Fresh off the induction of Kurt Busch, Harry Gant, and Ray Hendrick into the Hall of Fame in January, NASCAR has released its 15-name ballot for the Class of 2027, with Kevin Harvick, Ray Elder, and Ernie Elliott headlining the new crop of candidates.
The announcement was made during FOX Sports’ pre-race broadcast for Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, with NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton on hand to make it official.
The ballot is split down the middle, with ten names in the Modern Era group and five in the Pioneer Era category, while three inductees will make the final cut. The selection process will include a fan vote along with input from a panel before the class is locked in.
Harvick, currently in his third season in the FOX Sports booth, is the headliner of the Modern Era ballot and is in his first year of eligibility.
The 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion bagged 60 wins in the Cup Series and 47 wins in the O’Reilly Auto Parts during his stints at Richard Childress Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, where he remained in the playoff hunt over the years.
Ernie Elliott, uncle of the 2020 Cup Champion, Chase Elliott, and the brother of 2015 inductee Bill Elliott, has entered the ballot on the strength of his work as an engine builder, powering his family team to 40 Cup Series wins and the 1988 title.
He was named Engine Builder of the Decade after guiding the No. 9 Ford through a run in the late 1980s.
Ray Elder has also earned a place on the list, having claimed six championships in the NASCAR Winston West Series, now known as the ARCA Menards Series West. He also picked up two Cup Series wins, both at Riverside International Raceway in his home state, while his 47 wins in the West Series place him second on the all-time list.
The Modern Era ballot further features Late Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Randy Dorton, Randy LaJoie, and Jack Sprague, rounding out the field.
On the Pioneer Era side, which covers careers that began before 1966, one name will be selected for induction. Ray Fox has returned to the ballot for the first time since 2020, while Crew Chief legend Herb Nab is making his debut after recording 74 Cup Series wins and two championships alongside Cale Yarborough for car owner Junior Johnson. They are joined by Harry Hyde, Banjo Matthews, and Larry Phillips.
Alongside the Hall of Fame ballot, the Landmark Award will recognize contributions to stock-car racing, with nominees including Les Richter, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, and T. Wayne Robertson.
Here’s the complete list of the 2027 nominees:
| Modern Era Ballot | Pioneer Ballot | Landmark Award |
| Kevin Harvick | Ray Fox | Les Richter |
| Ernie Elliott | Herb Nab | Dr. Joseph Mattioli |
| Ray Elder | Larry Phillips | Alvin Hawkins |
| Greg Biffle | Harry Hyde | Lesa France Kennedy |
| Jeff Burton | Banjo Matthews | T. Wayne Robertson |
| Neil Bonnett | ||
| Tim Brewer | ||
| Randy Dorton | ||
| Jack Sprague | ||
| Randy LaJoie |
The Hall of Fame voting panel will meet on May 19 in Charlotte to cast ballots. Fan voting will run from April 14 through May 17 on NASCAR.com, with each vote counting toward the final outcome.
The Class of 2027 and the Landmark Award recipient will be unveiled after the Voting Day session on May 19, with the announcement set to be broadcast live from the NASCAR Hall of Fame, where fans can either attend in person at the Great Hall or tune in on the NASCAR Channel.
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