Kurt Busch headlines class in Charlotte

It’s a big week for NASCAR.

The annual All-Star Race took place at North Wilkesboro last weekend. The Coca-Cola 600 is on the docket for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, and Kyle Larson will attempt to make headlines by completing the double: racing in the Indianapolis 500 and the Cup Series event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day.

So with all of that going on, some details of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 announcement Tuesday might have gotten lost in the shuffle.

Never fear. We’ve got you covered.

How many members are in NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026?

Four, counting the Landmark Award recipient.

Who was voted into NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026?

Kurt Busch and Harry Gant gained entry via the modern era ballot. They were joined by Ray Hendrick from the pioneer ballot and Humpy Wheeler, who received the Landmark Award for outstanding contributions to NASCAR.

When is NASCAR Hall of Fame 2026 induction ceremony?

The new Hall of Fame class will be formally inducted during a ceremony on Jan. 23, 2026. It will take place at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte.

Tickets have not yet gone on sale.

Kurt Busch NASCAR Hall of Fame résumé

Along with winning NASCAR’s first championship playoffs, Busch also won the first-ever playoff race — the postseason opener at New Hampshire in 2004.

There was no winner-take-all final in the early playoff years, but an accumulation of playoff points. In the end, Busch was just eight points better than Jimmie Johnson and 16 better than Jeff Gordon.

The Las Vegas native won Cup Series races for five different teams: Roush Racing, Team Penske, Stewart-Haas, Chip Ganassi Racing and 23XI, with whom he won his final race in 2022. He also won Cup races in four different makes of cars.

At age 20, Busch won four races for Roush Racing in his one year of full-time Truck Series racing. He began his full-time Cup career the next year, 2001, and after a winless rookie campaign, he won 14 races and a championship over the next four seasons.

Harry Gant NASCAR Hall of Fame résumé

Gant — known in the racing community as “Handsome Harry” — was a 39-year-old Cup Series rookie in 1979. He won 18 races over a career than lasted to age 54. The highlight was the ’91 season when, at age 51, he won four straight races (including his second Southern 500 at Darlington) in early fall and was given the label of “Mr. September.”

Ray Hendrick NASCAR Hall of Fame résumé

Hendrick did his winning just outside the biggest NASCAR spotlights. He won an estimated 700 races in late models and, mostly, in modifieds, earning the Mr. Modified moniker.

Humpy Wheeler NASCAR Hall of Fame résumé

Howard Augustine Wheeler was a combination of old-school promotions, even at the biggest of big-league races, and new-age visionary. At Charlotte, with the backing of track owner Bruton Smith (another Hall of Famer), Humpy built a condominium complex outside Turn 1, and in 1992 made Charlotte the first big speedway to install lights.

Who was on NASCAR Hall of Fame ballot?

The modern era ballot included Busch, Gant, Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Randy Dorton, Harry Hyde, Randy LaJoie and Jack Sprague.

The pioneer ballot included Hendrick, Jake Elder, Banjo Matthews, Larry Phillips and Ralph Moody.

And the nominees for the Landmark Award were Wheeler, Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, Joseph Mattioli and Les Richter.

Who are NASCAR Hall of Fame voters?

The panel featured representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners, media members, manufacturers, competitors, industry leaders, a fan vote through NASCAR’s website and Joey Logano, the reigning Cup Series champion.

Forty-nine votes were cast.