For the sixth time, Neil Bonnett appeared among the 10 modern-era nominees on the NASCAR Hall of Fame ballot. And for the sixth time, the late Alabama driver was not chosen for induction into the stock-car racing shrine.

On Tuesday, the NASCAR Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026, with drivers Kurt Busch and Harry Gant chosen from the modern-era nominees and driver Ray Hendrick picked from the pioneer-era ballot.

Bonnett and Gant have the same number of career victories on NASCAR’s top circuit.

Voting for the Class of 2026 took place on Tuesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Named one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers during the stock-car organization’s celebration of its 75th anniversary in 2023, Bonnett died in a crash at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 11, 1994, while turning practice laps for the Daytona 500.

Bonnett was a protégé of the Alabama Gang. He went from working on Bobby Allison’s cars in Bonnett’s hometown of Hueytown to driving in NASCAR.

Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Red Farmer were the original members of the Alabama Gang, as they came to be called when their exploits put Hueytown on the map in stock-car racing circles.

All three are members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, as is Davey Allison, Bobby Allison’s son.

Bonnett raced in 18 NASCAR Cup Series seasons, but he completed the full schedule only four times. He still won 18 Cup Series races, including back-to-back victories in the World 600 in 1982 and 1983, and posted 83 top-five finishes.

Bonnett won at Talladega Superspeedway driving the No. 21 Purolator Mercury for the Wood Brothers in 1980.

In addition to the Allisons and Farmer, NASCAR Hall of Fame members with Alabama roots are Anniston’s Red Byron and Fort Payne’s Tim Flock.

The other nominees on the Class of 2026 modern-era ballot included Greg Biffle, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Randy Dorton, Harry Hyde, Randy Lajoie and Jack Sprague.

The other nominees on the Class of 2026 pioneer ballot included Jake Elder, Banjo Matthews, Larry Phillips and Bob Welborn.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — 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.

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, and 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.

Modern Era ballot

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 than Gant, who were my other primary considerations. He won a championship, and they did not; he also won a Daytona 500, and 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. There’s no getting around that. Though he mellowed in his later years, he had many clashes off the track.

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.

Harry Gant celebrates his first win, at Martinsville in 1982. Gant was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame alongside Kurt Busch. (ISC Images / Archives via Getty Images)

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 mine for a minute before making my second choice.

Ultimately, I went with Burton over Gant. Though “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.

Jeff Burton, who retired in 2014, continues to be an active presence around NASCAR. He finished third in Tuesday’s Modern Era voting. (Meg Oliphant / Getty Images)

Pioneer ballot

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 might set the stage for a future Phillips induction.

Landmark Award

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.

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)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Given his resume, Kurt Busch knew it was a matter of when, not if, he would be selected into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Still, getting voted in on the first ballot on Tuesday was a huge relief for Busch, who let out an emotional sigh of relief after hearing his named called at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“I’m very grateful and thankful that it happened this first time,” Busch said. “You want to have that answer as fast as you can.”

Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant were also voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Tuesday, while executive Humpy Wheeler was named the Landmark Award winner for his contribution to the sport. A ceremony will be held to officially induct the Class of 2026 into the Hall of Fame in March.

The 46-year-old Busch held off Jimmie Johnson to win the 2004 Cup Series championship and went on to win 34 Cup races, including at least one victory in 19 of his 21 full-time seasons on the premier circuit before he retired in 2023.

His journey to NASCAR stardom began in 2000 with a Truck Series rookie season that foreshadowed greatness. His big breakthrough came in 2004, when he became the first driver to win the title under NASCAR’s “playoff” system – a feat that proved both his excellence and adaptability.

The consistent Busch finished in the top 10 in the Cup Series standings 10 times.

“Things happened fast for me in this sport and I don’t know how or why,” Busch said. “There was no template, there wasn’t the ladder that these days you see the kids that have a system where it is going to be this or that. For me it was being in the right place at the right time and the universe smiled down on me.”

Hendrick, who died in 1990 at age 61, was the original “Mr. Modified.”

He is one of the winningest drivers of all time, with than 700 modified and late model sportsman wins between 1950-88. His success started in his home state of Virginia, where his No. 11 was well know. He won five track championships at South Boston Speedway — four modified and one late model sportsman.

He was known as a driver that was willing to race “anywhere and everywhere,” and did just that. He filled his schedule with modified and late model sportsman races across the East coast. Hendrick was known best for his wins on short tracks, but also produced victories at Talladega, Charlotte and Dover.

Despite never winning a Modified Division championship, Hendrick finished in the top 10 in the standings nine times from 1960-69.

The 85-year-old Gant, known as the “Bandit” for his long-time sponsorship with Skoal Bandits, won 18 Cup Series races, including the Southern 500 in 1984 and 1991. In the five seasons from 1981 through 1985, he finished in the top five in points four times, including a runner-up championship finish to Terry Labonte in 1984.

He also won 21 Xfinity Series races.

Members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met Tuesday in an in-person closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote on the 15 nominees for the induction class of 2026 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award.

The 49-person voting panel included representatives from NASCAR, the Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion (Joey Logano).

Busch and Gant both received 61% of the “modern era” ballot votes. Jeff Burton finished third, followed by Harry Hyde and Randy Dorton.

Hendrick received 31% of the “pioneer” ballot votes. Bob Welborn finished second.

Gant raced into his 50s, and still holds premier series records for oldest driver to win a race (52 years old) and a pole (54). He drove the first race car with a telemetry system installed in it at Talladega in 1985 and relayed the data to CBS during its coverage of the event.

This was the Gant’s seventh time on the ballot. He did not attend the announcement ceremony on Tuesday and was not available for comment.

All three were among NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers and one of NASCAR Modified’s All-Time Top 10 Drivers.

Wheeler became synonymous with promotion and innovation.

He spent 33 years as the president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway and played a pivotal role in transforming the venue into a world-class facility.

Wheeler added a new dynamic to the sport, a visionary whose leadership and creativity helped shape today’s fan experience with the introduction of dramatic prerace ceremonies and the development of night racing at superspeedways.

He was known for his innovative promotions and stunts.

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — Juncos Hollinger Racing hopes one of their drivers will be in the Indianapolis 500 Victory Lane on Sunday afternoon.

Juncos Hollinger Racing’s motorsport legacy is built not only on track but also on a strong commitment to community and culture. Since 2015, it has been developing young talent and is now competing in the IndyCar series.

Ricardo Juncos, co-owner and president of Juncos Hollinger Racing, said, “I think the Latino community in Indianapolis is growing every year. It’s one of the most popular in the country, I have to say. I think there are about 300,000 Latinos in Indiana. As the only Latino team, our garage will be packed, and 80% will be Latino.”

Juncos immigrated to the United States in 2002 with only $400 in his pocket. While financial resources were scarce, his determination was unmatched. He set out to create a racing team capable of competing at the highest levels of U.S. motorsports.

“We started in the very low level of motor racing with go karts with kids 8 to 10 years old as a very small team. Twenty years later, here we are now with one of the best series in the world, the IndyCar series and the Indy 500.”

Juncos Hollinger Racing is based in Speedway, blocks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team employs around 70 people and fields two cars: the No. 76, driven by Indiana’s own Conor Daly, and the No. 77, driven by Sting Ray Rob.

The team touts itself as an active member of the Indiana community, promoting inclusivity and diversity within the sport. “Last year, we did a nice event at the shop, which was an open house with local businesses; they either brought food, merchandise, or whatever they do and opened the doors for people to enter the shop.”

Juncos Hollinger Racing sees itself as a symbol of determination, community and cultural celebration, reminding everyone that racing is not just about competition but unity and shared passion. “We just need to keep fighting, trusting ourselves, and pushing, and one day you get there, right? Never stop.”

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