CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Drivers Kurt Busch, Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant have been voted into the NASCAR Corridor of Fame on Tuesday, whereas government Humpy Wheeler was named the Landmark Award winner for his contribution to the game.
A ceremony on Jan. 23, 2026, will likely be held to formally induct the 2026 class into the Corridor of Fame.
The 46-year-old Busch, a first-ballot choice, held off Jimmie Johnson to win the 2004 Cup Collection championship and went on to win 34 Cup races, together with not less than one in 19 of 21 of his full-time seasons on the premier circuit earlier than retiring in 2023.
His journey to NASCAR stardom started in 2000 with a Truck Collection rookie season that foreshadowed greatness. His massive breakthrough got here in 2004, when he grew to become the primary driver to win the title below NASCAR’s “playoff” system — a feat that proved each his excellence and adaptableness.
The constant Busch completed within the prime 10 within the Cup Collection standings 10 instances.
Hendrick, who died in 1990 at age 61, was the unique “Mr. Modified.”
He is among the winningest drivers of all time, with than 700 modified and late mannequin sportsman wins between 1950-88. His success began in his house state of Virginia, the place his No. 11 was well-known. He received 5 observe championships at South Boston Speedway — 4 modified and one late mannequin sportsman.
He was referred to as a driver that was keen to race “wherever and in every single place,” and did simply that. He crammed his schedule with modified and late mannequin sportsman races throughout the East coast. Hendrick was recognized finest for his wins on brief tracks, but additionally produced victories at Talladega, Charlotte and Dover.
Regardless of by no means profitable a Modified Division championship, Hendrick completed within the prime 10 within the standings 9 instances from 1960-69.
The 85-year-old Gant, referred to as the “Bandit” for his long-time sponsorship with Skoal Bandits, received 18 Cup Collection races, together with the Southern 500 in 1984 and 1991. Within the 5 seasons from 1981 by way of 1985, he completed within the prime 5 in factors 4 instances, together with a runner-up championship end to Terry Labonte in 1984.
He additionally received 21 Xfinity Collection races.
Gant raced into his 50s, and nonetheless holds premier collection data for oldest driver to win a race (52 years outdated) and a pole (54). He drove the primary race automobile with a telemetry system put in in it at Talladega in 1985 and relayed the information to CBS throughout its protection of the occasion.
This was the Gant’s seventh time on the poll.
All three have been amongst NASCAR’s 75 Best Drivers and one among NASCAR Modified’s All-Time High 10 Drivers.
Wheeler grew to become synonymous with promotion and innovation. He spent 33 years because the president and common supervisor of Charlotte Motor Speedway and performed a pivotal position in reworking the venue right into a world-class facility.
Wheeler added a brand new dynamic to the game, a visionary whose management and creativity helped form right this moment’s fan expertise with the introduction of dramatic prerace ceremonies and the event of night time racing at superspeedways.
He was recognized for his modern promotions and stunts.
