Harvick leads 2027 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees

Kevin Harvick is the headline name on the newly released nominee list for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027.

NASCAR’s Mike Helton informed Harvick during the Fox Sports pre-race show ahead of Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway. It is Harvick’s first year of eligibility for the NASCAR Hall of Fame after he retired following the 2023 season.

Harvick won the Cup Series championship in 2014 and has 60 Cup Series wins, as well as victories in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship and the Craftsman Truck Series. Additionally, he won the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in 2001 and 2006. He was also an owner in the Truck Series.

“It means a lot, and you know I love this sport and everything that I got to go through was up and down, but, man, it’s what I love,” Harvick said. “To be a part of that is something special.”

A career that started during one of the sport’s darkest times, as the successor to Dale Earnhardt at Richard Childress Racing, Harvick went on to become one of the greatest in the series, including winning all four crown-jewel races during his Cup Series career. He is 10th on the all-time wins list for the Cup Series.

“The biggest thing for me is just the fact that I got to do what I love to do,” Harvick said. “I grew up as a kid that just wanted to go to the racetrack and be a part of all the things that I liked to do. But to do it for a living and be able to grow up and be a part of that sport, and learn so much about life and all the people. The people are what make it so special. You get to be around a group of people that you love to be around, you compete, but in the end, we’re all a bunch of racers that just love what we do.”

NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame released the full list of nominees on Sunday in conjunction with Harvick’s public recognition. In addition to Harvick, the other new names on the Modern Era ballot are Ray Elder and Ernie Elliott. The new additions to the Pioneer Era ballot are Ray Fox and Herb Nab.

The voting panel will convene on May 19 to vote on the 2027 class, followed by the announcement. Two individuals will be chosen from the Modern Era ballot and one from the Pioneer Era ballot. A winner will also be selected for the Landmark Award for contributions to the sport.

Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle are among the Modern Era nominees. Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

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

T. 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