Harvick Leads Hall Ballot, but Second Spot Wide Open
NASCAR’s next Hall of Fame class takes shape with a heavy favorite and a tightly contested Modern Era race.
Harvick Leads Hall Ballot; Second Spot Wide Open James Gilbert - Getty Images Over the life of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, there have been individuals who have been considered “locks” to gain hall membership in their first time on the ballot. Among them: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Sr. , Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson.
It’s likely Kevin Harvick will be added to the list this year. Harvick was the most prominent name among the 15 nominated by the Hall of Fame Nomination Committee and announced Sunday. Harvick and nine other nominees are listed on the Modern Era Ballot.
Two will be elected from that group. Five individuals were nominated for the Pioneer Ballot, which is designed to honor those whose racing careers began more than 60 years ago. One Pioneer Ballot nominee will be elected.
Harvick, now a prominent television racing analyst, won the 2014 Cup Series championship and the 2007 Daytona 500 and totaled 60 Cup victories across his career. He entered Cup competition a year earlier than scheduled as he replaced Dale Earnhardt in Richard Childress Racing’s top car after Earnhardt’s death in the 2001 Daytona 500. Harvick won twice that season and steadily built one of the sport’s most consistently successful careers.