On Monday, the NASCAR Hall of Fame announced its 2026 Class nominees, with 2004 Cup Series champion and 2017 Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch and two-time Xfinity Series champ Randy LaJoie making their first appearance on the ballot. Also joining the list is former Charlotte Motor Speedway promoter H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, nominated for the Landmark Award for his lasting contributions to the sport.
At 46, Busch boasts an impressive resume. He clinched the first Cup title of the playoff era in 2004 and tallied 34 career wins from 2000 to 2022. A crash during qualifying at Pocono Raceway ultimately ended his career due to a concussion. Busch was a model of consistency, notching at least one win in each of his last nine seasons and claiming victories with six of the eight teams he raced for.
Randy LaJoie, now 63 and father of part-time Cup driver Corey LaJoie, had a standout Xfinity career with 15 wins and back-to-back titles in 1996 and 1997. He also secured the 1985 Busch North Series championship. LaJoie turned his passion for safety into a business by founding The Joie of Seating, a company dedicated to safer racing seats, inspired by the tragedies he witnessed during his driving years.
Meanwhile, 86-year-old H.A. Wheeler earns a nod for the Landmark Award thanks to his pioneering work in fan experience and track innovation. Most notably, he was responsible for adding lights to Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1992, a game-changing move that led to night races and long-term hosting of the All-Star Race.
Busch and LaJoie—both honored as two of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023—are among ten nominees on the Modern Era Ballot. They’re joined by:
- Greg Biffle (Truck & Xfinity Series champion)
- Neil Bonnett (two-time Coca-Cola 600 winner)
- Tim Brewer (championship-winning crew chief)
- Jeff Burton (Coca-Cola 600 & Southern 500 winner)
- Randy Dorton (championship engine builder, Hendrick Motorsports)
- Harry Gant (two-time Southern 500 winner)
- Harry Hyde (championship crew chief)
- Jack Sprague (three-time Truck Series champion)
In addition to Wheeler, the Landmark Award nominees include:
- Alvin Hawkins (NASCAR’s first flagman)
- Lesa France Kennedy (NASCAR Executive Vice Chair)
- Dr. Joseph Mattioli (founder of Pocono Raceway)
- Les Richter (former NASCAR exec and Riverside Raceway president)
Returning to the Pioneer Ballot is Jake Elder, a three-time championship-winning crew chief known for his old-school tactics and mechanical skills. He joins:
- Ray Hendrick (700+ wins in modified and late model racing)
- Banjo Matthews (car builder and team owner/crew chief)
- Larry Phillips (five-time weekly series national champ)
- Bob Welborn (three-time Convertible Division champ)
This 2026 nominee list follows the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees: Carl Edwards, Ricky Rudd, Ralph Moody, and Landmark Award recipient Dr. Dean Sicking.
Fans can vote until May 18 at noon ET. Final inductees will be chosen during Voting Day on Tuesday, May 20, based on fan votes and the official voting panel.
