Three very different careers were celebrated Friday night with induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. All three share a meaningful connection to Dover Motor Speedway.
Kurt Busch, Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick were inducted as members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026, representing the modern Cup Series era, one of the sport’s most remarkable late bloomers, and a foundational figure in Modified racing.
Kurt Busch: A modern champion at The Monster Mile
Busch’s Hall of Fame résumé spans more than 20 seasons, seven teams, and includes the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series championship and victories across all three national NASCAR series. Known for his intensity and adaptability, Busch found success on every type of track the sport had to offer—including Dover.
His defining moment at The Monster Mile came in 2011, when he led 90 laps and earned his lone Cup Series victory at Dover. Over the course of his career, Busch made 43 Cup starts at The Monster Mile, regularly contending near the front of the track that demands precision and the courage to push the limit on the high-banked concrete surface.
Dover was one of the tracks where Busch’s aggressive style paid off, reinforcing his reputation as a driver who could win in some of NASCAR’s toughest environments.
Harry Gant: Longevity rewarded at Dover
Harry Gant’s NASCAR career never followed the traditional timeline, and Dover Motor Speedway stands as one of the clearest examples of how experience became his greatest strength.
Gant made his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Dover in his late 30s, an age when many drivers are already winding down their careers and considering retirement. Instead, Gant was just beginning one of the most impressive late-career runs the sport has ever seen.
He went on to become a four-time Cup Series winner at Dover, placing him among the most successful drivers in track history. His victories came during the heart of the 1980s, when Gant emerged as a consistent contender and earned a reputation for patience and precision.
Well into his 40s, Gant continued to win races and challenge younger competitors, earning the nickname “Mr. September” for his late-season dominance. Dover’s demanding track surface—where rhythm, tire management and mental toughness matter just as much as raw speed—suited his smooth, methodical approach perfectly.
At the Monster Mile, longevity wasn’t a limitation for Gant. It was an advantage.
Ray Hendrick: Modified greatness in Dover’s early years
Ray Hendrick’s Hall of Fame induction recognizes a different era of NASCAR, but one that remains deeply tied to the sport’s foundation.
Nicknamed “Mr. Modified,” Hendrick was one of the most dominant NASCAR Modified racers in history, amassing hundreds of victories across short tracks throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. His success included a success at Dover Motor Speedway in 1970, during the track’s early years as a hub for regional and grassroots racing.
Long before Dover became known for its exciting Cup Series battles, Hendrick’s presence helped establish its reputation as a place where talent and toughness were rewarded. His legacy at the track reflects Dover’s roots and its role in developing some of NASCAR’s earliest legends.
One Hall of Fame class, one shared track
The NASCAR Hall of Fame honors excellence across every era of the sport, and the Class of 2026 reflects that range. For Dover Motor Speedway, the inductions of Busch, Gant and Hendrick highlight the track’s place in NASCAR history—from its Modified beginnings to championship-level Cup competition today.
On a night dedicated to celebrating greatness, the Monster Mile’s connection to three Hall of Famers was impossible to miss.
