Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Unveils 2026 Induction Class
The 38th Annual Induction Celebration will take place at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort March 9-10, 2026…
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America announced its 2026 Induction Class at the 50th running of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The 38th Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) 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, Florida, March 9-10, 2026.
The Class of 2026 includes two-time Daytona 500 Champion and winner of 15 straight NASCAR Most Popular Driver Awards Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Stock Cars), beloved NHRA competition director Steve Gibbs (Drag Racing), one of America’s greatest living motorsports reporters Pete Lyons (Media), one of America’s most accomplished road racers John Morton (Sports Cars), 2000 MotoGP World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr. (Motorcycles), one of “The Big Three” of modern winged Sprint Car racing Sammy Swindell (Open Wheel), and the winningest driver in Unlimited Hydroplane history Dave Villwock (Powerboats).
“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.”
The Unveiling of the Class of 2026
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. Morton has been a fixture in American sports car racing for more than 50 years and was an active competitor for the majority of that period. He is best known for driving the popular white, red and blue BRE Datsun 240Zs and 510s in which he won dual back-to-back SCCA National Championships and Trans-Am Under 2.5-liter titles in the early 1970s.
Appropriately for the 50th celebration, Morton also raced in the inaugural Grand Prix of Long Beach Formula 5000 race in 1975. Driving a Krinitt Racing Lola T332 (pictured above) carrying his trademark No. 46, Morton finished ninth and improved an incredible 19 positions after gridding in the 28th and final starting position.
Lyons (center in picture below) is considered one of America’s greatest living motorsports reporters and is the first Media honoree in the At Large category to be voted into the Hall since Denise McCluggage in 2022 and Robin Miller, who was presented with the honor just before his passing in 2021 as a member of that year’s class.
Lyons covered Can-Am, Formula 1, IndyCar and sports car endurance racing among other motorsports disciplines for virtually every top American motorsports publication and many others throughout the globe. He has written 14 books and still sells calendars with his photography.
Induction Celebration Presented by Toyota Gazoo Racing
A pair of Class of 2026 Historic category inductees will be announced this summer that will be enshrined next March along with the seven inductees unveiled at Long Beach.
The nine Class of 2026 honorees will be formally brought into the Hall during the 38th Annual Induction Celebration presented by Toyota Gazoo Racing, which culminates with a traditional black-tie gala in the two-day, multi-function MSHFA induction event. The Induction Ceremony will be preceded the night before by the traditional “Heroes of Horsepower” reception and strolling dinner at the MSHFA Museum on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway. Honda presented this year’s Heroes of Horsepower reception.
Daytime events include the annual Inductee Welcome Luncheon on Monday, and the annual Inductee Brunch on Tuesday morning. 2026’s Historic inductees will be ushered into the MSHFA as a featured highlight of the brunch, which was presented by Firestone this year.
Through last month’s Class of 2025 induction, 306 Heroes of Horsepower are currently in the MSHFA, a number that will grow to 315 with the 38th Induction Class. To learn more about the Class of 2026 and Induction Celebration, visit the MSHFA.
