Harry Gant
Gant along with Kurt Busch on the Modern Ballot and Ray Hendrick from the Pioneer Ballot were selected as members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 on Tuesday.
Gant, the winner of 18 NASCAR premier series races, including two Southern 500 victories, makes it to the Hall in his seventh year on the ballot. The Alexander County native son had a run of four consecutive victories at age 51 in 1991. Gant also won 21 times in what is now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Harry is not one to boast having said he was probably a better carpenter than driver. Gant won an untold number of events back in the Late Model Sportsman days — he was the standard for hard-nosed racers. His legacy lasted well into his 50s, when he set age records that may never be broken. holds the record for oldest winner at 52 and oldest pole earner at 54. He was known as ‘The Bandit’ due to a longtime sponsorship alliance with Skoal.