Legendary engine builders, crew chiefs, owners, drivers and the most recognizable voice in motorsports. The talents, eras and levels may differ, but all share a common thread. They shaped NASCAR, and on Wednesday, they were recognized as nominees for the highest honor the sport bestows—enshrinement into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
 
NASCAR announced the 20 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017, as well as the five nominees for the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Included among the list are five first-time nominees, all legends who made excellence a habit through their various contributions to the sport.
 
Among them are record-holding four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr.; the man with the most car owner wins in NASCAR national series history with 322, Jack Roush; former all-time consecutive starts leader Ricky Rudd; legendary motorsports broadcasting pioneer Ken Squier; and three-time premier series champion engine builder and three-time Daytona 500-winning crew chief Waddell Wilson. For a full list of nominees, please see below.
 
The nominees were selected by a nominating committee consisting of representatives from NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from both major facilities and historic short tracks and the media. The committee’s votes were tabulated by accounting firm Ernst & Young.
 
From the list of 20 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees, five inductees will be elected by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, which includes a nationwide fan vote on NASCAR.com. Voting Day for the 2017 class will be Wednesday, May 25.
 
Added to this year’s list of Landmark Award nominees is Janet Guthrie—the first female driver to compete in a NASCAR premier series superspeedway race. The four returning nominees for the Landmark Award are H. Clay Earles, Raymond Parks, Ralph Seagraves and Squier (more on each below). Potential Landmark Award recipients include competitors or those working in the sport as a member of a racing organization, track facility, race team, sponsor, media partner or being a general ambassador for the sport through a professional or non-professional role. Award winners remain eligible for NHOF enshrinement.
 
Following are the 20 nominees for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, listed alphabetically:
 
Buddy Baker, won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier (now Sprint Cup) series, including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500
 
Red Byron, first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949
 
Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series
 
Ray Evernham, three-time NASCAR premier series championship crew chief
 
Ray Fox,legendary engine builder, crew chief and car owner
 
Rick Hendrick, 14-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series
 
Ron Hornaday Jr., four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion
 
Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR premier series championship crew chief
 
Alan Kulwicki, 1992 NASCAR premier series champion
 
Mark Martin, 96-time race winner in NASCAR national series competition
 
Hershel McGriff, 1986 NASCAR west series champion
 
Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner
 
Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier series champion
 
Larry Phillips, only five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion
 
Jack Roush, five-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series
 
Ricky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400
 
Ken Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner/namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence
 
Mike Stefanik, winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championships
 
Waddell Wilson, won three NASCAR premier series championships as an engine builder
 
Robert Yates, won NASCAR premier series championship as both an engine builder and owner
 
The five nominees for the Landmark Award, listed alphabetically, are as follows…
 
H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway
 
Janet Guthrie, the first female to compete in a NASCAR premier series superspeedway race
 
Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner
 
Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
 
Ken Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner / namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence
 
NASCAR Hall of Fame Nomination Eligibility
 
- Drivers who have competed in NASCAR for at least 10 years and been retired for two years are eligible for nomination to the NHOF. Previously, eligible drivers must have been retired for three years.
 
- In addition, drivers who have competed for a minimum of 10 years and reached their 55th birthday on or before Dec. 31 of the year prior to the nominating year are immediately eligible for the NHOF.
 
- Any driver who has competed for 30 or more years in NASCAR competition by Dec. 31 of the year prior to the nominating year is automatically eligible, regardless of age.
 
- Drivers may continue to compete after reaching any of the aforementioned milestones without compromising eligibility for nomination or induction.
 
- For non-drivers, individuals must have worked at least 10 years in the NASCAR industry.
 
- Individuals may also be considered who made significant achievements in the sport, but left the sport early due to a variety of circumstances.