Twelve from NASCAR, Open Wheel, Drag Racing, Off-Road and Short Track stock cars on ballot
BAKERSFIELD, California (May 5, 2026) – Twelve nominees from NASCAR, Open Wheel, NHRA Drag Racing, Off-Road Racing and Short Track stock car competition have reached the final round of voting for induction into the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame.
The twelve finalists are:
- Ken Boyd, five-time Stockton 99 Speedway stock car champion *
- Kyle Busch, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion
- Ernie Cope, NASCAR national series winning crew chief *
- Ron Capps, three-time NHRA Funny Car champion
- John Force, 15-time NHRA Funny Car champion and NHRA all-time winner
- Cory Kruzeman, two-time Chili Bowl midget winner and United States Auto Club/California Racing Association champion
- Mears Gang – Roger Mears, four-time Baja 1000 winner and his son Casey, the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 winner
- Michael McDowell, 2021 Daytona 500 winner
- Jim Naylor, five-decade operator of Ventura (California) Speedway *
- Brad Noffsinger, two-time California Racing Association champion *
- Ted Stofle, eight-time NASCAR stock car champion at Merced (California) Speedway *
- Sean Woodside, 1999 NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West champion *
(*appeared on previous ballots)
Complete biographical information for each inductee can be found at www.westcoaststockcarhalloffame.com
“I never dreamed we would see such diversity among the final 12 nominees and in my opinion, each of them belongs in the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame,” said Ken Clapp, Chairman and CEO West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame. “Looking at the big picture, we are going to be voting on short track stock cars, all the way to the top NASCAR Cup level, as well as drag racing, sprint car and midget racing and off-road racing.
“The vote to decide the final five and ties, if that becomes the case, will be the most difficult task the Voting Committee has faced in our 25-year history.”
Final-round voting by the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors began this week and continues through June 1. Five inductees (and ties) will be chosen. The 2026 Heritage class (1960s through 1970s) will be announced in mid-May while the Pioneers of Speed (pre-World War II) will be announced in mid-June.
Inductions will be held on October 1 at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada. The sixth Kickin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year by 51FIFTY will be announced during the festivities.
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame gala kicks off a weekend of speed at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West racing takes place at The Bullring short track on October 2, followed by the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (October 3) and NASCAR Cup Series (Oct. 4) on the 1.5-mile track.
About the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame:
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame was conceived in 2001 as a means of recognizing significant contributors and contributions to the sport of stock car/motorsports competition. The mission of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame is founded to preserve history and heritage of the important role west coast stock car and motorsports figures have played in the sport’s development and continuation and to recognize, through annual enshrinement, of outstanding individuals and groups within the sport such as, but not limited to, designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, publicists and members of the motorsports media.
The Hall is a 501(c)3, soon to be (c)4 charitable organization, dedicated to supporting a variety of organizations and groups from coast to coast. The Hall has raised more than $1 million during the past seven years for youth, health and safety, hospitals, animal rescue, military and other charitable causes.
For more information on the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame visit: www.WestCoastStockCarHallofFame.com
Media Contact:
Owen A. Kearns
okearns@bak.rr.com
661-342-2983