The Fan Vote is currently open
and will close on Sunday, May 18 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
The Modern Era Ballot and Landmark Award nominees were selected by the
Nomination Committee, which consists of representatives from NASCAR and
the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic
short tracks. The Honors Committee, largely comprised of all NASCAR Hall
of Famers, Landmark Award winners and Squier-Hall Award winners,
selected the Pioneer Ballot.
The following are the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026 nominees and
Landmark Award nominees:
Modern Era Ballot
Greg Biffle, 2000 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion and 2002
Xfinity Series champion
Neil Bonnett, won 18 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including
consecutive Coca-Cola 600 victories
Tim Brewer, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief
Jeff Burton, won 21 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including the
Southern 500 and two Coca-Cola 600s
Kurt Busch, 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2017 DAYTONA 500 winner
Randy Dorton, built engines that won over nine championships across
NASCAR’s national series
Harry Gant, winner of 18 NASCAR Cup Series races, including two Southern
500 victories
Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR Cup Series championship crew chief
Randy LaJoie, two-time Xfinity Series champion and 1985 North Series
champion
Jack Sprague, three-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion
Pioneer Ballot
Jake Elder, three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief, including
the DAYTONA 500 and two Southern 500s
Ray Hendrick, won over 700 times in NASCAR Modified and Late Model
Sportsman
Banjo Matthews, built cars that won more than 250 NASCAR Cup Series
races and three championships
Larry Phillips, first five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion
Bob Welborn, winner of nine NASCAR Cup Series races and three
Convertible Division championships
Landmark Award
Alvin Hawkins, NASCAR’s first flagman; established NASCAR racing at
Bowman Gray Stadium with Bill France Sr.
Lesa France Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice Chair and one of the most
influential women in sports
Dr. Joseph Mattioli, founder of Pocono Raceway
Les Richter, long-time NASCAR executive oversaw competition, helped grow
the sport on the West Coast
Humpy Wheeler, former President and General Manager of Charlotte Motor
Speedway, transformed the venue into a world-class facility