Kurt Busch breaks silence on NASCAR Hall of Fame nomination – Luxury Blog
Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion, has publicly responded to his nomination for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, expressing gratitude and humility. NASCAR will soon induct three new members into its prestigious Hall of Fame, with 15 nominees announced for the 2026 class, including Busch. The 46-year-old, who has not competed since 2022 due to concussion-like symptoms from a qualifying crash at Pocono, shared on social media his appreciation for the recognition and thanked NASCAR, his race teams, family, and fans for their support throughout his career.
Busch has been a prominent figure in NASCAR for over two decades, participating in 776 Cup Series races from 2000 to 2022. Over his illustrious career, he secured 34 victories, including the iconic Daytona 500 in 2017. His final win occurred in Kansas in 2022, shortly before his Pocono crash. In addition to his Cup Series success, Busch also won multiple races in the Xfinity and Truck Series.
Besides Kurt Busch, the 2026 Hall of Fame nominees include Randy LaJoie, a two-time Xfinity Series champion, who joins Busch on the Modern Era Ballot. Other returning nominees on this ballot are Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Randy Dorton, Harry Gant, Harry Hyde, and Jack Sprague.
The Pioneer Ballot, which features nominees whose careers began 60 or more years ago, includes the addition of Jake Elder, a title-winning crew chief known as “Suitcase Jack.” Elder had a distinguished career with three Cup Series championships and 44 wins, playing a crucial role in the success of many drivers. He joins returning Pioneer Ballot nominees Ray Hendrick, Banjo Matthews, Larry Phillips, and Bob Welborn.
Fans can participate in the voting process online until May 18 at noon Eastern Time. The voting panel will meet two days later in Charlotte for Voting Day, and the fan vote will be combined with the panel’s votes to determine the inductees. Two Modern Era candidates and one Pioneer candidate will be elected to join the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Legends in the 2026 class.
