The NASCAR Hall of Fame has announced its 15 nominees for the Class of 2026, with former champions Kurt Busch and Randy LaJoie making their debut on the ballot.
Both Busch and LaJoie, who were named among NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023, will appear on the Modern Era Ballot, which includes 10 nominees. Voting Day is set for Tuesday, May 20, in Charlotte. Meanwhile, legendary crew chief Jake “Suitcase” Elder returns to the Pioneer Ballot, reserved for those whose careers began more than 60 years ago.
In addition, longtime Charlotte Motor Speedway promoter H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler has been nominated for the Landmark Award, which honors outstanding contributions to NASCAR.
Fan voting is open now through May 18 at noon ET, with the fan vote counting as one ballot among the voting panel’s selections.
Spotlight on the Newcomers:
Kurt Busch (46): The 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2017 Daytona 500 winner notched 34 career Cup victories over more than two decades. He also found success in both the Xfinity and Truck Series. Kurt Busch announced in 2023 that he would be retiring from full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing due to lingering health issues following a concussion he suffered during a crash in qualifying at Pocono Raceway in July 2022
Randy LaJoie (63): A two-time Xfinity Series champion (1996–97) with 15 career wins, LaJoie also won the 1985 Busch North Series title. Off the track, he made significant safety advancements through his racing-seat company.
Returning Modern Era Nominees:
Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Randy Dorton, Harry Gant, Harry Hyde, and Jack Sprague.
Pioneer Ballot Nominees:
Jake Elder, Ray Hendrick, Banjo Matthews, Larry Phillips, and Bob Welborn.
Landmark Award Nominees:
Humpy Wheeler, Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, and Les Richter.
These new additions follow the recent induction of Carl Edwards, Ricky Rudd, and Ralph Moody into the Class of 2025, along with Dr. Dean Sicking, who received the 2025 Landmark Award.
The #NASCARHOF Class of 2026 ballot is here!
New to the Modern Era Ballot this year are @KurtBusch and Randy LaJoie.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 21, 2025
