NASCAR
Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Larry Phillips Elected into NASCAR Hall of Fame’s 17th Class
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The NASCAR Hall of Fame grows by three members, after the Class of 2027 was unveiled Tuesday in Charlotte. Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Larry Phillips are the three names joining stock car racing’s most prestigious list next January. Lesa France Kennedy also won the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.
The Class of 2027 was finalized after votes cast among NASCAR representatives, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners, media members, manufacturer representatives, competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com, and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson. A total of 50 votes were cast on Tuesday to decide the new members.
Kevin Harvick
The man called on for the impossible task of replacing Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick turned heads early at Richard Childress Racing. The rebranded No. 29 Chevrolet went to victory lane in only its third start in Atlanta, and was a title threat for over a decade. Moving to Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 4 in 2014, this first year of the elimination playoff format saw Harvick capture the Cup title. Totaling 60 wins and triumphs in every crown jewel, Harvick made the cut as a first year man on the ballot with 92% of the vote.
Jeff Burton
‘The Mayor’ of NASCAR for several decades, Jeff Burton’s accolades span many areas of the sport. A 21-time Cup and 27-time O’Reilly Series winner, Burton was a feared competitor for two decades. Past any on-track achievements, Burton was a staunch advocate for driver safety, a role he continues with to this day. Also a current NBC Sports broadcaster, Burton remains as present in the garage area as ever. The South Boston, Virginia native made the Hall of Fame with 32% of the Modern Era vote.
Larry Phillips
One of the winningest short track racers of all time, nobody truly knows just how many feature wins were collected by Larry Phillips. The Springfield, Missouri driver is credited with at least 700 victories, but that actual number may be four digits. He earned five NASCAR Weekly Series National Championships and 13 track titles across three states. Phillips’ No. 75 was a dreaded sight on regional tracks across America for multiple decades. Phillips is the Pioneer ballot inductee, garnering 38% of the votes.
Lesa France Kennedy
The daughter of Bill France Jr., Lesa France Kennedy keeps the spirit of NASCAR’s founding family alive today. She currently serves as the sport’s Executive Vice Chair. Holding a top tier leadership position for over three decades, Kennedy has been a guiding force through many key moments that impacted NASCAR’s trajectory. She led track upgrades at Daytona International Speedway and Phoenix Raceway, and helped build Kansas Speedway. Her son Ben Kennedy – once a driver himself now turned into a NASCAR executive as well – will likely lead racing for years to come.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027 will be enshrined in Charlotte on Friday, Jan. 22, 2027, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tickets for the Induction Ceremony will be available June 10 on NASCARHall.com.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo credits to Streeter Lecka and Sean Gardner/Getty Images
