The NASCARCup Series is heading to Darlington, South Carolina, for its sixth race of the 2026 season — the Goodyear 400. Every single week, NASCAR honors a grand marshal for its race to take the green flag. Sometimes it is a celebrity, sometimes a race legend, and this week, it will be a duo of Kurt Busch and Harry Gant.
Both Busch and Gant are legends of NASCAR; both are Hall of Fame inductees. NASCAR turns away from celebrity this week and, rather, towards its history. The duo will call the drivers to start their engines this upcoming Sunday, March 22.
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NASCAR Cup Series Grand Marshal at Darlington Raceway
NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
((Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images))
|
Name |
Title |
Honor |
|
Kurt Busch |
NASCAR 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee |
Co-Grand Marshal |
|
Harry Gant |
NASCAR 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee |
Co-Grand Marshal |
Both of these gentlemen are the newest inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The honor is a part of NASCAR’s Alumni Weekend Celebration. Though NASCAR will not bring in throwback paint schemes as they did last year, some cars will feature throwbacks regardless. Carson Hocevar, for one, features a legendary Dale Earnhardt, Chili ‘s-themed throwback.
Busch is a former NASCAR Cup Series Champion, having achieved 34 career victories. Unfortunately, Busch has never won a race at Darlington in 29 career starts, despite having 4 top-5 finishes and 12 top-10 finishes.
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Gant, hailed “Handsome Harry” by many fans, is an 18-time NASCAR Cup Series winner. The man with many nicknames has never won a Cup Series title, yet he is a legend of the sport, earning his Hall of Fame induction.
The most famous feat of all regarding Gant dates back to 1991. This year, at 51 years of age, Gant won four consecutive races, earning another nickname, “Mr. September.” Fans can get ready to give Busch and Gant a roaring welcome ahead of the Goodyear 400.
Previous 2026 Grand Marshal’s
|
Name |
Title |
Company |
Race/Track |
|
Nate Bargatze |
Charles Levinge (on behalf of his late father, Cpt. Claude Levinge) |
Nateland |
Daytona 500 |
|
Charles Levinge (on behalf of his late-father, Cpt. Claude Levinge) |
Retired Naval Flight Officer, Aerospace Engineer, and Commander |
United States Navy |
Autotrader 400 at Echo Park Speedway |
|
Eric Royse |
CEO |
RelaDyne |
DuraMax Grand Prix presented by Reladyne at Circuit of the Americas |
|
Patrick Warburton |
Actor, Voice Artist, Comedian |
N/A |
Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway |
|
Jonathan Davis |
Lead Vocalist, KORN |
KORN (Band) |
Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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