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Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kyle Busch Sends Message to Kurt Busch After Major NASCAR Announcement
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. Advertisement '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.' 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. Kurt Busch: 2021 NASCAR Season Preview and Prediction Unfortunately, his career was cut short in 2022 after an accident at Pocono and he never raced again. Advertisement 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.
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
NASCAR Hall of Fame 2026: Why I voted Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton over Harry Gant
CHARLOTTE — The 48-member NASCAR Hall of Fame voting panel on Tuesday faced one of its most challenging choices for the Class of 2026, with a three-way split among the voting for two spots on the 'Modern Era' ballot. By the numbers, 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kurt Busch seemed like a slam dunk. He won 34 Cup Series races (by far the most of anyone else on the ballot) and a Daytona 500. He was one of the elite talents of the 2000s and 2010s. Advertisement But Busch was also a volatile personality who burned some bridges, which was enough to make some voters wary of rewarding him for the times when they perceived him to be a detriment to the sport. Ultimately, though, Busch was elected and received the same percentage of ballots (61 percent) as his fellow Modern Era inductee, 'Handsome' Harry Gant, a beloved multi-nicknamed star also known as 'Mr. September.' Busch and Gant will be joined by modified racing legend Ray Hendrick from the 'Pioneer' ballot while famed Charlotte track promoter H.A. 'Humpy' Wheeler was voted to be the recipient of the Hall's Landmark Award in recognition of his contributions to NASCAR. Jeff Burton finished third on the Modern Era ballot, followed by Harry Hyde and Randy Dorton. Hendrick, who received 31 percent of the vote, was followed by three-time Convertible Series champion Bob Welborn. The new class will be inducted Jan. 23. Below is how I voted and how I perceived the results unfolding. Entering the voting process, Busch was my one slam-dunk pick from which I would not be swayed. I was open to hearing arguments for the other Modern Era winner as well as the other categories, but Busch was a lock for me for one of the two selections each voter was allowed (the top two vote-getters, regardless of percentage, were elected). Busch had 13 more Cup wins than Burton and 16 more Cup wins than Gant, who were my other primary considerations. He won a championship while they did not; he also won a Daytona 500 while they did not. Busch was the top Hall-eligible driver in wins, top-fives and top-10s. His exceptional talent and abilities raised the level of every car he drove. Was he a jerk during many years of his career? Yes, he was. There's no getting around that. Though he mellowed in his later years, he had many clashes off the track. Advertisement But for me, this isn't the Hall of Good Guys. It's the Hall of Fame. And Busch, without question, is a Hall of Famer for what he accomplished on the track. He's not exactly the only driver who had prickly interactions with people in the garage during his career. The sentiment in the room was divided over whether others viewed him the same way, and it became obvious Busch had some hurdles to face. In the end, though, enough voters decided to check their boxes for him to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer. It was also obvious there was a lot of support for Burton and Gant, and I was extremely torn on which one to vote for. Even when representatives from the accounting firm passed out the ballots, I had to stare at it for a minute before making my second choice. Ultimately, I went with Burton over Gant. While 'Handsome Harry' was very popular and won his 18 races in far fewer starts than most, I personally feel 20 victories is the current baseline for getting a Hall vote. Burton has 21, so he met my criteria for on the track. That said, I also felt Burton met the standard for being a Hall of Famer off the track — contributions to the sport that cannot be discounted and are viewed favorably by voters. 'The Mayor' has long been a safety advocate on behalf of his fellow drivers, he has helped explain the driver's point of view through his extensive broadcasting appearances and has been working — for free — as the head of the Drivers Advisory Council, which acts as the key go-between for NASCAR and the drivers. Burton has undoubtedly made NASCAR a better place. Surely, there were voters who took Gant's age (85) into consideration, and I was almost swayed by that factor because I get the sentiment of wanting people to be inducted while they're still alive. But ultimately, I chose to vote for who I felt was more deserving. Based on the arguments for Burton in the room last year and even more this year, it feels like he has momentum. His time is coming soon, although the next two years could be tricky with Kevin Harvick (2027 class) and Martin Truex Jr. (2028) likely first-ballot Hall of Famers. There was a push in the room to recognize NASCAR's grassroots, and 'Mr. Modified' was the clear choice for me after hearing the various discussions. He won more than 700 races and mastered places like Martinsville Speedway like no other. Last year, it felt like the voters wanted to put Ralph Moody in before Banjo Matthews because Moody laid the groundwork for Matthews' car-building genius. So I was a bit surprised Matthews didn't have more support this year, but it felt like Hendrick's accomplishments simply could not be overlooked — and Hendrick got my vote as well. I know some Larry Phillips fans will be upset that he wasn't the one recognized in the grassroots way, and he clearly deserves to be in. But in some ways, Hendrick's inclusion may set the stage for a future Phillips induction. This was an easy choice with a very short conversation in the room. There was a massive wave of support for Wheeler, and I had no problem checking the box with his name next to it. I have fond memories of watching Wheeler's pre-race spectacles at Charlotte, but he was known for much more than being racing's P.T. Barnum. He is largely responsible for the first intermediate track night race after lights were installed at Charlotte, which had a significant impact on NASCAR. And he was a friend and mentor to many in the garage, including drivers. Advertisement This seemed to be a wildly simple vote, similar to when Dr. Dean Sicking (inventor of the SAFER Barrier) got the Landmark Award last year. (Top photo of Kurt Busch celebrating his 2021 win at Atlanta Motor Speedway, his second-to-last Cup Series victory: David J. Griffin / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
Kurt Busch headlines 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame class as first-ballot honoree
Print Close Published May 20, 2025 CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kurt Busch earned a spot in the NASCAR Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection with stats that show him as one of the sport's greats. Busch, Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick — all three former NASCAR Cup drivers — will comprise the 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame class. "I've been through a lot, and to have this is a nice icing on the cake so to speak, from how my career finished in the car versus where we are today, it's a nice feeling," said Busch, who has not raced in NASCAR since July 2022 when concussions sidelined him. "It's fun to reflect back on all the different moments now." A panel of 48 voters plus one combined vote from fan online voting determined the 2026 Hall of Fame class. The two top vote-getters from the 10 Modern Era nominees and the one top vote-getter from the five Pioneer Era nominees earned spots in the 16th induction class. Busch had far and away the most prolific career when it came to results: 34 Cup victories, one Cup title, a Daytona 500 win, finishing top-5 in more than 20 percent of his starts, winning in 19 different seasons at 18 different tracks. But two suspensions — one race in 2012 for threatening a reporter (this reporter) and three races in 2015 after a civil no-contact order was issued against him for alleged domestic abuse — and several run-ins with media and competitors were considered a hurdle for Busch to get in on first ballot. "The late [NASCAR public relations director] Jim Hunter, said it best to me once when I was in some trouble, and he said, 'Son, you can get as much trouble as you want because you have that much talent to dig yourself out of these holes you keep putting yourself in. But wouldn't it be better if you didn't dig those holes, and you could just stay on top riding with your talent?' Busch said. "Took a lot of lessons, but this was a fun announcement, and I can't wait to tell more stories to everyone on what this sport has meant to me and how I'll still be around." He made my ballot — his achievements on the track were significantly stronger than any of the other drivers nominated — as did Gant. Gant won 18 Cup races, including twice in the tough Southern 500. He also is the oldest driver (age 52) to win a Cup race. Similar statistics as the other drivers nominated as well as his toughness and his appearing in several racing movies pushed him onto my ballot. I felt people came to watch "Handsome Harry" Gant, and he played a role in increased exposure of the sport. Busch and Gant each earned 30 votes among the 49 panelists on the Modern Era ballot. Former driver and current broadcaster Jeff Burton was third, followed by former crew chief Harry Hyde and former engine builder Randy Dorton. Hendrick earned the spot reserved for the Pioneer Era with 15 of the 49 votes, indicating a heavy split among the voters (former driver Bill Welborn was second). Hendrick was on my ballot last year and kept that spot this year. Winner of more than 700 short-track races and named one of the top-10 modified drivers of all time, Hendrick had respectable results when racing in top divisions against those who did it regularly. Former Charlotte Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler earned the Landmark Award for contributions to the sport. The 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 23. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and IndyCar for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Print Close URL
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Kurt Busch, Harry Gant, Ray Hendrick voted to NASCAR Hall in ‘26
May 20 - The NASCAR Hall of Fame will induct Kurt Busch, Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick in the Class of 2026, the hall announced Tuesday. Busch and Gant were selected from the Modern Era Ballot, each garnering 61 percent of the vote. Jeff Burton, Harry Hyde and Randy Dorton were the next-highest finishers who didn't make the cut. Hendrick was voted in on the Pioneer Ballot with 31 percent of the votes. Bob Welborn finished second. Busch, 46, made the Hall in his first year on the ballot. He was the Cup Series champion in 2004 and won 34 times in the Cup Series, including two crown jewel races: the 2010 Coca-Cola 600 and the 2017 Daytona 500. Gant, 85, followed 21 victories in what's now called the Xfinity Series with 18 wins in the Cup Series, including the Southern 500 in 1984 and 1991. Already a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Gant was in his seventh year on the NASCAR Hall's ballot. Gant also holds the record for the oldest driver to win a Cup Series race (52 years, eight months) when he prevailed at Michigan International Speedway in 1992. Hendrick, who died in 1990, enjoyed a 36-year motorsports career and was known throughout the South as "Mr. Modified" for his successes in modified stock car racing. He is credited with more than 700 victories in modified racing and the Late Model Sportsman Series. Busch, Gant and Hendrick were all named to the NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers list for the league's 75th anniversary in 2023. NASCAR also recognized H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, former president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, with the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The Class of 2026 will be inducted on Jan. 23 in Charlotte. --Field Level Media
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
A Champion, A Cult Hero, And NASCAR's P.T. Barnum Join Hall Of Fame
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Mike Forde, NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Communications ... More speaks during the 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day at NASCAR Hall of Fame on May 20, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by) NASCAR revealed its Hall of Fame Class of 2026 on Tuesday, and as Hall of Fame classes go, this one has a little bit of everything—star power, overdue recognition, and a man who won more races than some drivers have had hot meals. Headlining the class is 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt Busch, joined by fan favorite Harry Gant and legendary short track racer Ray Hendrick. Longtime Charlotte Motor Speedway impresario H.A. 'Humpy' Wheeler received the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR—a title that somehow still undersells what he did for the sport. DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - AUGUST 26: NASCAR Cup Series driver, Kurt Busch walks onstage during driver ... More intros after the announcement of his retirement prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 26, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by) Kurt Busch enters the Hall on his first ballot, a rare feat, and rightly so. He's a Daytona 500 winner, a Cup champion, and one of the few drivers to win in a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Toyota. Early in his career, he was known for generating headlines—some of them unprintable—and a temper that could have started fights in an empty room. But over time, Kurt evolved into a calm, measured veteran—albeit one who could still rattle off lap times and expletives with equal ease. His career ended not with a farewell tour but with a crash at Pocono in 2022. Despite the abrupt exit, Busch walked away with 34 Cup wins in 776 starts. These days, he's a mentor at 23XI Racing, where he helps the next generation succeed—and likely teaches them some of his more inventive vocabulary along the way. Then there's Harry Gant. If NASCAR had a late bloomer's award, he'd have won it by a country mile. Gant finally gets the Hall call after six years on the Modern Era ballot—a delay many fans found baffling. After all, he was winning races at 51, an age when most drivers have long since swapped the race suit for a rocking chair. UNKNOWN — 1996: Harry Gant's final year of competition in NASCAR racing came in the NASCAR Truck ... More Series, as he entered 11 races during the season. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images) 'Mr. September' earned the nickname by winning four consecutive Cup races (and two in what's now the Xfinity Series) in September of 1991. He was also known as 'High Groove Harry' for his commitment to the outside line—a move that's either brave or crazy depending on the track and is carried on today by Kyle Larson. He racked up 18 Cup wins, including a pair of Southern 500s, and 21 Xfinity wins. Between 1981 and 1985, he was a fixture near the top of the standings, including a second-place finish in 1984. On the Pioneer Ballot, the nod went to Ray Hendrick—no relation to Rick—who was racking up wins when Richard Petty was still in short pants. Known as 'Mr. Modified,' Hendrick won more than 700 races between 1950 and 1988 in modifieds and late models. That's not a typo—seven hundred. He's one of those names that echoes through the sport's grassroots, even if he never ran full-time in NASCAR's top series. DAYTONA BEACH, FL — February 1967: Ray Hendrick of Richmond, VA, ran this 1961 Ford owned by Junie ... More Donlavey in the Permatex 300 NASCAR Late Model Sportsman race at Daytona International Speedway, finishing 12th. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images) And then there's Humpy Wheeler—a man who made race promotion feel like a cross between pro wrestling and fireworks night at the county fair and who could have taught P.T. Barnum a thing or two had they shared the same era. As President and GM of Charlotte Motor Speedway for 33 years, Wheeler turned race weekends into must-see theater. There was Robosaurus, the car-eating robot that he had Dale Earnhardt Sr. use to crush six junked cars with to hype a race. And, of course, there was one press conference where Wheeler brought in a professional regurgitator to predict the winner by spitting up billiard balls. The 2026 inductees were chosen during a closed-door voting session at the Charlotte Convention Center, where a panel of NASCAR executives, track owners, media, team members, and past champions—plus fan input from down 15 nominees. EY handled the vote tabulation. (Photo by Jeff Goode/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Both Busch and Gant received 61% of the Modern Era ballot. Jeff Burton finished third, followed by Harry Hyde and Randy Dorton. Hendrick led the Pioneer ballot with 31%, ahead of Bob Welborn. The Fan Vote echoed the panel, favoring Hendrick, Gant, and Busch. The 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place Friday, January 23, 2026, in Charlotte. Expect speeches, stories, and probably a few mentions of the time Humpy Wheeler had a guy swallow and regurgitate race predictions. Because of course he did.
