Coach Gibbs’ other son, Coy, inducted his father Friday night, adding one more accolade to a resume that includes 176 Cup Series wins, 165 Xfinity Series wins and two Xfinity Series titles in addition to Cup crowns in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2015 and 2019.
It also extended the common thread of racing family that was seen throughout Friday night’s honors.
“I was so nervous coming from football over to racing, wondering how we were we going to be accepted, the family and everybody,” Gibbs noted. “But we were accepted and it’s been amazing.
“I just want to say a big thanks to everybody here. The NASCAR family is just unreal. I want to say to the France family: thanks for your guidance, leadership and the way you accepted us. The fans, the fellow competitors, all you guys … that meant so much to us as we took off in racing. It’s a special group.”
Stewart capped the night with an emotional, and naturally funny, speech that wasn’t his first choice of speech, but paid a nod to all the short-track and Indy car supporters that paved his path into NASCAR.
It also carried a sense of appreciation and wonder from the 49-year-old, who admitted Friday he didn’t expect to be in the Hall of Fame this soon.
“I’m not old … or, at least, I don’t feel like I’m old,” said Stewart, who was inducted by team co-owner Gene Haas. “I’m still racing. And in my mind, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is there to honor the completion of one’s career. But in the eight months since being nominated to this year’s class, I’ve come to appreciate what an honor it is.
“It truly is an elite group and it’s incredibly humbling to be a part of it.”
Each inductee received a special video message prior to their induction into the Hall of Fame. Those messages came from Pastor David Jeremiah (Wilson), Mario Andretti (Baker), former President George W. Bush (Gibbs), actor and racer Patrick Dempsey (Labonte) and Indy car legend A.J. Foyt (Stewart).
The five inductees were then introduced by prominent NASCAR figures who either tied into their careers or represented similar parallels.
Journeyman driver Corey LaJoie introduced Wilson, while Baker’s longtime friend and mentee Ryan Newman brought the Gentle Giant’s memory to the stage. Gibbs was welcomed by two of his Cup Series drivers, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, and Terry Labonte was introduced by fellow Texan Chris Buescher.
Finally, Stewart’s introduction came courtesy of Kevin Harvick, his current lead driver at Stewart-Haas Racing who won the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship in one of Stewart’s cars.
In addition to the Class of 2020, other living Hall of Famers in attendance Friday night included Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Leonard Wood, Bill Elliott, Rex White, Jerry Cook, Terry Labonte, Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin, Ray Evernham, Ken Squier, Jack Roush and Roger Penske.
Alongside the five new Hall of Famers, Edsel Ford II was honored as the sixth recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.
Friday night’s ceremony was televised live on NBCSN and completed in a tidy two-hour time block.