Dale Earnhardt Jr. Named to Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

Press Release | THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America announced its 2026 Induction Class today at the 50th running of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The 38th Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) Induction Celebration presented by Toyota Gazoo Racing, which will formally usher the Class of 2026 into the MSHFA, will be held in the Hall’s home in Daytona Beach, Florida, March 9 – 10, 2026.

The Class of 2026 includes two-time Daytona 500 Champion and winner of 15 straight NASCAR Most Popular Driver Awards Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Stock Cars), beloved NHRA Competition Director Steve Gibbs (Drag Racing), one of America’s greatest living motorsports reporters Pete Lyons (Media), one of America’s most accomplished road racers John Morton (Sports Cars), 2000 MotoGP World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr. (Motorcycles), one of “The Big Three” of modern winged Sprint Car racing Sammy Swindell (Open Wheel), and the winningest driver in Unlimited Hydroplane history Dave Villwock (Powerboats).

Each of the MSHFA’s inductees is elected by a straight vote of 200+ motorsports experts — half of them inductees themselves. Regular voters include Mario Andretti (MSHFA Class of 1990), Don Garlits (MSHFA Class of 1989), Chip Ganassi (MSHFA Class of 2016), Tom D’Eath (MSHFA Class of 2000), Scott Parker (MSHFA Class of 2009), Richard Petty (MSHFA Class of 1989), Don Prudhomme (MSHFA Class of 1991), Rusty Wallace (MSHFA Class of 2014) and other titans of the sport.

The nine Class of 2026 honorees will be formally brought into the Hall during the 38th Annual Induction Celebration presented by Toyota Gazoo Racing, which culminates with a traditional black-tie gala that is the crowning event of the two-day, multi-function MSHFA induction event. The Induction Ceremony will be preceded the night before by the traditional “Heroes of Horsepower” reception and strolling dinner at the MSHFA Museum on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway. Honda presented this year’s Heroes of Horsepower reception.

In a 19-year NASCAR Cup Series career, the younger Earnhardt won 26 races, including two Daytona 500s (2004, 2014) and captured the Most Popular Driver Award a record 15 straight times (2003-2017). The streak ended only when he retired from full-time driving. His 26 wins put him 32nd all-time, tied with Fred Lorenzen and ahead of other MSHFA inductees, including Joe Weatherly, Terry Labonte, Benny Parsons and Buddy Baker. He was phenomenal on restrictor plate tracks. From 2001 – 2003 he won four straight races at Talladega. In addition to his two Daytona 500 victories, he finished second in the 500 four times. Although his highest ranking in Cup Series points was third (2003), Earnhardt Jr. won two Xfinity Series championships as a driver (1998, 1999) and five as an owner (2004, 2005, 2014, 2017, 2018), helping Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, William Byron and Tyler Reddick advance to the top level. Since retiring from driving, he’s become a popular author, podcaster and was a color analyst on NBC. Earnhardt was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2022.

(Photo Courtesy NASCAR)