Nascar Hall of Fame 2025 Nominees


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For the modern era I think Kurt Busch is the most likely to get voted into this years class. He was controversial and suffered some self-inflicted damage, but still a great talent and a former cup champion.

The next spot is really wide open with a lot of possibilities. I am hoping it will be Harry Hyde or Harry Gant and I think they are most worthy. Randy Dorton would also be worthy, and I think he did a lot to get HMS to the next level.

Jeff Burton was no slouch behind the wheel and aside from being a gerbil, he is very likeable. Being a gerbil might gain him a few votes in a close situation.

I would have a hard time picking between Jake Elder, Banjo Matthews, or Larry Phillips for the Pioneer nomination. I would probably vote for Matthews as an owner and car builder, but I couldn't fault any of the three choices.

I will say that I never saw Larry Phillips race, but I have heard enough fron all the people he impressed and taught, to have the highest respect for his accomplishments.
 
Based on merit I think Kurt deserves 1 spot but picking another is difficult but I’ll have to go with Neil Bonnett. It’s tough again with the other group but I’ll pick Banjo Matthews.
 
There are a lot of non-racers - crew chiefs, car builders, team owners, journalists, announcers, etc. - who should be in the HOF long before someone like Randy Lajoie and Jack Sprague. It's one thing to include a driver like Richie Evans who is unequivocally seen as the greatest driver in a specific (and very different) spec of race car under the NASCAR banner. It would be very much another if I were to see people argue Justin Bonsignore or Burt Myers earned a HOF entry. That's where I see either. Lajoie at least has the seat business to fall back on.
 
There are a lot of non-racers - crew chiefs, car builders, team owners, journalists, announcers, etc. - who should be in the HOF long before someone like Randy Lajoie and Jack Sprague. It's one thing to include a driver like Richie Evans who is unequivocally seen as the greatest driver in a specific (and very different) spec of race car under the NASCAR banner. It would be very much another if I were to see people argue Justin Bonsignore or Burt Myers earned a HOF entry. That's where I see either. Lajoie at least has the seat business to fall back on.
Jack Sprague was a one-trick pony. Really good in trucks, wasn't good in anything else.
 
Still baffled that guys like Larry Mac and Jeff Hammond don't show up on this list....
 
But people complained we were putting to many people in. If you cut it down to 3 your gonna get this.
 
But people complained we were putting to many people in. If you cut it down to 3 your gonna get this.
I think 3 is a good number. It needs to be limited in order to remain prestigious.
 
Once again, I would urge that people with a vote concentrate their efforts on those that are still alive, but getting up there in years. I think you can make a case for everyone on the list, but it would be nice for people like Harry Gant to be able accept their honor in person, not posthumously.
 
Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton would get my vote. Busch is a past champion, that gives him some cushion over the competition. Burton had a great career, was an iconic driver in his prime.

I don't know much about the pioneers, so I'm not going to vote on that.
 
Once again, I would urge that people with a vote concentrate their efforts on those that are still alive, but getting up there in years. I think you can make a case for everyone on the list, but it would be nice for people like Harry Gant to be able accept their honor in person, not posthumously.
I could see Gant getting enough votes this time around for that reason.
 
I appreciate the age factor considerations, I really do. But I hope that doesn’t become the basis for getting in, as cruel as that sounds. I never liked the Academy Awards judges giving actors an award because they were old and deserving (WAY back when I cared or watched that). I love Harry Gant and believe he deserves to be in, but it becomes difficult when comparing equally impactful drivers. Gant had a tremendous LMS career prior to Cup. Bonnet won the same number of Cup races as Gant and was almost as influential. Biffle won the same number of races in fewer seasons (16 verses 22) but likely trails those two on votes. Harry Hyde was a great crew chief who straddled both eras, a legend.

Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton in that order, with Jake Elder from the pioneers group.
 
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