The NASCAR Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2027 on Tuesday, with Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Larry Phillips earning induction. While Harvick and Burton were selected from the Modern Era ballot, Phillips advanced from the Pioneer ballot, with Lesa France Kennedy receiving the Landmark Award.
The Modern Era ballot featured a competitive list of candidates, including Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Burton, Randy Dorton, Ray Elder, Randy LaJoie, Jack Sprague, and Ernie Elliott. Harvick dominated the voting with 92%, while Burton secured his place with 32%. Bonnett finished third, with Biffle ending up fourth, just outside induction.
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Speaking after the announcement, Jeff Burton addressed Biffle’s omission and made a direct case for his former teammate.
“Greg Biffle was also a Roush driver and a teammate, and we had a lot of good times together. He won a lot of races in the O’Reillys and Truck championships. He definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame at some point. When that is, that’s not for me to decide. But, horrible, horrible. We lost Greg and everybody who was on that airplane. What a devastating moment. And for those that are left behind, seeing him in the Hall will mean a lot,” Jeff Burton said.
Greg Biffle’s absence from the Class of 2027 has drawn a strong reaction, particularly given the circumstances surrounding his passing in a plane crash near Statesville late last year. Fans have questioned how a driver with his résumé, with multiple titles across NASCAR’s national divisions, remains outside the Hall, especially in a year when his legacy has been at the forefront of discussion.
Kevin Harvick backs Jeff Burton’s Hall of Fame credentials
Jeff Burton’s own induction reflects a long and steady career at NASCAR’s top level. The Virginia native recorded 21 Cup wins and remained a consistent presence across more than two decades, later transitioning into a respected broadcaster and industry voice.
Harvick, who spent nearly a decade as Burton’s teammate at Richard Childress Racing, said via NASCAR:
“Well, you don’t get the nickname ‘The Mayor’ for no reason. Jeff has been an ambassador of the sport, been a part of the sport, his family’s been a part of the sport, and he’s been a good friend of mine for a long, long time. He helped through those middle years at RCR to keep it all together, and we learned a lot about each other. It’s kind of going back to the respect part, right? You have a reputation, and you hope that your reputation is respected from your credentials and the results that you have, not only in the race car but out of the race car. Jeff’s 100% that guy. In and out of the race car, he had the respect of the whole sport.”
Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick will now be inducted together in January 2027, alongside Larry Phillips, at the highest level of NASCAR.
Edited by Anurup Chakraborty