Kurt Busch and Randy LaJoie join NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees

Kurt Busch and Randy LaJoie have joined the NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee ballot for the first time.

The nominees for the class of 2026 were announced Monday. Busch and LaJoie are the new names on the list for the Modern Era Ballot.

Busch is a former Cup Series champion and Daytona 500 winner. He won races in all three NASCAR national series.

LaJoie is a two-time Xfinity Series champion and former North Series champion. He made starts in all three national series but won 15 races in the Xfinity Series.

The other nominees on the Modern Era Ballot are:

Greg Biffle: 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion and 2002 Xfinity Series champion

Neil Bonnett: won 18 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including consecutive Coca-Cola 600 victories

Tim Brewer: two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief

Jeff Burton: won 21 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including the Southern 500 and two Coca-Cola 600s

Randy Dorton: built engines that won over nine championships across NASCAR’s national series

Harry Gant, winner of 18 NASCAR Cup Series races, including two Southern 500 victories

Harry Hyde: 1970 NASCAR Cup Series championship crew chief

Jack Sprague: three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion