NASCAR announced its list of 2026 Hall of Fame nominees on Monday, and it reads like a who’s who of horsepower, hard work, and hair-raising moments from racing’s past. Headlining the group are 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kurt Busch and two-time Xfinity Series titleholder Randy LaJoie—both joining the Modern Era ballot for the first time.
Fifteen names are up for induction across two ballots: ten in the Modern Era category and five in the Pioneer division, which honors those whose careers started more than 60 years ago—back when cars were steel, tracks were dirt, and drivers were somehow both tougher and more unhinged.
Busch, the fiery, unpredictable talent who delivered a championship for Roush and a Daytona 500 win for Stewart-Haas, has a résumé stacked with victories, comebacks, and enough controversy to fill a garage. LaJoie, meanwhile, was the kind of racer who treated Xfinity Series titles like lunch—show up, win, move on. His inclusion feels overdue.
Returning to the Pioneer ballot is legendary crew chief Jake Elder, better known in NASCAR circles as “Suitcase Jake” for his tendency to hop from team to team with nothing but a toolbox and a bad attitude. Elder called the shots for multiple Cup champions, and if there were ever a man who deserved a spot in the Hall with a cigar in one hand and a wrench in the other, it’s him.
Voters will choose two Modern Era candidates and one Pioneer to make up the Class of 2026. The selection will be finalized on May 20, when the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel meets to cast its ballots. The fans get their say too—kind of. The NASCAR.com Fan Vote is now open and runs through Sunday, May 18 at noon ET. You can visit nascar.com/halloffame to make your picks and yell into the void of internet democracy.
Also up for recognition is the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR, which goes to those who shaped the sport from behind the curtain. New to the ballot this year is Humpy Wheeler, the longtime president of Charlotte Motor Speedway and the man responsible for turning race weekends into full-blown spectacles. Fireworks, pre-race shows, military flyovers—if it felt bigger than life, it was probably Humpy’s idea.
Here’s the full breakdown of nominees for the Class of 2026:
Modern Era Ballot
- Greg Biffle – Truck and Xfinity Series champion
- Neil Bonnett – 18 Cup wins, including back-to-back Coca-Cola 600s
- Tim Brewer – Two-time Cup Series championship crew chief
- Jeff Burton – 21 Cup wins, including the Southern 500 and two Coca-Cola 600s
- Kurt Busch – 2004 Cup champion, 2017 Daytona 500 winner
- Randy Dorton – Engine builder behind nine national series titles
- Harry Gant – 18 Cup wins, two Southern 500 victories
- Harry Hyde – 1970 Cup championship crew chief
- Randy LaJoie – Two-time Xfinity Series champion
- Jack Sprague – Three-time Truck Series champion
Pioneer Ballot
- Jake Elder – Crew chief for three Cup Series championships
- Ray Hendrick – 700+ wins in Modified and Late Model Sportsman ranks
- Banjo Matthews – Built cars that won 250+ Cup races
- Larry Phillips – Five-time NASCAR Weekly Series national champion
- Bob Welborn – Nine Cup wins, three Convertible Division titles
Landmark Award Nominees
- Alvin Hawkins – NASCAR’s first flagman; helped launch Bowman Gray
- Lesa France Kennedy – Executive Vice Chair of NASCAR
- Dr. Joseph Mattioli – Founder of Pocono Raceway
- Les Richter – Former NASCAR executive; helped grow sport on West Coast
- Humpy Wheeler – Transformed Charlotte Motor Speedway into a spectacle
Whether you’re voting with your heart, your memory, or just for the guy who once signed your hero card in a Walmart parking lot, this year’s Hall of Fame ballot is a reminder of what made NASCAR great—and the people who made it loud.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.