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Harry Gant (SPEED SPORT Archives photo)<\/p>\nCHARLOTTE \u2014 The first champion of the NASCAR Cup Chase, the driver known as Mr. September and the fierce competitor dubbed \u201cMr. Modified\u201d will take their places in the NASCAR Hall of Fame during induction ceremonies Friday night at the Hall in Charlotte, N.C.<\/p>\n
Kurt Busch, 47, was elected in his first year of eligibility by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel. Joining him as a Class of 2026 Modern Era selection is Harry Gant, who turned 86 on January 10.<\/p>\n
Busch and Gant will enter the Hall with the late Ray Hendrick, who accumulated more than 700 victories in modified and late model sportsman racing from 1950 through 1988. Hendrick was chosen from a group of five Pioneer Ballot nominees.<\/p>\n
Track promoter extraordinaire H.A. \u201cHumpy\u201d Wheeler also will be honored as the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Wheeler passed away last August at age 86.<\/p>\n
A fiery competitor throughout his career, Busch won the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series championship, the first contested under the 10-race Chase format. Driving for Roush Racing (now Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing), Busch overcame a freak occurrence when the right front tire broke loose from his No. 97 Ford and rolled to the right of the pit wall as Busch steered to the left of the barrier.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was this weird vibration happening with the right front,\u201d Busch said in a video he posted on \u201cX\u201d before his induction. \u201cSo, I was coming down on the access road, and it\u2019s starting to vibrate bad like it\u2019s coming apart. Something\u2019s going down.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt broke right there. I know I\u2019m wrecking, and I\u2019m like, \u2018My day\u2019s done.\u2019 Something took my left foot off the brake pedal to allow that left-front tire just to gain a little bit of turn and to stay away from the barrels and the embarrassment of running into the end of pit wall.\u201d<\/p>\n
Busch recovered to finish fifth and secured the title in his fourth full season in NASCAR\u2019s top division. He went on to win 34 Cup Series races, with his last victory coming in 2022 at Kansas Speedway.<\/p>\n
A Las Vegas native, Busch also won five times in the NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series and four times in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, finishing second in the standings and claiming Rookie of the Year honors in the Truck Series in 2000.<\/p>\n
On track, Busch\u2019s versatility matched his talent. He finished sixth in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 before flying to Charlotte Motor Speedway to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.<\/p>\n
Elected in his seventh year of eligibility, Gant proved that age was not a barrier to excellent performance in a stock car. At 51, driving Leo Jackson\u2019s No. 33 Oldsmobile, the Taylorsville, N.C., native claimed five of his 18 career victories\u2014including four straight, at Darlington, Richmond, Dover and Martinsville from Sept. 1 through Sept. 22.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was surprised and caught off-guard about everything,\u201d Gant said at a press conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway after the announcement of his election. \u201cIt\u2019s just starting to dawn on me, now that we\u2019ve gotten to hang around together (with Busch).<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been looking forward to it for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harry Gant (SPEED SPORT Archives photo)<\/p>\n
Gant was named on 61 percent of Modern Day ballots, as was Busch. In addition to his success in the Cup Series, Gant won 21 races in the O\u2019Reilly Series, claimed the IROC Series title in 1985 and finished second to NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip in the inaugural NASCAR All-Star Race that same year.<\/p>\n
Though Hendrick never won a modified championship, he finished in the top 10 nine times from 1960 through 1969, with a best of third in 1964 and 1966. During his 36-year career, Hendrick was widely known for his willingness to race \u201canywhere and everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2023, Hendrick, a Richmond, Va., native, was named one of NASCAR\u2019s 75 Greatest Drivers.<\/p>\n
Wheeler, a Belmont, N.C., native and long-time president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, gained wide acclaim for his extravagant promotions, particularly those surrounding the Coca-Cola 600, held annually on Memorial Day weekend.<\/p>\n
From staged battles in the infield to a giant \u201cRobosaurus\u201d breathing fire and devouring cars during pre-race ceremonies, Wheeler\u2019s name became synonymous with over-the-top events that drew fans by the thousands.<\/p>\n
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