Matt Johnson
NASCAR came into the week expecting to celebrate its 2027 Hall of Fame class ahead of Sunday’s iconic Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Following the death of Kyle Busch, there are now discussions about whether Busch should be included in the three-man introductory class next year.
Speaking to reporters, O’Donnell acknowledged that Busch is a “no doubt, first ballot Hall of Famer” and NASCAR will have discussions later on about including him in the next class.
“I know that we put that on the list of ideas that we want to look at…We have a little bit more time to think about we can do as well in the future. Who knows, that could be something we look at.”
Steve O’Donnell on if Kyle Busch will be inducted into the 2027 NASCAR Hall of Fame
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There’s certainly a case to be made for including Busch in the 2027 class that features Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Larry Phillips. The two-time Cup Series champion boasts a resume that makes him one of the all-time greats.
Not only is Busch among the NASCAR Cup Series all-time wins leaders, but he holds the record for all-time national series wins with 234 victories. That includes his final win this past weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, where he won his 69th career Truck Series race in dominating fashion.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame has never had anyone voted in unanimously, and it’s possible that Busch could be the first. Voters stated after the announcement of the three-man class that there would likely never be a unanimous driver inducted because of historical precedent, but making Busch the first and only would be a great way to pay respects to his incredible career.
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There is, however, already a precedent for a legendary driver not being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame immediately following their passing. Just months after he passed away in a plane crash, Greg Biffle finished fifth in voting, well behind Harvick (92%) and even Burton (32%).
It could also be argued that posthumously adding Busch to the 2027 Hall of Fame class would overshadow a special time for Harvick, Burton, and Phillips. While it would still be a celebration, Busch’s absence would linger over the ceremony.
NASCAR could also opt to waive the three-year rule required for induction into the Hall of Fame and have Busch go in separately. With the Hall of Fame located in Charlotte, it could be announced next year ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 that Busch is being inducted into the Hall.
Related: NASCAR Drivers Pay Their Respects to Kyle Busch
Ultimately, it’s only a matter of when NASCAR decides to induct Busch into the Hall of Fame. While a decision on that likely won’t come for several months, the sport will pay tribute to the all-time great throughout the weekend in other ways.
