NASCAR Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Nominations With Kurt Busch as Strong Candidate

NASCAR has officially released the full list of nominees for the 2026 Hall of Fame class, with the final selection set to be made by a special panel in May next year.

The current format allows the panel to select two names from the Modern Era Ballot and one from the Pioneer Ballot. Below is the complete list of 15 nominees, divided into two categories:

Modern Era Ballot:

• Kurt Busch

• Randy LaJoie

• Randy Dorton

• Greg Biffle

• Neil Bonnett

• Tim Brewer

• Jeff Burton

• Harry Hyde

• Jack Sprague

• Harry Gant

Pioneer Ballot:

• Jake Elder

• Banjo Matthews

• Larry Phillips

• Ray Hendrick

• Bob Welborn

Among the frontrunners is Kurt Busch, a standout driver with 34 Cup Series victories earned with five different teams and four different manufacturers. Despite his career ending prematurely due to a crash at Pocono three years ago, his legacy includes a win at the 2017 Daytona 500, cementing his Hall of Fame credentials.

Also featured is Randy Dorton, the visionary engine builder behind Hendrick Motorsports‘ rise. Having joined the team at its inception 41 years ago, Dorton’s expertise powered hundreds of victories and five Cup Series championships before his tragic death in a 2004 plane crash.

From the Pioneer Era, Bob Welborn stands out for his dominance in the NASCAR Convertible Division, where he captured three consecutive championships in the 1950s with an impressive 19 wins in 111 races.

This year’s ballot honors both groundbreaking drivers and behind-the-scenes innovators who have shaped the legacy of American stock car racing.