On Wednesday, NASCAR announced the nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Here is a breakdown of all of the nominees, and their cases for induction.
Greg Biffle – Driver (1st Year on Ballot)
Greg Biffle joins the modern-era ballot for the first time in 2024. A member of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list, Biffle was the first driver to win a Championship in two of NASCAR’s top 3 National Touring Series winning the 2000 Truck Series Championship and 2002 Xfinity Series crown. He went on to win 19 Cup Series races with 6 top-10 points finishes.
Neil Bonnett – Driver and Broadcaster
A member of the famed “Alabama Gang”, Neil Bonnett was a down-to-earth driver who fans adored. A fellow member of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list, Bonnett won 18 races in 362 Cup Series starts. Later in his career, Bonnett made a name for himself in the booth as well as broadcasting for TNN before his tragic death from an accident during Speedweeks in 1994.
Tim Brewer – Crew Chief
Tim Brewer was Junior Johnson’s right-hand man as a crew chief for many years. He won 53 races and two Championships in his career. His two titles came with Cale Yarborough in 1978 and Darrell Waltrip in 1981.
Jeff Burton – Driver and Broadcaster
“The Mayor”, Jeff Burton is also a member of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list. He won 21 career races driving for legendary car owners Jack Roush and Richard Childress. After his driving career, Burton has excelled in the broadcast booth with NBC.
Randy Dorton – Engine Builder (1st Year on Ballot)
Randy Dorton was one of the greatest engine builders in NASCAR history, with his most notable work coming with Hendrick Motorsports. His engines took home 9 NASCAR National Touring Series titles, and he joins the ballot for the first time in 2024.
Carl Edwards – Driver
A fan favorite that many feel retired too soon, Carl Edwards is a 28-time Cup Series winner and a member of the 75 Greatest Drivers List. Edwards is known for his close Championship calls, but, that meant he was always a factor. In 12 full-time seasons, Edwards finished in the top-5 in points 6 times.
Harry Gant – Driver
Harry Gant was one of NASCAR’s late bloomers, with most of his accomplishments coming north of 40 years old. His crowning achievement came in 1991 when he won 4 races in a row in September, cementing the nickname “Mr. September”. He is also a part of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list.
Harry Hyde – Crew Chief
Harry Hyde is one of NASCAR’s most legendary Crew Chiefs. He won the 1970 Cup Series Championship with driver Bobby Isaac. Hyde also played a major role in the genesis of one of NASCAR’s most iconic race teams, Hendrick Motorsports.
Ricky Rudd – Driver
Ricky Rudd, nicknamed “Iron Man”, had a career marked by one word, consistency. He started every Cup Series race from 1981 through 2005 and won at least 1 race per season from 1985 to 1998. He did so for multiple car owners like Bud Moore and Rick Hendrick, and even as an owner-driver.
Jack Sprague – Driver (1st Year on Ballot)
Jack Sprague is the third new addition to the Modern Era Ballot. His success came primarily in the Craftsman Truck Series. He won 3 Championships in 5 seasons from 1997 to 2001.
Ray Hendrick – Driver (1st Year on Ballot)
Ray Hendrick made a name for himself in the NASCAR Modifieds and Late Model Sportsman Series. According to NASCAR, he has won over 700 races between the two divisions.
Banjo Matthews – Mechanic
Banjo Matthews was a legendary car builder whose cars won 262 of 362 Cup Series races from 1974 until 1985 according to NASCAR. His cars also carried Cale Yarborough to 3 consecutive Cup Series Championships from 1976-78.
Ralph Moody – Car Owner
Ralph Moody owned the iconic Holman-Moody race team in the early days of NASCAR. He won 96 races, which included drivers like David Pearson, Curtis Turner, Fred Lorenzon, and Fireball Roberts.
Larry Phillips – Driver (1st Year on Ballot)
Larry Phillips also made his hay in the lower series. He won the NASCAR Weekly Series Championship 5 times in his career.
Bob Welborn – Driver (1st Year on Ballot)
Bob Welborn was truly one of the pioneers of the sport as one of the most recognizable faces of the 1950s. While he won 9 career Cup Series races, the Convertible Series is where he truly shined, winning three straight Championships from 1956-1958.
Alvin Hawkins
Alvin Hawkins was the first flagman of NASCAR, but he also had a hand in designing one of NASCAR’s most influential race tracks. He helped design Bowman Gray Stadium alongside NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. in 1949.
Lesa France Kennedy
Lesa France Kennedy is one of the most influential women in modern NASCAR. She is NASCAR’s current Executive Vice Chair and took over as President of International Speedway Corporation from her father, Bill France Jr. in 2003.
Dr Joseph Mattioli
Dr Joseph Mattiolio built one of North America’s cathedrals of speed, Pocono Raceway. A three-turn, triangular track inspired by some of the best race courses in the United States, NASCAR at Pocono has been a mainstay for many years.
Dr Dean Sticking
Dr. Dean Sticking worked alongside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to invent the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction Barrier (SAFER Barrier) in the wake of Dale Earnhardt’s death in 2001. The invention has saved countless lives and prevented countless injuries across all forms of motorsports.
Les Richter
Les Richter was a longtime NASCAR executive and one of the most powerful men in the garage. He worked in various capacities in NASCAR, and he also spent many years managing Riverside International Raceway.
These prestigious individuals all received a high honor in being nominated. The question is, who gets inducted?
Kaulig Racing and Ram Trucks have unveiled a brand new paint scheme for Justin Haley ahead of the Craftsman Truck Series race at Echopark Speedway.
You can check out all of Ram’s 2026 paint Schemes on our article linked below
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Team, Alpha Prime Racing, recently announced that Jusan Hamilton will be the new President of the team and take over the leadership role previously held by co-owner Tommy Joe Martins, who served as the leader of Alpha Prime Racing for its entire seven-year existence, including its time as Martins Motorsports.
Hamilton spent years inside NASCAR, most recently as managing director of competition operations since 2022, even becoming the first Black race director of the Daytona 500 after first getting his foot in the door as an intern in 2012 and returning in 2016. But then, near the close of the 2025 season in September, NASCAR cut ties with him.
And now he is stepping into a role where he will be responsible for laying foundations, building systems that scale, molding leadership from the inside out, and setting the team on a path that lasts. Hamilton is clear about his vision, and his first steps will revolve around listening, getting everyone on the same page, and turning plans into action.
Breaking the news, Martins took to X and wrote, “My new role is to spot for @LavarScott and support @JusanHamilton during his transition. I’m 100% confident he’s the right person to lead @TeamAlphaPrime, and I know he’ll take it to another level. Racing takes total commitment. For me, it was time. Our team needs a new voice.”
Hamilton echoed Martins’ sentiment, posting, “Appreciative of the opportunity and excited to help build what’s next with Alpha Prime Racing,” on his official X handle.
He stressed that his first order of business is drawing clear lines around expectations and goals, while building a space where people can show up and deliver on the track, because strong teams do not grow by accident, and that work starts now. Moving from the rulebook side of the sport into the garage, Hamilton will have to make decisions that hit the stopwatch right away.
The 31-year-old has worn many hats within NASCAR. He oversaw the Drive for Diversity program, pit crew development, and pro iRacing divisions, all while serving as race director. He also played a hand in shaping the yearly schedule, including helping bring new venues into the fold as the sport stretched its legs.
The team first joined the NASCAR stage in 2014 with the Blue Jeans Go Green 200 race at Phoenix and now fields three cars in the Tier 2 Series, two full-time and one part-time. Still, they have often found themselves chasing the pack instead of becoming a threat to outfits like JR Motorsports.
And the leadership shift is expected to be a fork in the road, as the team will look to sharpen its edge and take a new course in the sport. With Hamilton stepping in, the hope is to tighten the bolts internally and open doors that may have stayed shut before.
Bringing more than a decade of senior leadership experience from NASCAR, including time as managing director for competition operations and race director, Hamilton will be seen as someone who can help move the team from scrappy contender to an outfit built to last.
Tommy Joe Martins himself pointed to Hamilton’s experience and mindset as the reasons he believes the handoff makes sense and could push the team up the ladder.
Having called races and handled competition calls, Hamilton knows the rulebook inside out, giving the team someone who can read between the lines when it comes to officiating and race flow. His background dealing with stakeholders at the top levels of NASCAR could potentially also bring new sponsors into the fold while keeping current partners close.
Given Hamilton’s past work with the Drive for Diversity program and pit crew development, he could play a big role in helping young talent like Lavar Scott find their place and grow within the system.
The three drivers currently associated with the team are: Brennan Poole, who has been behind the wheel of the No. 44 Chevy full-time for the past two seasons, wrapping up those years in P16 and P20. Alongside him, Lavar Scott will take the No. 45 Chevrolet full-time this season after two starts with the team last year at Dover and Gateway, finishing P28 and P19.
Co-owner Caesar Bacarella was to run part-time in the 2026 United Rentals 300 at Daytona, as announced in January. But after Anthony Alfredo failed to qualify in the No. 96 car, a late swap saw him strike a deal with Alpha Prime Racing to run the No. 4 entry, bumping Bacarella from the seat. Even so, Bacarella has quite some experience driving in the series, having made 36 starts in nine years, of which he has finished four in the top 10. And he might make a few starts going forward this season.
Looking ahead, Hamilton’s arrival could shape how the drivers and team build, as Alpha Prime Racing looks to steady the ship, find its rhythm, and make sure the next chapter lands on firmer ground.
How do you think this will affect Alpha Prime’s performance moving forward? Let us know your opinions on Discord or X, and don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
The 2026 Daytona 500 wasn’t just another crown jewel; it felt like a turning point. After lawsuits, format changes, broadcast criticism, and a long offseason full of tension, this race carried real weight. And when the checkered flag flew at Daytona International Speedway, the winners and losers went far beyond the finishing order.
From MJ embracing Jim France after months of legal tension, to questions about fuel saving, pack racing, and whether this superspeedway package needs a serious tweak, this race sparked conversations that could shape the entire 2026 season. There were clear steps forward, but also warning signs hiding in plain sight. We break down who really won, who didn’t, and why this Speedweeks might matter more than most people realize. Watch the full breakdown and tell me where you land.
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