Kurt Busch, Harry Gant, Ray Hendrick Elected to NASCAR Hall of Fame; Wheeler Wins Landmark Award

The 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class was named on Tuesday evening, with Kurt Busch, Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick forming the new class. Longtime Charlotte Motor Speedway H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler has been named as the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

Busch and Gant were inducted from the Modern Era ballot by NASCAR's voting panel, which convened on Tuesday afternoon in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hendrick is this year's Pioneer ballot representative.

Busch was inducted in his first year on the ballot. The Nevada native won 34 events during his NASCAR Cup Series career, including the 2017 Daytona 500 and the 2010 Coca-Cola 600. In 2004, Busch won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, the first under the new Chase format introduced that year. Busch competed for numerous teams, including Roush Racing, Team Penske, Phoenix Racing, Furniture Row Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing and 23XI Racing.

"Handsome Harry" won 18 NASCAR Cup Series events, including two Southern 500s in 1984 and 1991. During the 1991 season, Gant earned another nickname, "Mr. September." At the age of 51, the Taylorsville, North Carolina native won four consecutive NASCAR Cup Series events during the month of September, as well as two NASCAR Busch Series (now NASCAR Xfinity Series) races. Gant was on the verge of a fifth consecutive Cup victory at North Wilkesboro before a brake failure sidelined him.

Known to many as simply "Mr. Modified," Hendrick is credited with more than 700 victories in Modifieds and Sportsman competition over a career spanning nearly 40 years. He still remains the winningest driver at Martinsville Speedway, with 20 victories at the historic Virginia facility in his career. Hendrick was named to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list and NASCAR Modified’s All-Time Top 10 Drivers.

Wheeler's most prominent role in the motorsports industry was at Charlotte Motor Speedway. From 1976 to 2008, Wheeler was the track's president, as well as its mastermind behind some of the most creative and famous promotions the sport has ever seen.

Every year, 10 nominees make up the Modern Era Ballot, with five additional nominees comprising the Pioneer Ballot. The voting panel included one ballot from a nationwide fan vote to determine the three inductees. The primary criteria for nomination and induction are based on accomplishments and contributions to the sport.

The newest Hall of Fame group will be inducted January 23, 2026. With the additions, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will boast 70 members to its ledger.

-Photo credit: Will Bellamy