NASCAR reveals 2024 Hall of Fame nominees, including Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus

NASCAR on Wednesday revealed its nominees for the Hall of Fame class of 2024, and it should come as a surprise to no one that seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is on the list for his first year of eligibility.

Johnson, his seven-time champion crew chief, Chad Knaus, and Donnie Allison are the three newcomers, bringing this year’s total number of nominees to 15. Johnson and Knaus are on NASCAR’s Modern Era Ballot, while Allison is on the Pioneer Ballot, a separate category to celebrate drivers who began their careers more than 60 years ago.

Per NASCAR, two inductees will be selected from the Modern Era Ballot and one from the Pioneer Ballot.

Here’s a look at the 15 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2024.

Modern Era Ballot

Jimmie Johnson after winning his seventh NASCAR championship in 2016. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

• Neil Bonnett, won 18 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including consecutive Coca-Cola 600 victories
• Tim Brewer, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief
• Jeff Burton, won 21 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including the Southern 500 and two Coca-Cola 600s
• Carl Edwards, winner of 28 NASCAR Cup Series races and 2007 Xfinity Series champion
• Harry Gant, winner of 18 NASCAR Cup Series races, including two Southern 500 victories
• Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR Cup Series championship crew chief
• Jimmie Johnson, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion
• Chad Knaus, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief
• Larry Phillips, first five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion
• Ricky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR Cup Series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400

Pioneer Ballot

Donnie Allison whoops it up in Victory Lane after he won the Winston 500 May 17, 1971 at the Alabama International Speedway. The Wood brothers, who built the car, ride to Victory Lane with Allison at the wheel. (AP Photo/JS)

• Donnie Allison, 10-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, 1967 Cup Series ROY
• Sam Ard, NASCAR Xfinity Series pioneer and two-time champion
• AJ Foyt, won seven NASCAR Cup Series races including the 1972 Daytona 500
• Banjo Matthews, built cars that won more than 250 NASCAR Cup Series races and three championships
• Ralph Moody, two-time NASCAR Cup Series owner champion as mechanical genius of Holman-Moody

Landmark Award

Janet Guthrie is interviewed by Jackie Stewart at Indy in 1978, the second year she qualified for the 500. (Sports Classic Books)

Per NASCAR, the Landmark Award “honors those who made significant contributions to the growth and esteem” of the sport.

• Janet Guthrie, the first woman to compete in a NASCAR Cup Series superspeedway race
• Alvin Hawkins, NASCAR’s first flagman; established NASCAR racing at Bowman Gray Stadium with Bill France Sr.
• Lesa France Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice chair
• Dr. Joseph Mattioli, founder of Pocono Raceway
• Les Richter, long-time NASCAR executive (and former linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams)