Kurt Busch and Randy Lajoie, who already voted two of NASCAR’s 75 largest drivers, are at the first time to enter the racing series Hall of Fame, with nominated announced Monday.
The candidates for the class 2026 include 10 on the modern your vote: Busch, Lajoie, Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Randy Dorton, Harry Gant, Harry Hyde and Jack Sprague.
Busch, 46, won the Nascar Cup series Championship in 2004, the first year the circuit went to a 10 race playoffs when it was called The Chase. Las Vegas natives won 34 times in 776 starts in his 23-year-old Cup series career, including Daytona 500 2017. He also captured 28 poles and won several races in Xfinity and Truck Series competition.
Lajoie, 63, received two championships in what is now called the Xfinity series in 1996 and 1997 and registered 15 wins and nine poles during a 350-start career. Lajoie, the champion of the former Busch North series in 1985, was also an innovator in the world of motorsport safety through his long-standing competition company.
Busch and Lajoie were voted for the list of largest driver in 2023.
Title-winning crew manager Jake Elder, who was at the Hall of Fame vote 2021, makes a return on the Pioneer vote for the five nominees whose careers began 60 years ago or more. Ray Hendrick, Banjo Matthews, Larry Phillips and Bob Welborn and Bob Welborn and bet from last year’s vote.
Longtime Charlotte Motor Speedway Promoter Ha “Humpy” Wheeler, 86, is nominated for the Landmark Award for unique contributions to NASCAR. The other nominees are Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Mattioli and Les Richter.
A voice panel will convene on May 20 in Charlotte, NC, with fans who are voted open until May 18 at noon. The collective vote from fans who vote online is counted as a voice along with the panel’s results.
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