BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch and 2021 Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell are among 21 nominees for 2026 induction into the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Busch, whose older brother Kurt is a 2024 West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, and McDowell are among 10 first-time nominees. The group includes two National Hot Rod Association stars Ron Capps, a three-time Funny Car champion and the legendary John Force, a 15-time Funny Car titleholder and the NHRA’s all-time winner.
First-round voting by the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors began this week and continues through April 27. Ten semi-finalists will be selected for a final vote to determine the five 2026 inductees. The 2026 Heritage class (1960s through 1970s) and Pioneers of Speed (pre-World War II) will be announced later this spring.
Inductions will be held on October 1 at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada. The sixth Kickin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year by 51FIFTY will be announced during the festivities.
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame gala kicks off a weekend of speed at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West racing takes place at The Bullring short track on October 2, followed by the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (October 3) and NASCAR Cup Series (Oct. 4) on the 1.5-mile track.
“Once again, we are proud to present the most diverse group of motorsport’s best. Every single nominee deserves to be in the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame,” said Ken Clapp, Chairman and CEO of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame. “In my opinion, this might be the most difficult election process we’ve had a quarter of a century.”
Here are the additional 2026 nominees (*appeared on previous ballots):
- Johnny Anderson, Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) champion and member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame
- Ken Boyd, five-time Stockton 99 Speedway stock car champion *
- Ernie Cope, NASCAR national series winning crew chief *
- Frank Deiny Sr., Saugus (California) Speedway sportsman stock car champion and founder of Speedway Engineering
- Mike David, 2007 NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West champion *
- Lance Hooper, 1996 NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West champion *
- Cory Kruzeman, two-time Chili Bowl midget winner and United States Auto Club/California Racing Association champion
- Roger Mears, four-time Baja 1000 winner and his son Casey, the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 winner
- Rip Michaels, 2004 NASCAR Elite Series champion and five-time Irwindale (California) Speedway champion *
- Jim Naylor, five-decade operator of Ventura (California) Speedway *
- Brad Noffsinger, two-time California Racing Association champion *
- Jan Quackenbush, NASCAR ARCA Menards Series team owner and safety official *
- Jeff Schrader, reigning NASCAR ARCA Menards West Series champion crew chief and race car builder
- Ted Stofle, eight-time NASCAR stock car champion at Merced (California) Speedway *
- Ron Strmiska Sr., two-time Stockton (California) 99 Speedway stock car champion *
- Sean Woodside, 1999 NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West champion *
- Bruce Yackey, NASCAR Great West Region Super Late Model champion and six-time NASCAR State of Colorado champion
