The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) announced its 2026 Induction Class today at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The 38th Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Induction Celebration presented by Toyota Gazoo Racing, which will formally usher the Class of 2026 into the MSHFA, will be held in the Hall’s home in Daytona Beach, Fla., March 9-10, 2026.
“Once again, our voters have chosen a group of all-time motorsports greats,” said MSHFA president George Levy. “True ‘Heroes of Horsepower’ who will be admired today and inspire the champions of tomorrow. The Class of 2026 is another revered and accomplished group of racers, and we can’t wait to welcome them into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America next March.”
Levy was joined by inductees Morton and Lyons for the Class of 2026 unveiling that was held in the Dan Gurney Media Center at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Class of 2026:
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1974 – ) In a 19-year NASCAR Cup Series career, the younger Earnhardt won 26 races, including two Daytona 500s (2004, 2014) and captured the Most Popular Driver Award a record 15 straight times (2003-2017). The streak ended only when he retired from full-time driving. His 26 wins put him 32nd all-time, tied with Fred Lorenzen and ahead of other MSHFA inductees, including Joe Weatherly, Terry Labonte, Benny Parsons and Buddy Baker. He was phenomenal on restrictor plate tracks. From 2001 – 2003 he won four straight races at Talladega. In addition to his two Daytona 500 victories, he finished second in the 500 four times. Although his highest ranking in Cup Series points was third (2003), Earnhardt Jr. won two Xfinity Series championships as a driver (1998, 1999) and five as an owner (2004, 2005, 2014, 2017, 2018), helping Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, William Byron and Tyler Reddick advance to the top level. Since retiring from driving, he’s become a popular author, podcaster and was a color analyst on NBC. Earnhardt was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2022.
Steve Gibbs (1940 – ) Wally Parks, a 1993 MSHFA inductee, hired Gibbs in 1969 to sell ads for NHRA’s National Dragster. Six months later, they decided they needed the man who started in the sport helping out at the San Gabriel, Irwindale and Fremont dragways, even more, to help run the burgeoning number of NHRA national events. Soon he was the sanctioning body’s competition director, where he became known as “a racer’s best friend.” During his 25-year tenure, he conducted over 400 nationals and implemented numerous ideas to make the sport faster, better and safer, including reestablishing the NHRA Safety Safari. In 1990, Gibbs started NHRA Historical Services. In 1992, he created the California Hot Rod Reunion to raise funds for the proposed Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. Six years later, it became reality, and Gibbs was its first director. Gibbs received the Ollie Award, recognizing career-long contributions to drag racing, from the Car Craft Magazine All-Star Drag Racing Team in 1991, the NHRA Lifetime Achievement “Wally” in 1995 and was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.
Pete Lyons (1940 – ) Son of photojournalist Ozzie Lyons, Lyons is considered one of America’s greatest living motorsports reporters. He covered Can-Am, Formula 1, endurance racing, IndyCar and other racing subjects for Autosport, Autoweek, Car and Driver, Car Graphic, Road & Track, RACER, Racecar, Sports Car, Vintage Motorsport, Cycle, Cycle World, EAA Sport Aviation and others throughout the globe. His 14 books include Can-Am, Can-Am Photo History, Can-Am Cars in Detail, Riverside International Raceway and Fast Lines, a collection of his columns for Vintage Racecar. Each year he sells calendars of his superb photography. In all his work, Lyons makes you feel like you’re with him at the track. You not only meet the racers but feel you’re sharing their innermost thoughts. Lyons’ work has won numerous awards, including two Motor Press Guild Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence in Journalism, an International Motor Press Association Ken Purdy Award and an International Automotive Media Award for Lifetime Achievement. Lyons is co-founder and past president of the American Racing Press Association (ARPA).
