Three names will be chosen from the 15 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and will make up the 2026 class. Among them, 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kurt Busch and two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series Randy LaJoie join the Modern Era Ballot as new nominees. 'Suitcase' Jake Elder, a brilliant crew chief, is the newest name added to the Pioneer Ballot.
Other names featured on the Modern Era Ballot are Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Randy Dorton, Harry Gant, Harry Hyde, Randy LaJoie, Jack Sprague. Busch, who also won the 2017 Daytona 500, is the only Cup Series champion on the list.
Elder joins Ray Hendrick, Banjo Matthews, Larry Phillips, and Bob Welborn as those among the Pioneer Ballot, highlighting the people who helped to build the sport. Two names will be selected from the Modern Era Ballot and one will be chosen from the Pioneer Ballot. Voting takes place in May of this year.
Busch reacts
Busch, who has been out of a Cup car since suffering concussion-like symptoms in a qualifying crash at Pocono in 2022, has reacted with humility following the news of his nomination:
"I am very grateful to be nominated for NASCAR’s Hall of Fame," he posted on social media. "It’s an honor to be recognized at this top level. Thank you to NASCAR, my race teams, my family and to the race fans."
Busch competed in 776 NASCAR Cup races between 2000 and 2022, winning 34 races. His final victory came at Kansas Speedway, just two months before his career-ending injury.
In 2025, Carl Edwards and Ricky Rudd were elected to the Hall -- both chosen from the Modern Era Ballot. Ralph Moody was the lone name selected from the Pioneer Ballot.
