Today NASCAR revealed its 2026 Hall of Fame Class, enshrining Kurt Busch, Harry Gant, and Ray Hendrick.
The trio, which was selected from 15 nominees, joins 67 other legends.
Busch, the 2004 Cup Series Champion, finished with 34 wins throughout a 22-year span. His younger brother, and current Cup Series driver Kyle Busch couldn’t contain his excitement about NASCAR’S newest Hall of Famer.
“I couldn’t be prouder of you,” Kyle said on X. “You’ve not only made a name for yourself on the racetrack but also have inspired so many with your journey. This honor is a testament to your talent and perseverance.”
🎉🏁 Congratulations, @KurtBusch! 🏁🎉
What an incredible achievement to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame! Your dedication, hard work, and passion for the sport have truly paid off, and being a Cup Series Champion and Daytona 500 Champion is no small feat.
I couldn’t… https://t.co/eqMMv03dWK
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) May 20, 2025
Kurt began his NASCAR Cup Series career in 2000 and drove for teams like 23XI Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Stewart–Haas Racing, Furniture Row Racing, Phoenix Racing, Penske Racing, and Roush Racing.
He won the inaugural “Chase for the Cup” championship and in 2006 he joined an elite group of just 36 racers who have won in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions: the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Camping World Truck Series.
Unfortunately, his career was cut short in 2022 after an accident at Pocono and he never raced again.
Known as “Handsome Harry,” Gant won two Southern 500’s, 18 total Cup wins, and dominated the Xfinity Series with 21 victories in the 1980s. With more than 700 Modified and Late Model Sportsman victories, Ray Hendrick, known as “Mr. Modified,” gained recognition as a titan of the short track.
To select the three inductees (two from the Modern Era Ballot and one from the Pioneer Ballot), the voting panel submits a total of 65 ballots, including one ballot from a nationwide fan poll.
As the February 6, 2026, induction gets closer, NASCAR’s newest members of the Hall of Fame will be honored forever.
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