Kurt Busch, Harry Gant, and Ray Hendrick inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kurt Busch was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday evening alongside fellow competitors Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick.
The 47-year-old Busch, who clinched the inaugural Cup Chase in 2004, was chosen in his first year of eligibility by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel last May.
Busch recounted his beginnings driving dwarf cars in his home state of Nevada and his rapid ascent to the Cup Series after skipping what was then referred to as the Busch Series due to his exceptional skill.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” Busch stated. “It’s a journey that this blue-collar kid from (Las) Vegas never anticipated. All of these reminiscences while conversing with everyone and reflecting on the various teams I was part of, along with all the remarkable racers I competed against. It’s been an extraordinary journey.”
Known as “The Outlaw,” Busch was recognized for his intense temperament and frequently found himself at the center of disputes.
He secured his sole Cup Series championship at the age of 26 in his fourth season on the circuit. This championship was the first to be contested under the 10-race Chase format and concluded in a dramatic manner.
Busch’s right front tire detached from his No. 97 Roush Racing Ford and veered to the right of the pit wall as he maneuvered to the left of the barrier. He managed to finish in fifth place, thereby clinching the title.
“There was this strange vibration occurring with the right front,” Busch mentioned in a video he shared on social media prior to his induction. “So, I was coming down on the access road, and it’s starting to vibrate badly as if it’s falling apart. Something’s going wrong.”
“It broke right there. I knew I was going to crash, and I thought, ‘My day’s over.’ Something caused my left foot to lift off the brake pedal, allowing that left front tire to gain a bit of turn and avoid the barrels and the embarrassment of hitting the end of the pit wall.”
Busch achieved 43 victories across NASCAR’s three national series, including 34 at the Cup level. He triumphed in the 2017 Daytona 500 and retired in 2023 after suffering a concussion from a crash at Pocono.
Busch was also among the few drivers to attempt “the double.” He finished sixth in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 before flying to Charlotte Motor Speedway to participate in the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
His younger brother Kyle Busch introduced him for the Hall, expressing immense pride.
“This accolade represents resilience and heart, and Kurt earned every bit of it,” Kyle Busch remarked.
During his acceptance speech, Kurt Busch honored Greg Biffle, who tragically passed away in a plane crash along with his wife and two children in December. Busch stated that the two were like “peanut butter and jelly” on the racetrack.
“You will always be the Biff,” Busch said. “Everyone should aspire to be like Biff.”
Gant, 86, known as “The Bandit,” joined Busch as a Modern Era selection in his seventh year of eligibility.
“I was hoping to get in here sooner or later,” Gant quipped.
Gant continued to race late into his career. The Taylorsville, North Carolina, native, achieved 18 victories, with five of them—including four consecutive wins at Darlington, Richmond, Dover, and Martinsville—coming after he turned 51.
“I have been able to take a car and make it win,” Gant stated. “I have had several cars. To create a car that becomes a winner is like forming a bond—it becomes your best friend, not your wife, but your best friend.”
Gant also secured 21 victories in the O’Reilly Series, won the IROC Series title in 1985, and finished second to NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip in the inaugural All-Star Race.
Hendrick, known as “Mr. Modified,” amassed over 700 victories in modified and late model sportsman racing from 1950 through 1988. He was selected from a group of five Pioneer Ballot nominees.
Although he never won a modified championship, Hendrick finished in the top 10 nine times from 1960-69.
“He was nearly unbeatable on short tracks,” said Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, who is not related to Ray Hendrick but worked on Ray’s cars as a teenager.
Hendrick’s son Ronnie accepted the award on behalf of his father, who passed away in 1990.
“If my dad were here tonight, he would be incredibly honored to be recognized alongside so many other great drivers,” Ronnie Hendrick stated.
Track promoter H.A. Wheeler received the Landmark Award for his contributions to the sport.
The longtime president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Wheeler became known for his extravagant promotional events, including a staged battle in the infield featuring a giant “Robosaurus” breathing fire and consuming cars during pre-race ceremonies.
Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith referred to him as “the P.T. Barnum of motorsports.”
Wheeler passed away last August at the age of 86.
Roush was honored again as NASCAR presented team owner and motorsports innovator Jack Roush with the Bill France Award of Excellence this week, making him the first two-time recipient of what is regarded as the sport’s most esteemed award. He was acknowledged for his long-lasting influence on the sport and his dedication to competition, innovation, and leadership.
He also received the award in 2001.
“For decades, Jack Roush has played a pivotal role in advancing NASCAR while remaining true to what makes the sport unique,” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France stated. “He has built championship-caliber teams and nurtured generations of drivers and leaders.”
Source: espn.com
