Watch Live: NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Revealed at 5PM ET

Voting day for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 is set for Tuesday, May 20, 2025. NASCAR fans can watch the live announcement from the Hall of Fame’s Great Hall at 5 p.m. ET.

This event will reveal the three new inductees for the coming year and announce the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The public can watch the ceremony on The NASCAR Channel, YouTube, Facebook, and X.

The selection process is based on two separate ballots. Ten candidates make up the Modern Era Ballot, with two set to be inducted, while the Pioneer Ballot lists five names and will provide one inductee. For more details on the voting process, you can refer to the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s official guidelines.

A separate vote will determine the Landmark Award winner. Earlier this year, Kurt Busch and Randy LaJoie were added to the Modern Era list.

Busch holds the only Cup championship among this year’s candidates. LaJoie is a two-time Xfinity Series champion and has over a dozen NASCAR national series wins.

Both are joining a field that features accomplished figures like Jeff Burton, a winner of 21 Cup Series races, and Harry Gant, the “Bandit,” who earned 18 Cup wins during his career. To learn more about the history of NASCAR’s most celebrated drivers, visit the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

The Pioneer Ballot highlights the sport’s earlier stars. Crew chief Jake Elder, known for his three Cup Series titles, is back for another year on the list.

Ray Hendrick, who won more than 700 races in NASCAR’s Modified and Late Model Sportsman series, remains a formidable nominee. Banjo Matthews, influential as a car builder with over 250 winning Cup Series cars, is also among the nominated pioneers. For further reading on NASCAR’s early legends, check out the Smithsonian’s Motorsports Collection.

These names reflect decades of racing excellence.

The Landmark Award is reserved for people who made lasting impacts beyond the race track.

This year’s nominees include H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, celebrated for his leadership at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Lesa France Kennedy, whose role as NASCAR Executive Vice Chair shaped the sport’s national growth. For more on the business side of NASCAR, explore Harvard Business Review’s case studies on sports management.

The other nominees, Les Richter, Joseph Mattioli, and Alvin Hawkins, brought technical expertise and built connections between racing and communities.

Voters, consisting of NASCAR officials, team owners, media, and current Hall of Famers, will gather at 1:30 p.m. ET at the Charlotte Convention Center.

The selection process is a key tradition, with only three individuals joining the Hall of Fame each year. This maintains the exclusive honor and preserves NASCAR’s history for the next generation.

Throughout the day, excitement builds across the fan community. Many look for their favorite driver or pivotal crew chief to earn a place among NASCAR’s most respected names.

The announcement signals a new chapter, as past legends are celebrated and their accomplishments remembered. Each inductee’s story will be shared with fans watching live from homes across the country.

With the 2026 class, NASCAR continues to highlight its history and the people responsible for shaping the sport. Notably, recent events like the North Wilkesboro Speedway show how the sport honors its roots and traditions.

Honoring these legends not only marks their achievements but inspires current drivers and crew as they chase their own place in the Hall of Fame.

The ceremony brings recognition to achievements both on and off the track, keeping the spirit of the sport alive for years to come. Fans looking forward to the upcoming racing season will also be excited by the recently announced 2025 All-Star lineup that continues to showcase NASCAR’s top talent.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.