NASCAR Hall Inducts Busch, Gant, Hendrick

Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the NASCAR Hall of Fame welcome three new members Friday night as Kurt Busch, Harry Gant and the late Ray Hendrick were inducted into the Class of 2026 during a ceremony at the Uptown Charlotte museum. The event, attended by a crowd of racing luminaries, marked the 16th induction class and brought the total number of honorees to 70, spanning 72 years of stock car racing from 1950 to 2022.

Busch, 47, earned selection in his first year of eligibility after a 23-year career that included 34 NASCAR Cup Series victories and the 2004 championship, the inaugural year of the sport's playoff format known as The Chase. The Las Vegas native also claimed the 2017 Daytona 500 and was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers. His induction was a family affair, with younger brother Kyle Busch, a four-time Cup champion, presenting him with his Hall of Fame ring. "I couldn't be prouder of my brother Kurt," Kyle said. "We were just two kids in Las Vegas, raised in a blue-collar, hardworking family." Busch, reflecting on his journey from humble beginnings, delivered an emotional speech honoring his parents and late grandmother. "It takes a Hall of Fame family to...