NASCAR Names 2027 Hall of Fame Nominees
Voters for NASCAR’s 2027 Hall Of Fame are going to have quite a few hard decisions to make before casting their ballots. With three different categories in play: Modern Era participants, Pioneers whose careers began more than 60 years ago and a Landmark Award for a NASCAR community member whose significant contributions aided the growth of the sport, the choices (as seen below) will be exceptionally tough.
There are ten nominees in the Modern Era class, while five each are vying in Pioneer and Landmark categories. There are several new nominees making their initial appearances on these ballots: 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2007 Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick, six-time ARCA Menards Series West titleholder Ray Elder and 1988 NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning crew chief Ernie Elliott. Pioneer Award newcomers are Ray Fox, 1956 NASCAR Mechanic of the Year and 14-time Cup Series winning car owner, along with Herb Nab, two-time Cup Series championship crew chief. T. Wayne Robertson, former senior vice president at R.J. Reynolds who presided over the firm’s Sports Marketing Enterprises division makes his debut on this year’s Landmark ballot.
Two Modern Era candidates and one Pioneer candidate will be elected to the Class of 2027, as will a solitary Landmark candidate. NASCAR’s Hall Of Fame voting panel meets in person to discuss and vote for inductees on Tuesday, May 19. Fan voting (www.nascar.com/halloffame) commences Tuesday, April 14 and closes on Sunday, May 17, just two days before the voting panel convenes. Class of 2027 inductees will be announced via live broadcast on The NASCAR Channel, with fans invited to watch in person at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.
From its inaugural class of 2010, announced in 2009 to the present time, this 150,000-square-foot monument to NASCAR’s history and heritage has given fans exhibit space, the outdoor area where induction ceremonies take place, open meeting areas, a 278-seat theater that features historical film, a display of historic NASCAR race cars and memorials, among its many Hall of Fame attractions.
These are the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027 nominees, together with the Landmark Award nominees:
Modern Era Ballot
Greg Biffle, 2000 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion and 2002 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion
Neil Bonnett, 18-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner, including consecutive Coca-Cola 600 victories
Tim Brewer, two-time NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning crew chief
Jeff Burton, 21-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner, including the Southern 500 and two Coca-Cola 600 victories
Randy Dorton, built engines that won over nine championships across NASCAR’s national series
Ray Elder, six-time ARCA Menards Series West champion
Ernie Elliott, 1988 NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning crew chief, including victories in two DAYTONA 500s and two Southern 500s
Kevin Harvick, 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion, winner of the 2007 DAYTONA 500, and two-time NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion
Randy LaJoie, two-time NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion and 1985 NASCAR North Tour champion
Jack Sprague, three-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion
Pioneer Ballot
Ray Fox, 1956 NASCAR Mechanic of the Year and 14-time NASCAR Cup Series winner as an owner, including the Southern 500
Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning crew chief
Banjo Matthews, built cars that won more than 250 NASCAR Cup Series races and three championships
Herb Nab, two-time NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning crew chief; ranks third on the all-time crew chief wins list with 92
Larry Phillips, five-time NASCAR Weekly Series national champion
Landmark Award
Alvin Hawkins, NASCAR’s first flagman; established NASCAR racing at Bowman Gray Stadium with Bill France Sr.
Lesa France Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice Chair and one of the most influential women in sports
Dr. Joseph Mattioli, founder of Pocono Raceway
Les Richter, long-time NASCAR executive who oversaw competition, helped grow the sport on the West Coast
Wayne Robertson, held dual roles of senior vice president at R.J. Reynolds and president of the company’s Sports Marketing Enterprises division, oversaw the creation of The Winston